HEIDI
they were nearing Dörfli, where her friends would probably talk and question in a way that might put other ideas into Heidi’s head. So she went on straight ahead through the vil lage, holding Heidi tightly by the hand, so that they might all see that it was on the child’s account she was hurrying along at such a rate. To all their questions and remarks she made answer as she passed, “I can’t stop now, as you see, I must make haste with the child as we have yet some way to go.”
“Are you taking her away?” “Is she running away from Alm-Uncle?” “It’s a wonder she is still alive!” “But what rosy cheeks she has!” Such were the words which rang out on all sides, and Dete was thankful that she had not to stop and give any distinct answers to them, while Heidi hurried eagerly forward without saying a word.
From that day forward Alm-Uncle looked fiercer and more forbidding than ever when he came down and passed through Dörfli. He spoke to no one, and looked such an ogre as he came along with his pack of cheeses on his back, his immense stick in his hand, and his thick, frowning eyebrows, that the women would call to their little ones, “Take care! get out of Alm-Uncle’s way or he may hurt you!”
The old man took no notice of anybody as he strode through the village on his way to the valley below, where he sold his cheeses and bought what bread and meat he wanted for himself. After he had passed the villagers all crowded together looking after him, and each had something to say about him: how much wilder he looked than usual, how now he would not even respond to anybody’s greeting, while they all agreed that it was a great mercy the child had got away from him, and had
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