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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 minute the house will fall down on their heads； and everything now is dark for grandmother； and she does not think any one can make it light for her again； but you will be able to； I am sure； grandfather。 Think how dreadful it is for her to be always in the dark； and then to be frightened at what may happen； and nobody can help her but you。 To…morrow we must go and help her； we will； won't we； grandfather？〃
The child was clinging to the old man and looking up at him in trustful confidence。 The grandfather looked down at Heidi for a while without speaking； and then said； 〃Yes； Heidi； we will do something to stop the rattling； at least we can do that； we will go down about it to…morrow！〃
The child went skipping round the room for joy； crying out； 〃We shall go to…morrow！ we shall go to…morrow！〃
The grandfather kept his promise。 On the following afternoon he brought the sleigh out again； and as on the previous day； he set Heidi down at the door of the grandmother's hut and said； 〃Go in now； and when it grows dark； come out again。〃 Then he put the sack in the s