Page:Heidi - Spyri - 1922.djvu/398

 away. If only she could come and put her hand in mine again! If I could but hear her voice once more!”

At this moment the door flew open and Heidi sprang across to the corner and threw her arms round grandmother.

“Grandmother! grandmother! my bed is to be sent from Frankfurt with all the three pillows and the thick coverlid; grandmamma says it will be here in two days.” Heidi could not get out her words quickly enough, for she was impatient to see grandmother’s great joy at the news. The latter smiled, but said a little sadly,—

“She must indeed be a good kind lady, and I ought to be glad to think she is taking you with her, but I shall not outlive it long.”

“What is this I hear? Who has been telling my good grandmother such tales?” exclaimed a kindly voice, and grandmother felt her hand taken and warmly pressed, for grandmamma had followed Heidi in and heard all that was said. “No, no, there is no thought of such a thing! Heidi is going to stay with you and make you happy. We want to see her again, but we shall come to her. We hope to pay a visit to the Alm every year, for we have good cause to offer up especial thanks to God upon this spot where so great a miracle has been wrought upon our child.”

And now grandmother’s face was lighted up with genuine happiness, and she pressed Frau Sesemann’s hand over and over again, unable to speak her thanks, while two large tears of joy rolled down her aged cheeks. And Heidi saw the glad change come over grandmother’s face, and she too now was entirely happy.