Heidi: Chapters 6–12

"Is the child ignorant or pert, Miss Deta?"

"I shall speak for the child, if I may, madam," Deta said, after giving Heidi a little blow for her unbecoming answer.

"Miss Deta, how could you bring this child?" said the housekeeper, when she was more composed.

When he went up to Clara's chair, he saw Heidi watching him intently.

Sebastian nodded, but another pause ensued.

After that the child was told how to accost the servants and the governess.

After that the child was told how to accost the servants and the governess.

At last she had to resign herself, and sat down on a low stool, thinking of the melting snow on the slopes and the first flowers of spring that she had hailed with such delight.

Suddenly Tinette opened the door and said curtly: "Breakfast's ready."

While she considered many problems, a frightful noise as of something falling was heard in the adjoining room, followed by a cry to Sebastian for help.

"This must never happen again," said the lady sternly.

Clara had only given it to her this morning, so she was loath to part with it.

"What charming kittens, what cunning little creatures!" she exclaimed in her delight, when she saw them crawling about, jumping and tumbling.

At last Miss Rottenmeier began with a severe and solemn voice: "I shall speak with you later, Adelheid. How can you leave the house without a word? Your behavior was very remiss. The idea of walking about till so late!"

At last Miss Rottenmeier began with a severe and solemn voice: "I shall speak with you later, Adelheid. How can you leave the house without a word? Your behavior was very remiss. The idea of walking about till so late!"

"Can't you at least say 'Miss Clara', you ragged urchin?" said Sebastian harshly.

"What are you up to?" she exploded. "Haven't I forbidden you to run away? You look like a vagabond!"

"Don't I know that?" the furious lady proceeded. "What a thankless child you are, just idle and good-for-nothing!"

"We had decided, as you know, to have a companion for Clara. Knowing as I did that you would wish me to get a noble, pure child, I thought of this Swiss child, hoping she would go through life like a breath of pure air, hardly touching the earth."

Heidi had been sent to her room to await further orders, but it was not long before Tinette opened the door and said brusquely: "Go into the study!"

To the housekeeper's great mortification, she called the child Heidi, remarking to Miss Rottenmeier: "If somebody's name is Heidi, I call her so."

After a while somebody stirred inside, and with a bewildered face Miss Rottenmeier appeared, staring at the unexpected visitor.

Suddenly she screamed aloud, for there on the picture she saw a peaceful flock grazing on a green pasture.

You have not learnt to read because you have believed what Peter said. You shall believe me now, and I prophesy that you will learn it in a very short time, as a great many other children do that are like you and not like Peter.

Heidi was gladdened by these tidings, and asked: "Can we tell Him everything, everything?"

Heidi loved the pictures with the shepherd best of all; they told the story of the prodigal son, and the child would read and re-read it till she nearly knew it all by heart.

"Do you pray to Him every day that He may make you happy again and take your affliction away?"

Heidi went to her room now and prayed earnestly to God that He would forgive her and fulfill her wish.

After that Heidi never cried again; often she could hardly repress her sobs and was obliged to make the strangest faces to keep herself from crying out.

He tried to encourage her at table to help herself to all the good dishes, but listlessly she would let them pass and hardly touch them.

"Is that so? this is new to me," remarked Mr. Sesemann. "But will you please not suspect my venerable ancestors? Please call Sebastian; I want to speak to him alone."

"Come here, Sebastian, and tell me honestly, if you have played the ghost for Miss Rottenmeier's pastime?"

"No, upon my word, master; you must not think that," replied Sebastian frankly.

When the doctor laughed, Mr. Sesemann continued: "I call that sympathy; I wish my friend Miss Rottenmeier could hear you. She is convinced that an old Sesemann is wandering about, expiating some dreadful deed."

"Sesemann," the doctor replied seriously, "just think what you are doing. We cannot cure her with powders and pills. The child has not a strong constitution, and if you keep her here, she might never get well again. If you restore her to the bracing mountain air to which she is accustomed, she probably will get perfectly well again."