Heidi Read online

  CHAPTER VI

  CLARA, THE PATIENT LITTLE INVALID

  In her home at Frankfurt, Clara, the little daughter of Mr. Sesemann,was lying on the invalid couch on which she spent her whole day, beingwheeled in it from room to room.

  Her little face was thin and pale, and at this moment her two soft blueeyes were fixed on the clock, which seemed to her to go very slowlythis day, and with a slight accent of impatience, which was very rarewith her, she asked, "Isn't it time yet, Miss Rottermeyer?"

  This lady was sitting very upright at a small work-table, busy withher embroidery. She wore a dome-shaped head piece which made her lookvery solemn and dignified. For many years past, since Clara's motherhad died, the housekeeping and the superintendence of the servants hadbeen entrusted to Miss Rottermeyer. The father who was often away fromhome, left her in sole charge, with the condition only that his littledaughter should have a voice in all matters, and that nothing should bedone against her wish.

  As Clara was putting her impatient question for the second time, Deteand Heidi arrived at the front door.

  Tinette, the maid in dainty cap and apron, ushered them upstairs intothe library. Dete remained standing politely near the door, stillholding Heidi tightly by the hand, for she did not know what the childmight take it into her head to do amid these new surroundings.

  Miss Rottermeyer rose slowly and went up to the little new companionfor the daughter of the house, to see what she was like. She did notseem very pleased with her appearance. Heidi was dressed in her plainlittle woolen frock, and her hat was an old straw one bent out ofshape. The child looked innocently out from beneath it, gazing withunconcealed astonishment at the lady's towering head dress.

  "What is your name?" asked Miss Rottermeyer, after examining the childfor some minutes, while Heidi in return kept her eyes steadily fixedupon the lady.

  "Heidi," she answered in a clear, ringing voice.

  "What? what? that's no Christian name for a child; you were notchristened that. What name did they give you when you were baptized?"continued Miss Rottermeyer.

  "I do not remember," replied Heidi.

  "What a way to answer!" said the lady, shaking her head. "Dete, is thechild a simpleton or only saucy?"

  "If the lady will allow me, I will speak for the child, for she isvery unaccustomed to strangers," said Dete, who had given Heidi asilent poke for making such an unsuitable answer. "She is certainly notstupid nor yet saucy, she speaks exactly as she thinks. This is thefirst time she has ever been in a gentleman's house and she does notknow good manners; but she is very willing to learn. She was christenedAdelaide, after her mother, my sister, who is now dead."

  "Well, that's a name that one can pronounce," remarked MissRottermeyer. "But I must tell you, Dete, that I am astonished to see soyoung a child. I told you that I wanted a companion of the same age asthe young lady of the house, one who could share her lessons, and allher other occupations. Miss Clara is now over twelve; what age is thischild?"

  "If the lady will allow me," began Dete again, in her usual fluentmanner, "I myself had lost count of her exact age; she is certainly alittle younger, but not much; I cannot say precisely, but I think sheis ten, or thereabouts."

  "Grandfather told me I was eight," put in Heidi. Dete gave her anotherpoke, but as the child had not the least idea why she did so she wasnot at all confused.

  "What--only eight!" cried Miss Rottermeyer angrily. "Four years tooyoung! Of what use is such a child! And what have you learnt? Whatbooks did you have to learn from?"

  "None," said Heidi.

  "How? what? How then did you learn to read?" continued the lady.

  "I have never learnt to read, or Peter either," Heidi informed her.

  "Mercy upon us! you do not know how to read! is it really so?"exclaimed Miss Rottermeyer, greatly horrified. "Is it possible--notable to read? What have you learnt then?"

  "Nothing," said Heidi with unflinching truthfulness.

  "Young woman," said the lady to Dete, "this is not at all the sort ofcompanion we want. How could you think of bringing me a child likethis?"

  But Dete was not to be put down so easily, and answered warmly, "Ifyou will allow me, the child is exactly what I thought you required;she is unlike all other children, and I thought this child seemed asif made for the place. But I must go now, for my mistress will bewaiting for me; if you will permit I will come again soon and see howshe is getting on." And with a bow Dete quickly left the room and randownstairs. Miss Rottermeyer stood for a moment taken aback and thenran after Dete. But she had disappeared out the front door.

  Heidi remained where she had been standing since she first came in.Clara had looked on during the interview without speaking; now shebeckoned to Heidi and said, "Come here!"

  Heidi went up to her.

  "Would you rather be called Heidi or Adelaide?" asked Clara.

  "I am never called anything but Heidi," was the child's prompt answer.

  "Then I shall always call you by that name," said Clara, "it suits you.I have never heard it before, but neither have I ever seen a child likeyou before. Have you always had that short curly hair?"

  "Yes, I think so," said Heidi.

  "Are you pleased to come to Frankfurt?" went on Clara.

  "No, but I shall go home again tomorrow and take grandmother a whiteloaf," explained Heidi.

  "Well, you are a funny child!" exclaimed Clara. "Don't you know youwere sent for to come here and stay with me and share my lessons? Theyare dreadfully dull, and I think the morning will never pass away.My tutor comes every morning at about ten o'clock, and then we go onwith lessons till two, and it does seem such a long time. Sometimeshe takes up the book and holds it close up to his face, as if he werevery short-sighted, but I know it's only because he wants to gape, andMiss Rottermeyer takes her large handkerchief out also now and thenand covers her face with it, as if she was moved by what we had beenreading, but that is only because she is longing to gape too. And Imyself often want to gape, but I dare not, for if Miss Rottermeyer seesme gaping she runs off at once and fetches the cod-liver oil and says Imust have a dose, as I am getting weak again, and the cod-liver oil ishorrible. But now it will be much more amusing, for I shall be able tolie back and listen while you learn to read."

  Heidi shook her head doubtfully when she heard of learning to read.

  "Oh, nonsense, Heidi, of course you must learn to read, everybodymust, and my tutor is very kind, and never cross, and he will explaineverything to you. But mind, when he explains anything to you, youwon't be able to understand; but don't ask any questions, or else hewill go on explaining and you will understand less than ever. Later,when you have learnt more and know about things yourself, then you willbegin to understand what he meant."

  Miss Rottermeyer now came back into the room; she had not been ableto overtake Dete, and was evidently very much put out. She walkedbackwards and forwards in a state of agitation between the study andthe dining-room, and began scolding the butler. "Make haste, Sebastian,or we shall get no dinner today at all," she said.

  Then hurrying out, she called to Tinette to see that the bed-room wasprepared for the little girl who had just arrived.

  Meanwhile Sebastian had flung open the folding doors leading into thedining-room with rather more noise than he need, for he was feelingcross, although he did not dare answer back when Miss Rottermeyer spoketo him; he went up to Clara's chair to wheel her into the next room.Heidi stood staring at him. Seeing her eyes fixed upon him, he suddenlygrowled out, "Well, what is there in me to stare at like that?" whichhe would certainly not have done if he had been aware that MissRottermeyer was just then entering the room. "You look so like Peter,"answered Heidi. The housekeeper clasped her hands in horror. "Is itpossible!" she stammered half-aloud, "she is now addressing the servantas if he were a friend! I never could have imagined such a child!"

  Sebastian wheeled the couch into the dining-room and helped Clara on toher chair. Miss Rottermeyer took the seat beside her and made a signto Heidi to take the one opposite. Beside Heidi's plate lay a nicewhite roll, and her eyes lighted up with pleasure as she saw it. WhenSebastian came up to her side and handed her the dish of fish, shelooked at the roll and asked, "Can I have it?" Sebastian nodded, andHeidi immediately seized the roll and put it in her pocket. Sebastianstill remained standing beside Heidi; it was not his duty to speak, norto move away until she had helped herself. Heidi looked wonderingly athim for a minute or two, and then said, "Am I to eat some of that too?"Sebastian nodded again. "Give me some then," she said, looking calmlyat her plate.

  "I see I shall have to teach you the first rules of behavior," said thehousekeeper with a sigh. "You must not speak to Sebastian at table, orat any other time, unless you have an order to give him, and then youare not to address him as if he was some one belonging to you. Neverlet me hear you speak to him in that way again! It is the same withTinette, and for myself you are to address me as you hear others doing.Clara must herself decide what you are to call her."

  "Why, Clara, of course," put in the latter. Then followed a long listof rules as to general behavior, during the course of which Heidi'seyes gradually closed, for she had been up before five o'clock thatmorning and had had a long journey. She leaned back in her chair andfell fast asleep. Miss Rottermeyer having at last come to the end ofher lecture said, "Now remember what I have said, Adelaide! Have youunderstood it all?"

  "Heidi has been asleep for ever so long," said Clara, her face ripplingall over with amusement, for she had not had such an entertainingdinner for a long time.

  "It is really insupportable what one has to go through with thischild," exclaimed Miss Rottermeyer, in great indignation, and she rangthe bell so violently that Tinette and Sebastian both came running in;but no noise was sufficient t
o wake Heidi, and it was with difficultythat they roused her sufficiently to get her to her bed-room.