Heidi: Chapters 19–23

"Nobody believes you about that any more, and I won't either," Heidi said resolutely.

D, E, F you then must read,
Or of misfortune take good heed!

Who over L and M doth stumble,
Must pay a penance and feel humble.

Who over L and M doth stumble,
Must pay a penance and feel humble.

He generally invited Peter to stay to supper afterwards, which liberally rewarded the boy for all his great exertions.

"Nothing, but stay here. I'll learn," he blubbered.

Heidi stood still every few minutes, looking up to the firmament in wonder.

A strange procession was winding up the Alm.

Then came a stately lady on horseback, who, talking with a young guide beside her, looked eagerly right and left.

Then an empty rolling-chair, carried by a young fellow, was followed by a porter who had so many covers, shawls and furs piled up on his basket that they towered high above his head.

Clara, looking about her rapturously, cried: "Oh, how wonderful, how glorious! I have never dreamt it could be as beautiful as that. Oh grandmama, I wish I could stay here!"

His face became sad. Before his eyes had risen bygone times.

When Clara had looked a long time at the cloudless sky above and all the rocky crags, she said longingly: "I wish I could walk round the hut to the fir-trees. If I only could see all the things you told me so much about!"

The sun was just rising, and the Alm-Uncle was watching how mountain and dale awoke to the new day, and the clouds above grew brighter.

When at last the full bowls were brought by the old man, Clara, seizing hers, eagerly drank the contents in one draught and even finished before Heidi.

In her dreams Clara saw before her a field that was thickly strewn with light-blue flowers, while Heidi heard the eagle scream to her from above, "Come, come, come!"

The truth was that the boy was terribly embittered and angry by the changes that had come.

Peter's conscience smote him now, and he raced up the Alp, not daring to pause till he had reached a blackberry bush.

It was easy to see how happy it was to be away from the boisterous big goats, which often annoyed it.

Premonitions of future undreamt-of happiness made her heart beat.

"I am sure Peter has eaten sorrel again, and that makes him groan so," said his mother.

Peter shot off and rushed head over heels down the mountain-side, turning wild somersaults on his perilous way.

"What a funny, bashful mountaineer!" Mr. Sesemann remarked to himself, thinking that the appearance of a stranger had upset this simple son of the Alps.

Peter regained his feet and slunk away.

A tall girl, with light hair and rosy face, was leaning on Heidi, whose dark eyes sparkled with keen delight.

"What do you say to this, my son? Isn't our surprise finer than yours?" she greeted him. "But come over to our benefactor now,—I mean the uncle."

He must be creeping away out of sheer modesty, the kind lady thought.

Petrified with fear, Peter stood still.

The uncle told her that he had noticed many signs of anger in the boy since Clara's advent on the Alp.

Peter nodded, all contrite.

Accordingly Mr. Sesemann walked over to the old man, and began: "My dear friend, may I say one word to you. I am sure you believe me when I tell you that I have not known any real joy for years..."

"My dear grandmother," said Mrs. Sesemann, "before God in Heaven we are all equally miserable and poor; woe to us, if He should forget us!—But now we must say good-bye; next year we shall come to see you just as soon as we come up the Alp. We shall never forget you!"

It was some time before she was allowed to leave, however, because the grandmother thanked her over and over again, and invoked all Heaven's blessings on her and her house.

The uncle's heart is filled with gratitude too deep for any words when the doctor tells him that he will make ample provision for the child.

I think Brigida's face is more radiant than any, for Heidi has just told her the story of the perpetual ten-penny piece.