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so that we too may feel safe and have no anxiety about what is going to happen。〃
The two children now sat up and said their prayers； and then Heidi put her head down on her little round arm and fell off to sleep at once； but Clara lay awake some time； for she could not get over the wonder of this new experience of being in bed up here among the stars。 She had indeed seldom seen a star； for she never went outside the house at night； and the curtains at home were always drawn before the stars came out。 Each time she closed her eyes she felt she must open them again to see if the two very large stars were still looking in； and nodding to her as Heidi said they did。 There they were； always in the same place； and Clara felt she could not look long enough into their bright sparkling faces； until at last her eyes closed of their own accord； and it was only in her dreams that she still saw the two large friendly stars shining down upon her。
CHAPTER XXI。 HOW LIFE WENT ON AT GRANDFATHER'S
The sun had just risen above the mountains and was shedding its first golden rays over the hut and the valley below。 Alm…Uncle； as was his custom； had been standing in a quiet and； devout attitude for some little while； watching the light mists gradually lifting； and the heights and valley emerging from their twilight shadows and awakening to another day。
The light morning clouds overhead grew brighter and brighter； till at last the sun shone out in its full glory； and rock and wood and hill lay bathed in golden light。
Uncle now stepped back into the hut and went softly up the ladder。 Clara had just opened her eyes and was looking with wonder at the bright sunlight that shone through the round window and danced and sparkled about her bed。 She could not at first think what she was looking at or where she was。 Then she caught sight of Heidi sleeping beside her； and now she heard the grandfather's cheery voice asking her if she had slept well and was feeling rested。 She assured him she was not tired； and that when she had once fallen asleep she had not opened her eyes again all night。 The grandfather was satisfied at this and immediately began to attend upon her with so much gentleness and understanding that it seemed as if his chief calling had been to look after sick children。
Heidi now awoke and was surprised to see Clara dressed； and already in the grandfather's arms ready to be carried down。 She must be up too； and she went through her toilette with lightning…like speed。 She ran down the ladder and out of the hut； and there further astonishment awaited her； for grandfather had been busy the night before after they were in bed。 Seeing that it was impossible to get Clara's chair through the hut…door； he had taken down two of the boards at the side of the shed and made an opening large enough to admit the chair； these he left loose so that they could be taken away and put up at pleasure。 He was at this moment wheeling Clara out into the sun； he left her in front of the hut while he went to look after the goats； and Heidi ran up to her friend。
The fresh morning breeze blew round the children's faces； and every fresh puff brought a waft of fragrance from the fir trees。 Clara drew it in with delight and lay back in her chair with an unaccustomed feeling of health and comfort。
It was the first time in her life that she had been out in the open country at this early hour and felt the fresh morning breeze； and the pure mountain air was so cool and refreshing that every breath she drew was a pleasure。 And then the bright sweet sun； which was not hot and sultry up here； but lay soft and warm on her hands and on the grass at her feet。 Clara had not imagined that it would be like this on the mountain。
〃O Heidi； if only I could stay up here for ever with you；〃 she exclaimed happily； turning in her chair from side to side that she might drink in the air and sun from all quarters。
〃Now you see that it is just what I told you；〃 replied Heidi delighted； 〃that it is the most beautiful thing in the world to be up here with grandfather。〃
The latter at that moment appeared coming from the goat shed and bringing two small foaming bowls of snow…white milkone for Clara and one for Heidi。
〃That will do the little daughter good；〃 he said； nodding to Clara； 〃it is from Little Swan and will make her strong。 To your health； child！ drink it up。〃
Clara had never tasted goat's milk before； she hesitated and smelt it before putting it to her lips； but seeing how Heidi drank hers up without hesitating； and how much she seemed to like it； Clara did the same； and drank till there was not a drop left； for she too found it delicious； tasting just as if sugar and cinnamon had been mixed with it。
〃To…morrow we will drink two；〃 said the grandfather； who had looked on with satisfaction at seeing her follow Heidi's example。
Peter now arrived with the goats； and while Heidi was receiving her usual crowded morning greetings； Uncle drew Peter aside to speak to him； for the goats； bleated so loudly and continuously in their wish to express their joy and affection that no one could be heard near them。
〃Attend to what I have to say；〃 he said。 〃From to…day be sure you let Little Swan go where she likes。 She has an instinct where to find the best food for herself； and so if she wants to climb higher； you follow her； and it will do the others no harm if they go too； on no account bring her back。 A little more climbing won't hurt you； and in this matter she probably knows better than you what is good for her； I want her to give as fine milk as possible。 Why are you looking over there as if you wanted to eat somebody？ Nobody will interfere with you。 So now be off and remember what I say。〃
Peter was accustomed to give immediate obedience to Uncle； and he marched off with his goats； but with a turn of the head and roll of the eye that showed he had some thought in reserve。 The goats carried Heidi along with them a little way； which was what Peter wanted。 〃You will have to come with them；〃 he called to her； 〃for I shall be obliged to follow Little Swan。〃
〃I cannot；〃 Heidi called back from the midst of her friends； 〃and I shall not be able to come for a long； long timenot as long as Clara is with me。 Grandfather； however； has promised to go up the mountain with both of us one day。〃
Heidi had now extricated herself from the goats and she ran back to Clara。 Peter doubled his fists and made threatening gestures towards the invalid on her couch； and then climbed up some distance without pause until he was out of sight； for he was afraid Uncle might have seen him； and he did not care to know what Uncle might have thought of the fists。
Clara and Heidi had made so many plans for themselves that they hardly knew where to begin。 Heidi suggested that they should first write to grandmamma； to whom they had promised to send word every day； for grandmamma had not felt sure whether it would in the long run suit Clara's health to remain up the mountain； or if she would continue to enjoy herself there。 With daily news of her granddaughter she could stay on without anxiety at Ragatz； and be ready to go to Clara at a moment's notice。
〃Must we go indoors to write？〃 asked Clara； who agreed to Heidi's proposal but did not want to move from where she was； as it was so much nicer outside。 Heidi was prepared to arrange everything。 She ran in and brought out her school…book and writing things and her own little stool。 She put her reading book and copy book on Clara's knees； to make a desk for her to write upon； and she herself took her seat on the stool and sat to the bench； and then they both began writing to grandmamma。 But Clara paused after every sentence to look about her； it was too beautiful for much letter writing。 The breeze had sunk a little； and now only gently fanned her face and whispered lightly through the fir trees。 Little winged insects hummed and danced around her in the clear air； and a great stillness lay over the far； wide； sunny pasture lands。 Lofty and silent rose the high mountain peaks above her； and below lay the whole broad valley full of quiet peace。 Only now and again the call of some shepherd…boy rang out through the air； and echo answered softly from the rocks。 The morning passed； the children hardly knew how； and now grandfather came with the mid…day bowls of steaming milk； for the little daughter； he said； was to remain out as long as there was a gleam of sun in the sky。 The mid…day meal was set out and eaten as yesterday in the open air。 Then Heidi pushed Clara's chair under the fir trees； for they had agreed to spend the afternoon under their shade and there tell each other all that had happened since Heidi left Frankfurt。 If everything had gone on there as usual in a general way； there were still all kinds of particular things to tell Heidi about the various people who composed the Sesemann household； and who were all so well known to Heidi。
So they sat and chatted under the trees； and the more lively grew their conversation； the more loudly sang the birds overhead； as if wishing to take part in the children's gossip； which evidently pleased them。 So the hours flew by and all at once； as it seemed； the evening had come with the returning Pe