Heidi

by Johanna Spyri

  CHAPTER IX

  MR. SESEMANN TAKES HEIDI'S PART

  A few days after these events there was great commotion and muchrunning up and down stairs in Mr. Sesemann's house. The master had justreturned, and Sebastian and Tinette were busy carrying up one packageafter another from the carriage, for Mr. Sesemann always brought backa lot of pretty things for his home. He himself had not waited to doanything before going in to see his daughter. Heidi was sitting besideher, for it was late afternoon, when the two were always together.Father and daughter greeted each other with warm affection, for theywere deeply attached to one another. Then he held out his hand toHeidi, who had stolen away into the corner, and said kindly to her,"And this is our little Swiss girl; come and shake hands with me!That's right! Now, tell me, are Clara and you good friends with oneanother, or do you get angry and quarrel, and then cry and make it up,and then start quarrelling again on the next occasion?"

  "No, Clara is always kind to me," answered Heidi.

  "And Heidi," put in Clara quickly, "has not once tried to quarrel."

  "That's all right, I am glad to hear it," said her father, as he rosefrom his chair. "But you must excuse me, Clara, for I have had nothingto eat all day. Afterwards I will show you all the things I havebrought home with me."

  He found Miss Rottermeyer in the dining-room and when he had taken hisplace she sat down opposite to him, looking so gloomy that he turned toher and said, "What is the matter?"

  "Mr. Sesemann," began the lady in a solemn voice, "we have beenfrightfully imposed upon."

  "Indeed, in what way?" asked Mr. Sesemann as he went on calmly drinkinghis wine.

  "Well, I supposed I was getting a well-behaved and nicely brought uplittle Swiss girl for Clara's companion but I have been shockingly,disgracefully imposed upon."

  "But how? what is there shocking and disgraceful? I see nothingshocking in the child," remarked Mr. Sesemann quietly.

  "If you only knew the kind of people and animals she has brought intothe house during your absence! The tutor can tell you more about that."

  "Animals? what am I to understand by animals, Miss Rottermeyer?"

  "It is past understanding; the whole behavior of the child would bepast understanding, if it were not that at times she is evidently notin her right mind."

  At that moment the door opened and the tutor was announced. "Ah! hereis some one," exclaimed Mr. Sesemann, "who will help to clear upmatters for me. Take a seat," he continued, as he held out his hand tothe tutor. "And now tell me, what is the matter with this child thathas come to be a companion to my daughter?"

  The tutor started in his usual style. "If I must give my opinion aboutthis little girl, I should like first to state that, if on one side,there is a lack of development which has been caused by the more orless careless way in which she has been brought up--"

  "My good friend," interrupted Mr. Sesemann, "you are giving yourselfmore trouble than you need. I only want to know what your opinion is asto her being a fit companion or not for my daughter?"

  "I should not like in any way to prejudice you against her," beganthe tutor once more; "for if on the one hand there is a certaininexperience of the ways of society, owing to the uncivilized life sheled up to the time of her removal to Frankfurt, on the other hand sheis endowed with certain good qualities, and, taken on the whole--"

  "Excuse me, my dear sir, do not disturb yourself, but I must--I thinkmy daughter will be wanting me," and with that Mr. Sesemann quicklyleft the room and went into the study to talk to Clara.

  "And now, my dear," he said, drawing his chair nearer and laying herhand in his, "what kind of animals has your little companion broughtinto the house, and why does Miss Rottermeyer think that she is notalways in her right mind?"

  Clara had no difficulty in answering. She told her father everythingabout the tortoise and the kittens, and explained to him what Heidihad said the day Miss Rottermeyer had been put in such a fright. Mr.Sesemann laughed heartily at her recital. "So you do not want me tosend the child home again," he asked, "you are not tired of having herhere?"

  "Oh, no, no," Clara exclaimed, "please do not send her away. Time haspassed much more quickly since Heidi has been here, for something freshhappens every day, and it used to be so dull, and she has always somuch to tell me."

  That evening when Mr. Sesemann and Miss Rottermeyer were alone,settling the household affairs, he informed her that he intended tokeep Heidi, for his daughter liked her as a companion. "I desire," hecontinued, "that the child shall be in every way kindly treated, andthat her peculiarities shall not be looked upon as crimes. If you findher too much for you alone, I can hold out a prospect of help for I amexpecting my mother here on a long visit, and she, as you know, can getalong with anybody, whatever they may be like."

  "O yes, I know," replied Miss Rottermeyer, but there was no tone ofrelief in her voice as she thought of the coming help.

  Mr. Sesemann was only home for a short time; he left for Paris againbefore the fortnight was over, comforting Clara with the prospect ofher grandmother's arrival, which was to take place in a few days'time. Clara talked so much about her grandmother that Heidi began alsoto call her "grandmamma," which brought forth a look of displeasurefrom Miss Rottermeyer. As she was going to her room that night, MissRottermeyer waylaid her, and gave her strict orders not to call Mrs.Sesemann "grandmamma," but always to say "madam."