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！
Peter was made to spell out the first sentence two or three times over； for Heidi wished him to get it correct and fluent。 At last she said； 〃You don't seem able to get it right； but I will read it aloud to you once； when you know what it ought to be you will find it easier。〃 And she read out：
A B C must be learnt to…day Or the judge will call you up to pay。
〃I shan't go；〃 said Peter obstinately。
〃Go where？〃 asked Heidi。
〃Before the judge；〃 he answered。
〃Well then make haste and learn these three letters； then you won't have to go。〃
Peter went at his task again and repeated the three letters so many times and with such determination that she said at last；
〃You must know those three now。〃
Seeing what an effect the first two lines of verse had had upon him； she thought she would prepare the ground a little for the following lessons。
〃Wait； and I will read you some of the next sentences；〃 she continued； 〃then you will see what else there is to expect。〃
And she began in a clear slow voice：
D E F G must run with ease Or something will follow that does not please。
Should H I J K be now forgot Disgrace is yours upon the spot。
And then L M must follow at once Or punished you'll be for a sorry dunce。
If you knew what next awaited you You'd haste to learn N O P Q。
Now R S T be quick about Or worse will follow there's little doubt。
Heidi paused； for Peter was so quiet that she looked to see what he was doing。 These many secret threats and hints of dreadful punishments had so affected him that he sat as if petrified and stared at Heidi with horror…stricken eyes。 Her kind heart was moved at once； and she said； wishing to reassure him； 〃You need not be afraid； Peter； come here to me every evening； and if you learn as you have to…day you will at last know all your letters； and the other things won't come。 But you must come regularly； not now and then as you do to school； even if it snows it won't hurt you。〃
Peter promised； for the trepidation he had been in had made him quite tame and docile。 Lessons being finished for this day he now went home。
Peter obeyed Heidi's instructions punctually； and every evening went diligently to work to learn the following letters； taking the sentences thoroughly to heart。 The grandfather was frequently in the room smoking his pipe comfortably while the lesson was going on； and his face twitched occasionally as if he was overtaken with a sudden fit of merriment。 Peter was often invited to stay to supper after the great exertion he had gone through； which richly compensated him for the anguish of mind he had suffered with the sentence for the day。
So the winter went by； and Peter really made progress with his letters； but he went through a terrible fight each day with the sentences。
He had got at last to U。 Heidi read out：
And if you put the U for V； You'll go where you would not like to be。
Peter growled； 〃Yes； but I shan't go！〃 But he was very diligent that day； as if under the impression that some one would seize him suddenly by the collar and drag him where he would rather not go。 The next evening Heidi read：
If you falter at W； worst of all； Look at the stick against the wall。
Peter looked at the wall and said scornfully； 〃There isn't one。〃
〃Yes； but do you know what grandfather has in his box？〃 asked Heidi。 〃A stick as thick almost as your arm； and if he took that out； you might well say； look at the stick on the wall。〃
Peter knew that thick hazel stick； and immediately bent his head over the W and struggled to master it。 Another day the lines ran：
Then comes the X for you to say Or be sure you'll get no food to…day。
Peter looked towards the cupboard where the bread and cheese were kept and said crossly； 〃I never said that I should forget the X。〃
〃That's all right； if you don't forget it we can go on to learn the next； and then you will only have one more；〃 replied Heidi； anxious to encourage him。
Peter did not quite understand； but when Heidi went on and read：
And should you make a stop at Y； They'll point at you and cry； Fie； fie。
All the gentlemen in Frankfurt with tall black hats on their heads； and scorn and mockery in their faces rose up before his mind's eye； and he threw himself with energy on the Y； not letting it go till at last he knew it so thoroughly that he could see what it was like even when he shut his eyes。
He arrived on the following day in a somewhat lofty frame of mind； for there was now only one letter to struggle over； and when Heidi began the lesson with reading aloud：
Make haste with Z； if you're too； slow Off to the Hottentots you'll go。
Peter remarked scornfully； 〃I dare say； when no one knows even where such people live。〃
〃I assure you； Peter；〃 replied Heidi； 〃grandfather knows all about them。 Wait a second and I will run and ask him； for he is only over the way with the pastor。〃 And she rose and ran to the door to put her words into action； but Peter cried out in a voice of agony；
〃Stop！〃 for he already saw himself being carried off by Alm…Uncle and the pastor and sent straight away to the Hottentots； since as yet he did not know his last letter。 His cry of fear brought Heidi back。
〃What is the matter？〃 she asked in astonishment。
〃Nothing！ come back！ I am going to learn my letter；〃 he said； stammering with fear。 Heidi； however； herself wished to know where the Hottentots lived and persisted that she should ask her grandfather； but she gave in at last to Peter's despairing entreaties。 She insisted on his doing something in return； and so not only had he to repeat his Z until it was so fixed in his memory that he could never forget it again； but she began teaching him to spell； and Peter really made a good start that evening。 So it went on from day to day。
The frost had gone and the snow was soft again； and moreover fresh snow continually fell； so that it was quite three weeks before Heidi could go to the grandmother again。 So much the more eagerly did she pursue her teaching so that Peter might compensate for her absence by reading hymns to the old woman。 One evening he walked in home after leaving Heidi； and as he entered he said； 〃I can do it now。〃
〃Do what； Peter？〃 asked his mother。
〃Read；〃 he answered。
〃Do you really mean it？ Did you hear that； grandmother？〃 she called out。
The grandmother had heard； and was already wondering how such a thing could have come to pass。
〃I must read one of the hymns now； Heidi told me to；〃 he went on to inform them。 His mother hastily fetched the book； and the grandmother lay in joyful expectation； for it was so long since she had heard the good words。 Peter sat down to the table and began to read。 His mother sat beside him listening with surprise and exclaiming at the close of each verse； 〃Who would have thought it possible！〃
The grandmother did not speak though she followed the words he read with strained attention。
It happened on the day following this that there was