HEIDI
to-morrow morning?” for she could think of no greater treat to offer him.
“Agreed!” answered the doctor, “we will go together.”
Heidi now ran in to the grandmother; she first, with some effort, managed to carry in the box of cakes; then she ran out again and brought in the sausage—for her grandfather had put the presents down by the door—and then a third time for the shawl. She had placed them as close as she could to the grandmother, so that the latter might be able to feel them and understand what was there. The shawl she laid over the old woman’s knees.
“They are all from Frankfurt, from Clara and grandmamma,” she explained to the astonished grandmother and Brigitta, the latter having watched her dragging in all the heavy things, unable to imagine what was happening.
“And you are very pleased with the cakes, aren’t you, grandmother? taste how soft they are!” said Heidi over and over again, to which the grandmother continued to answer, “Yes, yes, Heidi, I should think so! what kind people they must be!” And then she would pass her hand over the warm thick shawl and add, “This will be beautiful for the cold winter! I never thought I should ever have such a splendid thing as this to put on.
Heidi could not help feeling some surprise at the grandmother seeming to take more pleasure in the shawl than the cakes. Meanwhile Brigitta stood gazing at the sausage with almost an expression of awe. She had hardly in her life seen such a monster sausage, much less owned one, and she could scarcely believe her eyes. She shook her head and said doubtfully, “I must ask Uncle what it is meant for.”
[256]
