heidi-第47部分

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d　when　he　wakes　up　he　keeps　on　pricking　us　with　it；　so　that　we　have　not　a　moment's　peace。　And　the　watchman　torments　us　still　further；　for　he　keeps　on　calling　out；　'Now　you　will　be　found　out！　Now　they　will　drag　you　off　to　punishment！'　And　so　we　pass　our　life　in　fear　and　trouble；　and　never　know　a　moment's　happiness　or　peace。　Have　you　not　felt　something　like　that　lately；　Peter？〃

Peter　gave　a　contrite　nod　of　the　head；　as　one　who　knew　all　about　it；　for　grandmamma　had　described　his　own　feelings　exactly。

〃And　you　calculated　wrongly　also　in　another　way；〃　continued　grandmamma；　〃for　you　see　the　harm　you　intended　has　turned　out　for　the　best　for　those　you　wished　to　hurt。　As　Clara　had　no　chair　to　go　in　and　yet　wanted　so　much　to　see　the　flowers；　she　made　the　effort　to　walk；　and　every　day　since　she　has　been　walking　better　and　better；　and　if　she　remains　up　here　she　will　in　time　be　able　to　go　up　the　mountain　every　day；　much　oftener　than　she　would　have　done　in　her　chair。　So　you　see；　Peter；　God　is　able　to　bring　good　out　of　evil　for　those　whom　you　meant　to　injure；　and　you　who　did　the　evil　were　left　to　suffer　the　unhappy　consequences　of　it。　Do　you　thoroughly　understand　all　I　have　said　to　you；　Peter？　If　so；　do　not　forget　my　words；　and　whenever　you　feel　inclined　to　do　anything　wrong；　think　of　the　little　watchman　inside　you　with　his　goad　and　his　disagreeable　voice。　Will　you　remember　all　this？〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　answered　Peter；　still　very　subdued；　for　he　did　not　yet　know　how　the　matter　was　going　to　end；　as　the　police　constable　was　still　standing　with　the　Uncle。

〃That's　right；　and　now　the　thing　is　over　and　done　for；〃　said　grandmamma。　〃But　I　should　like　you　to　have　something　for　a　pleasant　reminder　of　the　visitors　from　Frankfurt。　Can　you　tell　me　anything　that　you　have　wished　very　much　to　have？　What　would　you　like　best　as　a　present？〃

Peter　lifted　his　head　at　this；　and　stared　open…eyed　at　grandmamma。　Up　to　the　last　minute　he　had　been　expecting　something　dreadful　to　happen；　and　now　he　might　have　anything　that　he　wanted。　His　mind　seemed　all　of　a　whirl。

〃I　mean　what　I　say；〃　went　on　grandmamma。　〃You　shall　choose　what　you　would　like　to　have　as　a　remembrance　from　the　Frankfurt　visitors；　and　as　a　token　that　they　will　not　think　any　more　of　the　wrong　thing　you　did。　Now　do　you　understand　me；　boy？〃

The　fact　began　at　last　to　dawn　upon　Peter's　mind　that　he　had　no　further　punishment　to　fear；　and　that　the　kind　lady　sitting　in　front　of　him　had　delivered　him　from　the　police　constable。　He　suddenly　felt　as　if　the　weight　of　a　mountain　had　fallen　off　him。　He　had　also　by　this　time　awakened　to　the　further　conviction　that　it　was　better　to　make　a　full　confession　at　once　of　anything　he　had　done　wrong　or　had　left　undone；　and　so　he　said；　〃And　I　lost　the　paper；　too。〃

Grandmamma　had　to　consider　a　moment　what　he　meant；　but　soon　recalled　his　connection　with　her　telegram；　and　answered　kindly；

〃You　are　a　good　boy　to　tell　me！　Never　conceal　anything　you　have　done　wrong；　and　then　all　will　come　right　again。　And　now　what　would　you　like　me　to　give　you？〃

Peter　grew　almost　giddy　with　the　thought　that　he　could　have　anything　in　the　world　that　he　wished　for。　He　had　a　vision　of　the　yearly　fair　at　Mayenfeld　with　the　glittering　stalls　and　all　the　lovely　things　that　he　had　stood　gazing　at　for　hours；　without　a　hope　of　ever　possessing　one　of　them；　for　Peter's　purse　never　held　more　than　a　halfpenny；　and　all　these　fascinating　objects　cost　double　that　amount。　There　were　the　pretty　little　red　whistles　that　he　could　use　to　call　his　goats；　and　the　splendid　knives　with　rounded　handles；　known　as　toad…strikers；　with　which　one　could　do　such　famous　work　among　the　hazel　bushes。

Peter　remained　pondering；　he　was　trying　to　think　which　of　these　two　desirable　objects　he　should　best　like　to　have；　and　he　found　it　difficult　to　decide。　Then　a　bright　thought　occurred　to　him；　he　would　then　be　able　to　think　over　the　matter　between　now　and　next　year's　fair。

〃A　penny；〃　answered　Peter；　who　was　no　longer　in　doubt。

Grandmamma　could　not　help　laughing。　〃That　is　not　an　extravagant　request。　Come　here　then！〃　and　she　pulled　out　her　purse　and　put　four　bright　round　shillings　in　his　hand　and；　then　laid　some　pennies　on　top　of　it。　〃We　will　settle　our　accounts　at　once；〃　she　continued；　〃and　I　will　explain　them　to　you。　I　have　given　you　as　many　pennies　as　there　are　weeks　in　the　year；　and　so　every　Sunday　throughout　the　year　you　can　take　out　a　penny　to　spend。〃

〃As　long　as　I　live？〃　said　Peter　quite　innocently。

Grandmamma　laughed　more　still　at　this；　and　the　men　hearing　her；　paused　in　their　talk　to　listen　to　what　was　going　on。

〃Yes；　boy；　you　shall　have　it　all　your　lifeI　will　put　it　down　in　my　will。　Do　you　hear；　my　son？　and　you　are　to　put　it　down　in　yours　as　well：　a　penny　a　week　to　Peter　as　long　as　he　lives。〃

Herr　Sesemann　nodded　his　assent　and　joined　in　the　laughter。

Peter　looked　again　at　the　present　in　his　hand　to　make　sure　he　was　not　dreaming；　and　then　said；　〃Thank　God！〃

And　he　went　off　running　and　leaping　with　more　even　than　his　usual　agility；　and　this　time　managed　to　keep　his　feet；　for　it　was　not　fear；　but　joy　such　as　he　had　never　known　before　in　his　life；　that　now　sent　him　flying　up　the　mountain。　All　trouble　and　trembling　had　disappeared；　and　he　was　to　have　a　penny　every　week　for　life。

As　later；　after　dinner；　the　party　were　sitting　together　chatting；　Clara　drew　her　father　a　little　aside；　and　said　with　an　eagerness　that　had　been　unknown　to　the　little　tired　invalid；

〃O　papa；　if　you　only　knew　all　that　grandfather　has　done　for　me　from　day　to　day！　I　cannot　reckon　his　kindnesses；　but　I　shall　never　forget　them　as　long　as　I　live！　And　I　keep　on　thinking　what　I　could　do　for　him；　or　what　present　I　could　make　him　that　would　give　him　half　as　much　pleasure　as　he　has　given　me。〃

〃That　is　just　what　I　wish　most　myself；　Clara；〃　replied　her　father；　whose　face　grew　happier　each　time　he　looked　at　his　little　daughter。　〃I　have　been　also　thinking　how　we　can　best　show　our　gratitude　to　our　good　benefactor。〃

Herr　Sesemann　now　went　over　to　where　Uncle　and　grandmamma　were　engaged　in　lively　conversation。　Uncle　stood　up　as　he　approached；　and　Herr　Sesemann；　taking　him　by　the　hand　said；

〃Dear　friend；　let　us　exchange　a　few　words　with　one　another。　You　will　believe　me　when　I　tell　you　that　I　have　known　no　real　happiness　for　years　past。　What　worth　to　me　were　money　and　property　when　they　were　unable　to　make　my　poor　child　well　and　happy？　With　the　help　of　God　you　have　made　her　whole　and　strong；　and　you　have　given　new　life　not　only　to　her　but　to　me。　Tell　me　now；　in　what　way　can　I　show　my　gratitude　to　you？　I　can　never　repay　all　you　have　done；　but　whatever　is　in　my　power　to　do　is　at　your　service。　Speak；　friend；　and　tell　me　what　I　can　do？〃

Uncle　had　listened　to　him　quietly；　with　a　smile　of　pleasure　on　his　face　as　he　looked　at　the　happy　father。

〃Herr　Sesemann；〃　he　replied　in　his　dignified　way；　〃believe　me　that　I　too　have　my　share　in　the　joy　of　your　daughter's　recovery；　and　my　trouble　is　well　repaid　by　it。　I　thank　you　heartily　for　all　you　have　said；　but　I　have　need　of　nothing；　I　have　enough　for　myself　and　the　child　as　long　as　I　live。　One　wish　alone　I　have；　and　if　that　could　be　satisfied　I　should　have　no　further　care　in　life。〃

〃Speak；　dear　friend；　and　tell　me　what　it　is；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　entreatingly。

〃I　am　growing　old；〃　Uncle　went　on；　〃and　shall　not　be　here　much　longer。　I　have　nothing　to　leave　the　child　when　I　die；　and　she　has　no　relations；　except　one　person　who　will　always　like　to　make　what　profit　out　of　her　she　can。　If　you　could　promise　me　that　Heidi　shall　never　have　to　go　and　earn　her　living　among　strangers；　then　you　would　richly　reward　me　for　all　I　have　done　for　your　child。〃

〃There　could　never　be　any　question　of　such　a　thing　as　that；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Herr　Sesemann　quickly。　〃I　look　upon　the　child　as　our　own。　Ask　my　mother；　my　daughter；　you　may　be　sure　that　they　will　never　allow　the　child　to　be　left　in　any　one　else's　care！　But　if　it　will　make　you　happier　I　give　you　here　my　hand　upon　it。　I　promise　you：　Heidi　shall　never　have　to　go　and　earn　her　living　among　strangers；　I　will　make　provision　against　this　both　during　my　life　and　after。　But　now　I　have　something　else　to　say。　Independent　of　her　circumstances；　the　child　is　totally　unfitted　to　live　a　life　away　from　home；　we　found　out　that　when　she　was　with　us。　But　she　has　made　friends；　and　among　them　I　know　one　who　is　at　this　moment　in　Frankfurt；　he　is　winding　up　his　affairs　there；　that　he　may　be　free　to　go　where　he　likes　and　take　his　rest。　I　am　speaking　of　my　friend；　the　doctor；　who　came　over　here　in　the　autumn　and　who；　having　well　considered　your　advice；　intends　to　settle　in　this　neighborhood；　for　he　has　never　felt　so　well　and　happy　anywhere　as　in　the　company　of　you　and　Heidi。　So　you　see　the　child　will　henceforth　have　two　protectors　near　herand　may　they　both　live　long　to　share　the　task！〃

〃God　grant　it　indeed　may　be　so！〃　added　grandmamma；　shaking　Uncle's　hand　warmly　as　she　spoke；　to　show　how　sincerely　she　echoed　her　son's　wish。　Then　putting　her　arm　round　Heidi；　who　was　standing　near；　she　drew　the　child　to　her。

〃And　I　have　a　question　to　ask　you　too；　dear　Heidi。　Tell　me　if　there　is　anything　you　particularly　wish　for。〃

〃Yes；　there　is；〃　answered　Heidi　promptly；　looking　up　delightedly　at　grandmamma。

〃Then　tell　me　at　once；　dear；　what　it　is。〃

〃I　want　to　have　the　bed　I　slept　in　at　Frankfurt　with　the　high　pillows　and　the　thick　coverlid；　and　then　grandmother　will　not　have　to　lie　with　her　head　down　hill　and　hardly　able　to　breathe；　and　she　will　be　warm　enough　under　the　coverlid　not　to　have　to　wear　her　shawl　in　bed　to　prevent　her　freezing　to　death。〃

In　her　eagerness　to　obtain　what　she　had　set　her　heart　upon　Heidi　hardly　gave　herself　time　to　get　out　all　she　had　to　say；　and　did　not　pause　for　breath　till　she　reached　the　end　of　her　sentence。

〃Dearest　child；〃　answered　grandmamma；　moved　by　Heidi's　speech；　〃what　is　this　you　tell　me　of　grandmother！　You　are　right　to　remind　me。　In　the　midst　of　our　own　happiness　we　forget　too　often　that　which　we　ought　to　remember　before　all　things。　When　God　has　shown　us　some　special　mercy　we　should　think　at　once　of　those　who　are　denied　so　many　things。　I　will　telegraph　to　Frankfurt　at　once！　Fraulein　Rottenmeier　shall　pack　up　the　bed　this　very　day；