heidi- 第9部分

The　woman　raised　her　head　and　felt　for　the　hand　that　the　child　held　out　to　her；　and　when　she　found　it；　she　passed　her　own　over　it　thoughtfully　for　a　few　seconds；　and　then　said；　〃Are　you　the　child　who　lives　up　with　Alm…Uncle；　are　you　Heidi？〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　answered　Heidi；　〃I　have　just　come　down　in　the　sleigh　with　grandfather。〃

〃Is　it　possible！　Why　your　hands　are　quite　warm！　Brigitta；　did　Alm…Uncle　come　himself　with　the　child？〃

Peter's　mother　had　left　her　work　and　risen　from　the　table　and　now　stood　looking　at　Heidi　with　curiosity；　scanning　her　from　head　to　foot。　〃I　do　not　know；　mother；　whether　Uncle　came　himself；　it　is　hardly　likely；　the　child　probably　makes　a　mistake。〃

But　Heidi　looked　steadily　at　the　woman；　not　at　all　as　if　in　any　uncertainty；　and　said；　〃I　know　quite　well　who　wrapped　me　in　my　bedcover　and　brought　me　down　in　the　sleigh：　it　was　grandfather。〃

〃There　was　some　truth　then　perhaps　in　what　Peter　used　to　tell　us　of　Alm…Uncle　during　the　summer；　when　we　thought　he　must　be　wrong；〃　said　grandmother；　〃but　who　would　ever　have　believed　that　such　a　thing　was　possible？　I　did　not　think　the　child　would　live　three　weeks　up　there。　What　is　she　like；　Brigitta？〃

The　latter　had　so　thoroughly　examined　Heidi　on　all　sides　that　she　was　we'll　able　to　describe　her　to　her　mother。

〃She　has　Adelaide's　slenderness　of　figure；　but　her　eyes　are　dark　and　her　hair　curly　like　her　father's　and　the　old　man's　up　there：　she　takes　after　both　of　them；　I　think。〃

Heidi　meanwhile　had　not　been　idle；　she　had　made　the　round　of　the　room　and　looked　carefully　at　everything　there　was　to　be　seen。　All　of　a　sudden　she　exclaimed；　〃Grandmother；　one　of　your　shutters　is　flapping　backwards　and　forwards；　grandfather　would　put　a　nail　in　and　make　it　all　right　in　a　minute；　or　else　it　will　break　one　of　the　panes　some　day；　look；　look；　how　it　keeps　on　banging！〃

〃Ah；　dear　child；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃I　am　not　able　to　see　it；　but　I　can　hear　that　and　many　other　things　besides　the　shutter。　Everything　about　the　place　rattles　and　creaks　when　the　wind　is　blowing；　and　it　gets　inside　through　all　the　cracks　and　holes。　The　house　is　going　to　pieces；　and　in　the　night；　when　the　two　others　are　asleep；　I　often　lie　awake　in　fear　and　trembling；　thinking　that　the　whole　place　will　give　way　and　fall　and　kill　us。　And　there　is　not　a　creature　to　mend　anything　for　us；　for　Peter　does　not　understand　such　work。〃

〃But　why　cannot　you　see；　grandmother；　that　the　shutter　is　loose。　Look；　there　it　goes　again；　see；　that　one　there！〃　And　Heidi　pointed　to　the　particular　shutter。

〃Alas；　child；　it　is　not　only　that　I　cannot　seeI　can　see；　nothing；　nothing；〃　said　the　grandmother　in　a　voice　of　lamentation。

〃But　if　I　were　to　go　outside　and　put　back　the　shutter　so　that　you　had　more　light；　then　you　could　see；　grandmother？〃

〃No；　no；　not　even　then；　no　one　can　make　it　light　for　me　again。〃

〃But　if　you　were　to　go　outside　among　all　the　white　snow；　then　surely　you　would　find　it　light；　just　come　with　me；　grandmother；　and　I　will　show　you。〃　Heidi　took　hold　of　the　old　woman's　hand　to　lead　her　along；　for　she　was　beginning　to　feel　quite　distressed　at　the　thought　of　her　being　without　light。

〃Let　me　be；　dear　child；　it　is　always　dark　for　me　now；　whether　in　snow　or　sun；　no　light　can　penetrate　my　eyes。〃

〃But　surely　it　does　in　summer；　grandmother；〃　said　Heidi；　more　and　more　anxious　to　find　some　way　out　of　the　trouble；　〃when　the　hot　sun　is　shining　down　again；　and　he　says　good…night　to　the　mountains；　and　they　all　turn　on　fire；　and　the　yellow　flowers　shine　like　gold；　then；　you　will　see；　it　will　be　bright　and　beautiful　for　you　again。〃

〃Ah；　child；　I　shall　see　the　mountains　on　fire　or　the　yellow　flowers　no　more；　it　will　never　be　light　for　me　again　on　earth；　never。〃

At　these　words　Heidi　broke　into　loud　crying。　In　her　distress　she　kept　on　sobbing　out；　〃Who　can　make　it　light　for　you　again？　Can　no　one　do　it？　Isn't　there　any　one　who　can　do　it？〃

The　grandmother　now　tried　to　comfort　the　child；　but　it　was　not　easy　to　quiet　her。　Heidi　did　not　often　weep；　but　when　she　did　she　could　not　get　over　her　trouble　for　a　long　while。　The　grandmother　had　tried　all　means　in　her　power　to　allay　the　child's　grief；　for　it　went　to　her　heart　to　hear　her　sobbing　so　bitterly。　At　last　she　said；　〃Come　here；　dear　Heidi；　come　and　let　me　tell　you　something。　You　cannot　think　how　glad　one　is　to　hear　a　kind　word　when　one　can　no　longer　see；　and　it　is　such　a　pleasure　to　me　to　listen　to　you　while　you　talk。　So　come　and　sit　beside　me　and　tell　me　something；　tell　me　what　you　do　up　there；　and　how　grandfather　occupies　himself。　I　knew　him　very　well　in　old　days；　but　for　many　years　now　I　have　heard　nothing　of　him；　except　through　Peter；　who　never　says　much。〃

This　was　a　new　and　happy　idea　to　Heidi；　she　quickly　dried　her　tears　and　said　in　a　comforting　voice；　〃Wait；　grandmother；　till　I　have　told　grandfather　everything；　he　will　make　it　light　for　you　again；　I　am　sure；　and　will　do　something　so　that　the　house　will　not　fall；　he　will　put　everything　right　for　you。〃

The　grandmother　was　silent；　and　Heidi　now　began　to　give　her　a　lively　description　of　her　life　with　the　grandfather；　and　of　the　days　she　spent　on　the　mountain　with　the　goats；　and　then　went　on　to　tell　her　of　what　she　did　now　during　the　winter；　and　how　her　grandfather　was　able　to　make　all　sorts　of　things；　seats　and　stools；　and　mangers　where　the　hay　was　put　for　Little　Swan　and　Little　Bear；　besides　a　new　large　water…tub　for　her　to　bathe　in　when　the　summer　came；　and　a　new　milk…bowl　and　spoon；　and　Heidi　grew　more　and　more　animated　as　she　enumerated　all　the　beautiful　things　which　were　made　so　magically　out　of　pieces　of　wood；　she　then　told　the　grandmother　how　she　stood　by　him　and　watched　all　he　did；　and　how　she　hoped　some　day　to　be　able　to　make　the　same　herself。

The　grandmother　listened　with　the　greatest　attention；　only　from　time　to　time　addressing　her　daughter；　〃Do　you　hear　that；　Brigitta？　Do　you　hear　what　she　is　saying　about　Uncle？〃

The　conversation　was　all　at　once　interrupted　by　a　heavy　thump　on　the　door；　and　in　marched　Peter；　who　stood　stock…still；　opening　his　eyes　with　astonishment；　when　he　caught　sight　of　Heidi；　then　his　face　beamed　with　smiles　as　she　called　out；　〃Good…evening；　Peter。〃

〃What；　is　the　boy　back　from　school　already？〃　exclaimed　the　grandmother　in　surprise。　〃I　have　not　known　an　afternoon　pass　so　quickly　as　this　one　for　years。　How　is　the　reading　getting　on；　Peter？

〃Just　the　same；〃　was　Peter's　answer。

The　old　woman　gave　a　little　sigh。　〃Ah；　well；〃　she　said；　〃I　hoped　you　would　have　something　different　to　tell　me　by　this　time；　as　you　are　going　to　be　twelve　years　old　this　February。〃

〃What　was　it　that　you　hoped　he　would　have　to　tell　you？〃　asked　Heidi；　interested　in　all　the　grandmother　said。

〃I　mean　that　he　ought　to　have　learnt　to　read　a　bit　by　now；〃　continued　the　grandmother。　〃Up　there　on　the　shelf　is　an　old　prayer…book；　with　beautiful　songs　in　it　which　I　have　not　heard　for　a　long　time　and　cannot　now　remember　to　repeat　to　myself；　and　I　hoped　that　Peter　would　soon　learn　enough　to　be　able　to　read　one　of　them　to　me　sometimes；　but　he　finds　it　too　difficult。〃

〃I　must　get　a　light；　it　is　getting　too　dark　to　see；〃　said　Peter's　mother；　who　was　still　busy　mending　his　waistcoat。　〃I　feel　too　as　if　the　afternoon　had　gone　I　hardly　know　how。〃

Heidi　now　jumped　up　from　her　low　chair；　and　holding　out　her　hand　hastily　to　the　grandmother　said；　〃Good…night；　grandmother；　if　it　is　getting　dark　I　must　go　home　at　once；〃　and　bidding　good…bye　to　Peter　and　his　mother　she　went　towards　the　door　But　the　grandmother　called　out　in　an　anxious　voice；　〃Wait；　wait；　Heidi；　you　must　not　go　alone　like　that；　Peter　must　go　with　you；　and　take　care　of　the　child；　Peter；　that　she　does　not　fall；　and　don't　let　her　stand　still　for　fear　she　should　get　frozen；　do　you　hear？　Has　she　got　anything　warm　to　put　around　her　throat？〃

〃I　have　not　anything　to　put　on；〃　called　back　Heidi；　〃but　I　am　sure　I　shall　not　be　cold；〃　and　with　that　she　ran　outside　and　went　off　at　such　a　pace　that　Peter　had　difficulty　in　overtaking　her。　The　grandmother；　still　in　distress；　called　out　to　her　daughter；　〃Run　after　her；　Brigitta；　the　child　will　be　frozen　to　death　on　such　a　night　as　this；　take　my　shawl；　run　quickly！〃

Brigitta　ran　out。　But　the　children　had　taken　but　a　few　steps　before　they　saw　the　grandfather　coming　down　to　meet　them；　and　in　another　minute　his　long　strides　had　brought　him　to　their　side。

〃That's　right；　Heidi；　you　have　kept　your　word；〃　said　the　grandfather；　and　then　wrapping　the　sack　firmly　round　her　he　lifted　her　in　his　arms　and　strode　off　with　her　up　the　mountain。　Brigitta　was　just　in　time　to　see　him　do　all　this；　and　on　her　return　to　the　hut　with　Peter　expressed　her　astonishment　to　the　grandmother。　The　latter　was　equally　surprised；　and　kept　on　saying；　〃God　be　thanked　that　he　is　good　to　the　child；　God　be　thanked！　Will　he　let　her　come　to　me　again；　I　wonder！　the　child　has　done　me　so　much　good。　What　a　loving　little　heart　it　is；　and　how　merrily　she　tells　her　tale！〃　And　she　continued　to　dwell　with　delight　on　the　thought　of　the　child　until　she　went　to　bed；　still　saying　now　and　again；　〃If　only　she　will　come　again！　Now　I　have　really　something　left　in　the　world　to　take　pleasure　in。〃　And　Brigitta　agreed　with　all　her　mother　said；　and　Peter　nodded　his　head　in　approval　each　time　his　grandmother　spoke；　saying；　with　a　broad　smile　of　satisfaction；　〃I　told　you　so！〃

Meanwhile　Heidi　was　chattering　away　to　her　grandfather　from　inside　her　sack；　her　voice；　however；　could　not　reach　him　through　the　many　thick　folds　of　her　wrap；　and　as　therefore　it　was　impossible　to　understand　a　word　she　was　saying；　he　called　to　her；　〃Wait　till　we　get　home；　and　then　you　can　tell　me　all　about　it。〃　They　had　no　sooner　got　inside　the　hut　than　Heidi；　having　been　released　from　her　covering；　at　once　began　what　she　had　to　say；　〃Grandfather；　to…morrow　we　must　take　the　hammer　and　the　long　nails　and　fasten　grandmother's　shutter；　and　drive　in　a　lot　more　nails　in　other　places；　for　her　house　shakes　and　rattles　all　over。〃

〃We　must；　must　we？　who　told　you　that？〃　asked　her　grandfather。

〃Nobody　told　me；　but　I　know　it　for　all　that；〃　replied　Heidi；　〃for　everything　is　giving　way；　and　when　the　grandmother　cannot　sleep；　she　lies　trembling　for　fear　at　the　noise；　for　she　thinks　that　every　minut