按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃It won't take you long now to learn； that I can see； and now we must go down to Clara； bring the books with you。〃 And hand in hand the two returned to the study。〃
Since the day when Heidi had so longed to go home； and Fraulein Rottenmeier had met her and scolded her on the steps； and told her how wicked and ungrateful she was to try and run away； and what a good thing it was that Herr Sesemann knew nothing about it； a change had come over the child。 She had at last understood that day that she could not go home when she wished as Dete had told her； but that she would have to stay on in Frankfurt for a long； long time； perhaps for ever。 She had also understood that Herr Sesemann would think it ungrateful of her if she wished to leave； and she believed that the grandmother and Clara would think the same。 So there was nobody to whom she dared confide her longing to go home； for she would not for the world have given the grandmother； who was so kind to her； any reason for being as angry with her as Fraulein Rottenmeier had been。 But the weight of trouble on the little heart grew heavier and heavier； she could no longer eat her food； and every day she grew a little paler。 She lay awake for long hours at night； for as soon as she was alone and everything was still around her； the picture of the mountain with its sunshine and flowers rose vividly before her eyes； and when at last she fell asleep it was to dream of the rocks and the snow…field turning crimson in the evening light； and waking in the morning she would think herself back at the hut and prepare to run joyfully out intothe sunand thenthere was her large bed； and here she was in Frankfurt far； far away from home。 And Heidi would often lay her face down on the pillow and weep long and quietly so that no one might hear her。
Heidi's unhappiness did not escape the grandmother's notice。 She let some days go by to see if the child grew brighter and lost her down…cast appearance。 But as matters did not mend； and she saw that many mornings Heidi had evidently been crying before she came downstairs； she took her again into her room one day； and drawing the child to her said； 〃Now tell me； Heidi； what is the matter； are you in trouble？〃
But Heidi； afraid if she told the truth that the grandmother would think her ungrateful； and would then leave off being so kind to her； answered； can't tell you。〃
〃Well； could you tell Clara about it？〃
〃Oh； no； I cannot tell any one；〃 said Heidi in so positive a tone； and with a look of such trouble on her face； that the grandmother felt full of pity for the child。
〃Then； dear child； let me tell you what to do： you know that when we are in great trouble； and cannot speak about it to anybody； we must turn to God and pray Him to help； for He can deliver us from every care； that oppresses us。 You understand that； do you not？ You say your prayers every evening to the dear God in Heaven； and thank Him for all He has done for you； and pray Him to keep you from all evil； do you not？〃
〃No； I never say any prayers；〃 answered Heidi。
〃Have you never been taught to pray； Heidi； do you not know even what it means？〃
〃I used to say prayers with the first grandmother； but that is a long time ago； and I have forgotten them。〃
〃That is the reason； Heidi； that you are so unhappy； because you know no one who can help you。 Think what a comfort it is when the heart is heavy with grief to be able at any moment to go and tell everything to God； and pray Him for the help that no one else can give us。 And He can help us and give us everything that will make us happy again。〃
A sudden gleam of joy came into Heidi's eyes。 〃May I tell Him everything； everything？〃
〃Yes； everything； Heidi； everything。〃
Heidi drew her hand away； which the grandmother was holding affectionately between her own； and said quickly； 〃May I go？〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 was the answer； and Heidi ran out of the room into her own； and sitting herself on a stool； folded her hands together and told God about everything that was making her so sad and unhappy； and begged Him earnestly to help her and to let her go home to her grandfather。
It was about a week after this that the tutor asked Frau Sesemann's permission for an interview with her； as he wished to inform her of a remarkable thing that had come to pass。 So she invited him to her room； and as he entered she held out her hand in greeting； and pushing a chair towards him； 〃I am pleased to see you；〃 she said； 〃pray sit down and tell me what brings you here； nothing bad； no complaints； I hope？〃
〃Quite the reverse；〃 began the tutor。 〃Something has happened that I had given up hoping for； and which no one； knowing what has gone before； could have guessed； for； according to all expectations； that which has taken place could only be looked upon as a miracle； and yet it really has come to pass and in the most extraordinary manner； quite contrary to all that one could anticipate〃
〃Has the child Heidi really learnt to read at last？〃 put in Frau Sesemann。
The tutor looked at the lady in speechless astonishment。 At last he spoke again。 〃It is indeed truly marvellous； not only because she never seemed able to learn her A B C even after all my full explanations； and after spending unusual pains upon her； but because now she has learnt it so rapidly； just after I had made up my mind to make no further attempts at the impossible but to put the letters as they were before her without any dissertation on their origin and meaning； and now she has as you might say learnt her letters over night； and started at once to read correctly； quite unlike most beginners。 And it is almost as astonishing to me that you should have guessed such an unlikely thing。〃
〃Many unlikely things happen in life；〃 said Frau Sesemann with a pleased smile。 〃Two things coming together may produce a happy result； as for instance； a fresh zeal for learning and a new method of teaching； and neither does any harm。 We can but rejoice that the child has made such a good start and hope for her future progress。〃
After parting with the tutor she went down to the study to make sure of the good news。 There sure enough was Heidi； sitting beside Clara and reading aloud to her； evidently herself very much surprised； and growing more and more delighted with the new world that was now open to her as the black letters grew alive and turned into men and things and exciting stories。 That same evening Heidi found the large book with the beautiful pictures lying on her plate when she took her place at table； and when she looked questioningly at the grandmother； the latter nodded kindly to her and said； 〃Yes； it's yours now。〃
〃Mine； to keep always？ even when I go home？〃 said； Heidi； blushing with pleasure。
〃Yes； of course； yours for ever；〃 the grandmother assured her。 〃To…morrow we will begin to read it。〃
〃But you are not going home yet； Heidi； not for years；〃 put in Clara。 〃When grandmother goes away； I shall want you to stay on with me。〃
When； Heidi went to her room that night she had another look at her book before going to bed； and from that day forth her chief pleasure was to read the tales which belonged to the beautiful pictures over and over again。 If t