heidi-第42部分

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y　a　little　longer；　however；　each　day。

It　was　many　years　since　they　had　had　such　a　splendid　summer　among　the　mountains。　Day　after　day　there　were　the　same　cloudless　sky　and　brilliant　sun；　the　flowers　opened　wide　their　fragrant　blossoms；　and　everywhere　the　eye　was　greeted　with　a　glow　of　color；　and　when　the　evening　came　the　crimson　light　fell　on　mountain　peaks　and　on　the　great　snow…field；　till　at　last　the　sun　sank　in　a　sea　of　golden　flame。

And　Heidi　never　tired　of　telling　Clara　of　all　this；　for　only　higher　up　could　the　full　glory　of　the　colors　be　rightly　seen；　and　more　particularly　did　she　dwell　on　the　beauty　of　the　spot　on　the　higher　slope　of　the　mountain；　where　the　bright　golden　rock…roses　grew　in　masses；　and　the　blue　flowers　were　in　such　numbers　that　the　very　grass　seemed　to　have　turned　blue；　while　near　these　were　whole　bushes　of　the　brown　blossoms；　with　their　delicious　scent；　so　that　you　never　wanted　to　move　again　when　you　once　sat　down　among　them。

She　had　just　been　expatiating　on　the　flowers　as　she　sat　with　Clara　under　the　fir　trees　one　evening；　and　had　been　telling　her　again　of　the　wonderful　light　from　the　evening　sun；　when　such　an　irrepressible　longing　came　over　her　to　see　it　all　once　more　that　the　jumped　up　and　ran　to　her　grandfather；　who　was　in　the　shed；　calling　out　almost　before　she　was　inside；

〃Grandfather；　will　you　take　us　out　with　the　goats　to…morrow？　Oh；　it　is　so　lovely　up　there　now！〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　answered；　〃but　if　I　do；　the　little　daughter　must　do　something　to　please　me：　she　must　try　her　best　again　this　evening　to　stand　on　her　feet。〃

Heidi　ran　back　with　the　good　news　to　Clara；　and　the　latter　promised　to　try　her　very　best　as　the　grandfather　wished；　for　she　looked　forward　immensely　to　the　next　day's　excursion。　Heidi　was　so　pleased　and　excited　that　she　called　out　to　Peter　as　soon　as　she　caught　sight　of　him　that　evening；

〃Peter；　Peter；　we　are　all　coming　out　with　you　to…morrow　and　are　going　to　stay　up　there　the　whole　day。〃

Peter；　cross　as　a　bear；　grumbled　some　reply；　and　lifted　his　stick　to　give　Greenfinch　a　blow　for　no　reason　in　particular；　but　Greenfinch　saw　the　movement；　and　with　a　leap　over　Snowflake's　back　she　got　out　of　the　way；　and　the　stick　only　hit　the　air。

Clara　and　Heidi　got　into　their　two　fine　beds　that　night　full　of　delightful　anticipation　of　the　morrow；　they　were　so　full　of　their　plans　that　they　agreed　to　keep　awake　all　night　and　talk　over　them　until　they　might　venture　to　get　up。　But　their　heads　had　no　sooner　touched　their　soft　pillows　than　the　conversation　suddenly　ceased；　and　Clara　fell　into　a　dream　of　an　immense　field；　which　looked　the　color　of　the　sky；　so　thickly　inlaid　was　it　with　blue　bell…shaped　flowers；　and　Heidi　heard　the　great　bird　of　prey　calling　to　her　from　the　heights　above；　〃Come！　come！　come！〃



CHAPTER　XXII。　SOMETHING　UNEXPECTED　HAPPENS

Uncle　went　out　early　the　next　morning　to　see　what　kind　of　a　day　it　was　going　to　be。　There　was　a　reddish　gold　light　over　the　higher　peaks；　a　light　breeze　springing　up　and　the　branches　of　the　fir　trees　moved　gently　to　and　fro　the　sun　was　on　its　way。

The　old　man　stood　and　watched　the　green　slopes　under　the　higher　peaks　gradually　growing　brighter　with　the　coming　day　and　the　dark　shadows　lifting　from　the　valley；　until　at　first　a　rosy　light　filled　its　hollows；　and　then　the　morning　gold　flooded　every　height　and　depththe　sun　had　risen。

Uncle　wheeled　the　chair　out　of　the　shed　ready　for　the　coming　journey；　and　then　went　in　to　call　the　children　and　tell　them　what　a　lovely　sunrise　it　was。

Peter　came　up　at　this　moment。　The　goats　did　not　gather　round　him　so　trustfully　as　usual；　but　seemed　to　avoid　him　timidly；　for　Peter　had　reached　a　high　pitch　of　anger　and　bitterness；　and　was　laying　about　him　with　his　stick　very　unnecessarily；　and　where　it　fell　the　blow　was　no　light　one。　For　weeks　now　he　had　not　had　Heidi　all　to　himself　as　formerly。　When　he　came　up　in　the　morning　the　invalid　child　was　always　already　in　her　chair　and　Heidi　fully　occupied　with　her。　And　it　was　the　same　thing　over　again　when　he　came　down　in　the　evening。　She　had　not　come　out　with　the　goats　once　this　summer；　and　now　to…day　she　was　only　coming　in　company　with　her　friend　and　the　chair；　and　would　stick　by　the　latter's　side　the　whole　time。　It　was　the　thought　of　this　which　was　making　him　particularly　cross　this　morning。　There　stood　the　chair　on　its　high　wheels；　Peter　seemed　to　see　something　proud　and　distainful　about　it；　and　he　glared　at　it　as　at　an　enemy　that　had　done　him　harm　and　was　likely　to　do　him　more　still　to…day。　He　glanced　roundthere　was　no　sound　anywhere；　no　one　to　see　him。　He　sprang　forward　like　a　wild　creature；　caught　hold　of　it；　and　gave　it　a　violent　and　angry　push　in　the　direction　of　the　slope。　The　chair　rolled　swiftly　forward　and　in　another　minute　had　disappeared。

Peter　now　sped　up　the　mountain　as　if　on　wings；　not　pausing　till　he　was　well　in　shelter　of　a　large　blackberrybush；　for　he　had　no　wish　to　be　seen　by　Uncle。　But　he　was　anxious　to　see　what　had　become　of　the　chair；　and　his　bush　was　well　placed　for　that。　Himself　hidden；　he　could　watch　what　happened　below　and　see　what　Uncle　did　without　being　discovered　himself。　So　he　looked；　and　there　he　saw　his　enemy　running　faster　and　faster　down　hill；　then　it　turned　head　over　heels　several　times；　and　finally；　after　one　great　bound；　rolled　over　and　over　to　its　complete　destruction。　The　pieces　flew　in　every　directionfeet；　arms；　and　torn　fragments　of　the　padded　seat　and　bolsterand　Peter　experienced　a　feeling　of　such　unbounded　delight　at　the　sight　that　he　leapt　in　the　air；　laughing　aloud　and　stamping　for　joy；　then　he　took　a　run　round；　jumping　over　bushes　on　the　way；　only　to　return　to　the　same　spot　and　fall　into　fresh　fits　of　laughter。　He　was　beside　himself　with　satisfaction；　for　he　could　see　only　good　results　for　himself　in　this　disaster　to　his　enemy。　Now　Heidi's　friend　would　be　obliged　to　go　away；　for　she　would　have　no　means　of　going　about；　and　when　Heidi　was　alone　again　she　would　come　out　with　him　as　in　the　old　days；　and　everything　would　go　on　in　the　proper　way　again。　But　Peter　did　not　consider；　or　did　not　know；　that　when　we　do　a　wrong　thing　trouble　is　sure　to　follow。

Heidi　now　came　running　out　of　the　hut　and　round　to　the　shed。　Grandfather　was　behind　with　Clara　in　his　arms。　The　shed　stood　wide　open；　the　two　loose　planks　having　been　taken　down；　and　it　was　quite　light　inside。　Heidi　looked　into　every　corner　and　ran　from　one　end　to　the　other；　and　then　stood　still　wondering　what　could　have　happened　to　the　chair。　Grandfather　now　came。　up。

〃How　is　this；　have　you　wheeled　the　chair　away；　Heidi？〃

〃I　have　been　looking　everywhere　for　it；　grandfather；　you　said　it　was　standing　ready　outside；〃　and　she　again　searched　each　corner　of　the　shed　with　her　eyes。

At　that　moment　the　wind；　which　had　risen　suddenly；　blew　open　the　shed　door　and　sent　it　banging　back　against　the　wall。

〃It　must　have　been　the　wind；　grandfather；〃　exclaimed　Heidi；　and　her　eyes　grew　anxious　at　this　sudden　discovery。　〃Oh！　if　it　has　blown　the　chair　all　the　way　down　to　Dorfli　we　shall　not　get　it　back　in　time；　and　shall　not　be　able　to　go。〃

〃If　it　has　rolled　as　far　as　that　it　will　never　come　back；　for　it　is　in　a　hundred　pieces　by　now；〃　said　the　grandfather；　going　round　the　corner　and　looking　down。　〃But　it's　a　curious　thing　to　have　happened！〃　he　added　as　he　thought　over　the　matter；　for　the　chair　would　have　had　to　turn　a　corner　before　starting　down　hill。

〃Oh；　I　am　sorry；〃　lamented　Clara；　〃for　we　shall　not　be　able　to　go　to…day；　or　perhaps　any　other　day。　I　shall　have　to　go　home；　I　suppose；　if　I　have　no　chair。　Oh；　I　am　so　sorry；　I　am　so　sorry！〃

But　Heidi　looked　towards　her　grandfather　with　her　usual　expression　of　confidence。

〃Grandfather；　you　will　be　able　to　do　something；　won't　you；　so　that　it　need　not　be　as　Clara　says；　and　so　that　she　is　not　obliged　to　go　home？〃

〃Well；　for　the　present　we　will　go　up　the　mountain　as　we　had　arranged；　and　then　later　on　we　will　see　what　can　be　done；〃　he　answered；　much　to　the　children's　delight。

He　went　indoors；　fetched　out　a　pile　of　shawls；　and　laying　them　on　the　sunniest　spot　he　could　find　set　Clara　down　upon　them。　Then　he　fetched　the　children's　morning　milk　and　had　out　his　two　goats。

〃Why　is　Peter　not　here　yet？〃　thought　Uncle　to　himself；　for　Peter's　whistle　had　not　been　sounded　that　morning。　The　grandfather　now　took　Clara　up　on　one　arm；　and　the　shawls　on　the　other。

〃Now　then　we　will　start；〃　he　said；　〃the　goats　can　come　with　us。〃

Heidi　was　pleased　at　this　and　walked　on　after　her　grandfather　with　an　arm　over　either　of　the　goats'　necks；　and　the　animals　were　so　overjoyed　to　have　her　again　that　they　nearly　squeezed　her　flat　between　them　out　of　sheer　affection。　When　they　reached　the　spot　where　the　goats　usually　pastured　they　were　surprised　to　find　them　already　feeding　there；　climbing　about　the　rocks；　and　Peter　with　them；　lying　his　full　length　on　the　ground。

〃I'll　teach　you　another　time　to　go　by　like　that；　you　lazy　rascal！　What　do　you　mean　by　it？〃　Uncle　called　to　him。

Peter；　recognising　the　voice；　jumped　up　like　a　shot。　〃No　one　was　up；〃　he　answered。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　the　chair？〃　asked　the　grandfather。

〃Of　what　chair？〃　called　Peter　back　in　answer　in　a　morose　tone　of　voice。

Uncle　said　no　more。　He　spread　the　shawls　on　the　sunny　slope；　and　setting　Clara　upon　them　asked　if　she　was　comfortable。

〃As　comfortable　as　in　my　chair；〃　she　said；　thanking　him；　〃and　this　seems　the　most　beautiful　spot。　O　Heidi；　it　is　lovely；　it　is　lovely！〃　she　cried；　looking　round　her　with　delight。

The　grandfather　prepared　to　leave　them。　They　would　now　be　safe　and　happy　together；　he　said；　and　when　it　was　time　for　dinner　Heidi　was　to　go　and　fetch　the　bag　from　the　shady　hollow　where　he　had　put　it；　Peter　was　to　bring　them　as　much　milk　as　they　wanted；　but　Heidi　was　to　see　that　it　was　Little　Swan's　milk。　He　would　come　and　fetch　them　towards　evening；　he　must　now　be　off　to　see　after　the　chair　and　ascertain　what　had　become　of　it。

The　sky　was　dark　blue；　and　not　a　single　cloud　was　to　be　seen　from　one　horizon　to　the　other。　The　great　snow…field　overhead　sparkled　as　if　set　with　thousands　and　thousands　of　gold　and　silver　stars。　The　two　grey　mountains　peaks　lifted　their　lofty　heads　against　the　sky　and　looked　solemnly　down　upon　the　valley　as　of