CHAPTER XV
A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT
When Autumn came Clara was not so well and the doctor advised Mr.Sesemann to postpone the visit to Heidi till the following spring.
"I know how you hate to deny your child anything and especially thistrip that she has so set her heart upon," said the kind-hearted olddoctor, "but you must make up your mind to it, Sesemann. Clara hasnot had such a bad summer as this last one, for years. Only the worstresults would follow from the fatigue of such a journey, and it isout of the question for her. If we want to give the child a chance ofrecovery we must use the utmost care and watchfulness."
Mr. Sesemann, who had listened to the doctor in sad and submissivesilence, now suddenly jumped up. "Doctor," he said, "tell me truly:have you really any hope for her final recovery?"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders. "Very little," he replied quietly."But, friend, think of my trouble. You still have a beloved child tolook for you and greet you on your return home. You do not come back toan empty house and sit down to a solitary meal."
The once bright and cheery doctor was now a broken-hearted man. Hecould not get over the loss of his daughter who had died some monthsbefore, and who had been his sole and constant companion for many years.
Mr. Sesemann, who had been striding up and down the room, suddenlypaused beside his friend and laying his hand on his shoulder said:"Doctor, I have an idea. How would it be for you to go, and pay Heidi avisit in our name? You need a change of scene. I cannot bear to see youso sad; you are no longer the same man."
The doctor was taken aback at this sudden proposal and wanted to makeobjections, but his friend gave him no time to say anything. He wasso delighted with his idea, that he seized the doctor by the arm anddrew him into Clara's room. She held out her hand to him as he cameup to her; he took a seat beside her, and her father also drew up hischair, and taking Clara's hand in his began to talk to her of theSwiss journey and how he himself had looked forward to it. He passedas quickly as he could over the main point that it was now impossiblefor her to undertake it, for he dreaded the tears that would follow;but he went on without pause to tell her of his new plan, and dwelt onthe great benefit it would be to his friend if he could be persuaded totake this holiday.
The tears were indeed swimming in the blue eyes, although Clarastruggled to keep them down for her father's sake, but it was abitter disappointment to give up the journey, the thought of whichhad been her only joy and solace during the lonely hours of her longillness. She knew, however, that her father would never refuse her athing unless he was certain that it would be harmful for her. So sheswallowed her tears as well as she could and turned her thoughts to theone hope still left her. Taking the doctor's hand and stroking it, shesaid pleadingly,--
"Dear doctor, you will go and see Heidi, won't you? and then you cancome and tell me all about it, what it is like up there, and what Heidiand the grandfather, and Peter and the goats do all day. I know themall so well! And then you can take what I want to send to Heidi; I havethought about it all, and also something for the grandmother. Do praygo, dear doctor, and I will take as much cod liver oil as you like."
Whether this promise finally decided the doctor it is impossible tosay, but it is certain that he smiled and said,--
"Then I must certainly go, Clara, for you will then get as plump andstrong as your father and I wish to see you. And have you decided whenI am to start?"
"Tomorrow morning--early if possible," replied Clara.
"Yes, she is right," put in Mr. Sesemann, "the sun is shining and thesky is blue, and there is no time to be lost; it is a pity to miss asingle one of these days on the mountain."
The doctor could not help laughing. "You will be reproaching me nextfor not being there already; well I must go and make arrangements forgetting off."
But Clara would not let him go until she had given him endless messagesfor Heidi, and had explained all he was to look at so as to give her anexact description on his return. She would pack the presents she hadalready bought, and send them to his house later.
The doctor promised to obey Clara's directions in every particular;he would start some time during the following day if not the firstthing in the morning, and would bring back a faithful account of hisexperiences and of all he saw and heard.
He was hastening off when he met Miss Rottermeyer just returning from awalk. He informed her of his intended journey, begging her in his mostconciliatory voice to pack up the parcels for Heidi as she alone knewhow to pack. And then he took his leave.
Clara quite expected to have a long tussle with Miss Rottermeyerbefore she would get the latter to consent to sending all the thingsthat she had collected as presents for Heidi. But this time she wasmistaken, for Miss Rottermeyer was in a more than usually good temper.She cleared the large table so that all the things for Heidi could bespread out upon it and packed under Clara's own eyes. It was no lightjob, for the presents were of all shapes and sizes. First there wasthe little warm cloak with a hood, which had been designed by Claraherself, in order that Heidi during the coming winter might be ableto go and see grandmother when she liked, and not have to wait tillher grandfather could take her wrapped up in a sack to keep her fromfreezing. Then came a thick warm shawl for the grandmother, in whichshe could wrap herself well up and not feel the cold when the windcame sweeping in such terrible gusts round the house. The next objectwas the large box full of cakes; these were also for the grandmother,that she might have something to eat with her coffee besides bread.An immense sausage was the next article; this had been originallyintended for Peter, who never had anything but bread and cheese, butClara had altered her mind, fearing that in his delight he might eatit all up at once and make himself ill. So she arranged to send itto Brigitta, who could take some for herself and the grandmother andgive Peter his portion out by degrees. A packet of tobacco was apresent for grandfather, who was so fond of his pipe as he sat restingin the evening. Finally there was a whole lot of mysterious littlebags, and parcels, and boxes, which Clara had had especial pleasure incollecting, as each was to be a joyful surprise for Heidi as she openedit. The work came to an end at last, and Clara eyed the big box withpleasure, picturing Heidi's exclamations and jumps of joy and surprisewhen the huge parcel arrived at the hut.
Sebastian came in, and lifting the package on to his shoulder, carriedit off to be forwarded at once to the doctor's house.
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