arrange about it during the summer。 This is the last winter that she must be allowed to run wild； next winter she must come regularly to school every day。〃
〃She will do no such thing；〃 said the old man with calm determination。
〃Do you mean that by no persuasion can you be brought to see reason； and that you intend to stick obstinately to your decision？〃 said the pastor； growing somewhat angry。 〃You have been about the world； and must have seen and learnt much； and I should have given you credit for more sense； neighbor。〃
〃Indeed；〃 replied the old man； and there was a tone in his voice that betrayed a growing irritation on his part too； 〃and does the worthy pastor really mean that he would wish me next winter to send a young child like that some miles down the mountain on ice…cold mornings through storm and snow； and let her return at night when the wind is raging； when even one like ourselves would run a risk of being blown down by it and buried in the snow？ And perhaps he may not have forgotten the child's mother； Adelaide？ She was a sleep…walker； and had fits。 Might not the child be attacked in the same way if obliged to over…exert herself？ And some one thinks they can come and force me to send her？ I will go before all the courts of justice in the country； and then we shall see who will force me to do it！〃
〃You are quite right； neighbor；〃 said the pastor in a friendly tone of voice。 〃I see it would have been impossible to send the child to school from here。 But I perceive that the child is dear to you； for her sake do what you ought to have done long ago： come down into Dorfli and live again among your fellowmen。 What sort of a life is this you lead； alone； and with bitter thoughts towards God and man！ If anything were to happen to you up here who would there be to help you？ I cannot think but what you must be half…frozen to death in this hut in the winter； and I do not know how the child lives through it！〃
〃The child has young blood in her veins and a good roof over her head； and let me further tell the pastor； that I know where wood is to be found； and when is the proper time to fetch it； the pastor can go and look inside my wood…shed； the fire is never out in my hut the whole winter through。 As to going to live below that is far from my thoughts； the people despise me and I them； it is therefore best for all of us that we live apart。〃
〃No； no； it is not best for you； I know what it is you lack；〃 said the pastor in an earnest voice。 〃As to the people down there looking on you with dislike； it is not as bad as you think。 Believe me； neighbor； seek to make your peace with God； pray for forgiveness where you need it； and then come and see how differently people will look upon you； and how happy you may yet be。〃
The pastor had risen and stood holding out his hand to the old man as he added with renewed earnestness； 〃I will wager； neighbor； that next winter you will be down among us again； and we shall be good neighbors as of old。 I should be very grieved if any pressure had to be put upon you； give me your hand and promise me that you will come and live with us again and become reconciled to God and man。〃
Alm…Uncle gave the pastor his hand and answered him calmly and firmly； 〃You mean well by me I know； but as to that which you wish me to do； I say now what I shall continue to say； that I will not send the child to school nor come and live among you。〃
〃Then God help you！〃 said the pastor； and he turned sadly away and left the hut and went down the mountain。
Alm…Uncle was out of humor。 When Heidi said as usual that afternoon； 〃Can we go down to grandmother now？〃 he answered； 〃Not to…day。〃 He did not speak again the whole of that day； and the following morning when Heidi again asked the same question； he replied； 〃We will see。〃 But before the dinner bowls had been cleared away another visitor arrived； and this time it was Cousin Dete。 She had a fine feathered hat on her head； and a long trailing skirt to her dress which swept the floor； and on the floor of a goatherd's hut there are all sorts of things that do not belong to a dress。
The grandfather looked her up and down without uttering a word。 But Dete was prepared with an exceedingly amiable speech and began at once to praise the looks of the child。 She was looking so well she should hardly have known her again； and it was evident that she had been happy and well…cared for with her grandfather； but she had never lost sight of the idea of taking the child back again； for she well understood that the little one must be much in his way； but she had not been able to do it at first。 Day and night； however； she had thought over the means of placing the child somewhere； and that was why she had come to…day； for she had just heard of something that would be a lucky chance for Heidi beyond her most ambitious hopes。 Some immensely wealthy relatives of the people she was serving； who had the most splendid house almost in Frankfurt； had an only daughter； young and an invalid； who was always obliged to go about in a wheeled chair； she was therefore very much alone and had no one to share her lessons； and so the little girl felt dull。 Her father had spoken to Dete's mistress about finding a companion for her； and her mistress was anxious to help in the matter； as she felt so sympathetic about it。 The lady…housekeeper had described the sort of child they wanted； simple…minded and unspoilt； and not like most of the children that one saw now…a…days。 Dete had thought at once of Heidi and had gone off without delay to see the lady…housekeeper； and after Dete had given her a description of Heidi； she had immediately agreed to take her。 And no one could tell what good fortune there might not be in store for Heidi； for if she was once with these people and they took a fancy to her； and anything happened to their own daughterone could never tell； the child was so weaklyand they did not feel they could live without a child； why then the most unheard of luck
〃Have you nearly finished what you had to say？ broke in Alm…Uncle； who had allowed her to talk on uninterruptedly so far。
〃Ugh！〃 exclaimed Dete； throwing up her head in disgust； 〃one would think I had been talking to you about the most ordinary matter； why there is not one person in all Prattigau who would not thank God if I were to bring them such a piece of news as I am bringing you。〃
〃You may take your news to anybody you like； I will have nothing to do with it。〃
But now Dete leaped up from her seat like a rocket and cried； 〃If that is all you have to say about it； why then I will give you a bit of my mind。 The child is now eight years old and knows nothing； and you will not let her learn。 You will not send her to church or school； as I was told down in Dorfli； and she is my own sister's child。 I am responsible for what happens to her； and when there is such a good opening for a child； as this which offers for Heidi； only a person who cares for nobody and never wishes good to any one would think of not jumping at it。 But I am not going to give in； and that I tell you； I have everybody in Dorfli on my side； there is not one person there who will not take my part against you； and I advise you to think well before bringing it into court； if that is your intention； there are certain things which might be brought up against you which you would not care to hear； for when one has to do with law…courts there is a great deal raked up that had been forgotten。〃
〃Be silent！〃 thundered the Uncle； and his eyes flashed with anger。 〃Go and be done with you！ and never let me see you again with your hat and feather； and such words on your tongue as you come with today！〃 And with that he strode out of the hut。
〃You have made grandfather angry；〃 said Heidi； and her dark eyes had anything but a friendly expression in them as she looked at Dete。
〃He will soon be all right again； come now；〃 said Dete hurriedly； 〃and show me where your clothes are。〃
〃I am not coming；〃 said Heidi。
〃Nonsense；〃 continued Dete； then altering her tone to one half…coaxing； half…cross； 〃Come； come； you do not understand any better than your grandfather； you will have all sorts of good things that you never dreamed of。〃 Then she went to the cupboard and taking out Heidi's things rolled them up in a bundle。 〃Come along now； there's your hat； it is very shabby but will do for the present； put it on and let us make haste off。〃
〃I am not coming；〃 repeated Heidi。
〃Don't be so stupid and obstinate； like a goat； I suppose it's from the goats you have learnt to be so。 Listen to me： you saw your grandfather was angry and heard what he said； that he did not wish to see us ever again； he wants you now to go away with me and you must not make him angrier still。 You can't think how nice it is at Frankfurt； and what a lot of things you will see； and if you do not like it you can come back again； your grandfather will be in a good temper again by that time。〃
〃Can I return at once and be back home again here this evening？〃 asked Heidi。
〃What are you talking about； come along now！ I tell you that you can come back here when you like。 To…day we shall go as far as Mayenfeld； and early to…morrow we shall start in the train； and that will bring you home again in no time when you wish it； for it goes as fast as the wind。〃
Dete had now got the bundle under her arm and the child by the hand； and so they went down the mountain together。
As it was still too early in the year to take his goats out； Peter continued to go to school at Dorfli； but now and again he stole a holiday； for he could see no use in learning to read； while to wander about a bit and look for stout sticks which might be wanted some day he thought a far better employment。 As Dete and Heidi neared the grandmother's hut they met Peter coming round the corner； he had evidently been well rewarded that day for his labors； for he was carrying an immense bundle of long thick hazel sticks on his shoulders。 He stood still and stared at the two approaching figures； as they came up to him； he exclaimed； 〃Where are you going； Heidi？〃
〃I am only just going over to Frankfurt for a little visit with Dete；〃 she replied； 〃but I must first run in to grandmother； she will be expecting me。〃
〃No； no；