after her。
〃I excuse you doing this as it is the first time； but do not let me know you doing it a second time；〃 said Fraulein Rottenmeier； pointing to the floor。 〃During your lesson time you are to sit still and attend。 If you cannot do this I shall have to tie you to your chair。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Heidi； 〃but I will certainly not move again；〃 for now she understood that it was a rule to sit still while she was being taught。
Sebastian and Tinette were now sent for to clear up the broken articles and put things in order again； the tutor said good…morning and left； as it was impossible to do any more lessons that day； there had been certainly no time for gaping this morning。
Clara had to rest for a certain time during the afternoon； and during this interval； as Fraulein Rottenmeier informed Heidi； the latter might amuse herself as she liked。 When Clara had been placed on her couch after dinner； and the lady…housekeeper had retired to her room； Heidi knew that her time had come to choose her own occupation。 It was just what she was longing for； as there was something she had made up her mind to do； but she would require some help for its accomplishment； and in view of this she took her stand in the hall in front of the dining…room door in order to intercept the person she wanted。 In a few minutes up came Sebastian from the kitchen with a tray of silver tea…things； which he had to put away in the dining…room cupboard。 As he reached the top stairs Heidi went up to him and addressed him in the formal manner she had been ordered to use by Fraulein Rottenmeier。
Sebastian looked surprised and said somewhat curtly； 〃What is it you want； miss？〃
〃I only wished to ask you something； but it is nothing bad like this morning；〃 said Heidi； anxious to conciliate him； for she saw that Sebastian was rather in a cross temper； and quite thought that it was on account of the ink she had spilt on the floor。
〃Indeed； and why； I should first like to know； do you address me like that？〃 replied Sebastian； evidently still put out。
〃Fraulein Rottenmeier told me always to speak to you like that；〃 said Heidi。
Then Sebastian laughed； which very much astonished Heidi； who had seen nothing amusing in the conversation； but Sebastian； now he understood that the child was only obeying orders； added in a friendly voice； 〃What is it then that miss wants？〃
It was now Heidi's turn to be a little put out； and she said； 〃My name is not miss； it is Heidi。〃
〃Quite so； but the same lady has ordered me to call you miss；〃 explained Sebastian。
〃Has she？ oh； then I must be called so；〃 said Heidi submissively； for she had already noticed that whatever Fraulein Rottenmeier said was law。 〃Then now I have three names；〃 she added with a sigh。
〃What was it little miss wished to ask？〃 said Sebastian as he went on into the dining…room to put away his silver。
〃How can a window be opened？〃
〃Why； like that！〃 and Sebastian flung up one of the large windows。
Heidi ran to it； but she was not tall enough to see out； for her head only reached the sill。
〃There； now miss can look out and see what is going on below；〃 said Sebastian as he brought her a high wooden stool to stand on。
Heidi climbed up； and at last； as she thought； was going to see what she had been longing for。 But she drew back her head with a look of great disappointment on her face。
〃Why； there is nothing outside but the stony streets；〃 she said mournfully； 〃but if I went right round to the other side of the house what should I see there； Sebastian？〃
〃Nothing but what you see here；〃 he told her。
〃Then where can I go to see right away over the whole valley？〃
〃You would have to climb to the top of a high tower； a church tower； like that one over there with the gold ball above it。 From there you can see right away ever so far。〃
Heidi climbed down quickly from her stool； ran to the door； down the steps and out into the street。 Things were not； however； quite so easy as she thought。 Looking from the window the tower had appeared so close that she imagined she had only to run over the road to reach it。 But now； although she ran along the whole length of the street； she still did not get any nearer to it； and indeed soon lost sight of it altogether； she turned down another street； and went on and on； but still no tower。 She passed a great many people； but they all seemed in such a hurry that Heidi thought they had not time to tell her which way to go。 Then suddenly at one of the street corners she saw a boy standing； carrying a hand…organ on his back and a funny…looking animal on his arm。 Heidi ran up to him and said； Where is the tower with the gold ball on the top？〃
〃I don't know；〃 was the answer。
〃Who can I ask to show me？〃 she asked again。
〃I don't know。〃
〃Do you know any other church with a high tower？〃
〃Yes； I know one。〃
〃Come then and show it me。〃
〃Show me first what you will give me for it；〃 and the boy held out his hand as he spoke。 Heidi searched about in her pockets and presently drew out a card on which was painted a garland of beautiful red roses； she looked at it first for a moment or two； for she felt rather sorry to part with it； Clara had only that morning made her a present of itbut then； to look down into the valley and see all the lovely green slopes！ 〃There；〃 said Heidi； holding out the card； 〃would you like to have that？〃
The boy drew back his hand and shook his head。
〃What would you like then？〃 asked Heidi； not sorry to put the card back in her pocket。
〃Money。〃
〃I have none； but Clara has； I am sure she will give me some； how much do you want？〃
〃Twopence。〃
〃Come along then。〃
They started off together along the street； and on the way Heidi asked her companion what he was carrying on his back； it was a hand…organ； he told her； which played beautiful music when he turned the handle。 All at once they found themselves in front of an old church with a high tower； the boy stood still； and said； 〃There it is。〃
〃But how shall I get inside？〃 asked Heidi； looking at the fast closed doors。
〃I don't know；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you think that I can ring as they do for Sebastian？〃
〃I don't know。〃
Heidi had by this time caught sight of a bell in the wall which she now pulled with all her might。 〃If I go up you must stay down here； for I do not know the way back； and you will have to show me。〃
〃What will you give me then for that？〃
〃What do you want me to give you？〃
〃Another twopence。〃
They heard the key turning inside； and then some one pulled open the heavy creaking door； an old man came out and at first looked with surprise and then in anger at the children； as he began scolding them： 〃What do you mean by ringing me down like this？ Can't you read what is written over the bell； 'For those who wish to go up the tower'？〃
The boy said nothing but pointed his finger at Heidi。 The latter answered； 〃But I do want to go up the tower。〃
〃What do you want up there？〃 said the old man。 Has somebody sent you？〃
〃No；〃 replied Heidi； 〃I only wanted to go up that I might look down。〃
〃Get along home with you and don't try this trick on me again； or you may not come off so easily a second time；〃 and with that he turned and was about to shut the door。 But Heidi took hold of his coat and said beseechingly； 〃Let me go up； just once。〃
He looked around； and his mood changed as he saw her pleading eyes； he took hold of her hand and said kindly； 〃Well； if you really wish it so much； I will take you。〃
The boy sat down on the church steps to show that he was content to wait where he was。
Hand in hand with the old man Heidi went up the many steps of the tower； they became smaller and smaller as they neared the top； and at last came one very narrow one； and there they were at the end of their climb。 The old man lifted Heidi up that she might look out of the open window。
〃There； now you can look down；〃 he said。
Heidi saw beneath her a sea of roofs； towers； and chimney…pots； she quickly drew back her head and said in a sad； disappointed voice； 〃It is not at all what I thought。〃
〃You see now； a child like you does not understand anything about a view！ Come along down and don't go ringing at my bell again！〃
He lifted her down and went on before her down the narrow stairway。 To the left of the turn where it grew wider stood the door of the tower…keeper's room； and the landing ran out beside it to the edge of the steep slanting roof。 At the far end of this was a large basket； in front of which sat a big grey cat； that snarled as it saw them； for she wished to warn the passers…by that they were not to meddle with her family。 Heidi stood still and looked at her in astonishment； for she had never seen such a monster cat before； there were whole armies of mice； however； in the old tower； so the cat had no difficulty in catching half a dozen for her dinner every day。 The old man seeing Heidi so struck with admiration said； 〃She will not hurt you while I am near； come； you can have a peep at the kittens。〃
Heidi went up to the basket and broke out into expressions of delight。
〃Oh； the sweet little things！ the darling kittens；〃 she kept on saying； as she jumped from side to side of the basket so as； not to lose any of the droll gambols of the seven or eight little kittens that were scrambling and rolling and falling over one another。
〃Would you like to have one？〃 said the old man； who enjoyed watching the child's pleasure。
〃For myself to keep？〃 said Heidi excitedly； who could hardly believe such happiness was to be hers。
〃Yes； of course； more than one if you likein short； you can take away the whole lot if you have room for them；〃 for the old man was only too glad to think he could get rid of his kittens without more trouble。
Heidi could hardly contain herself for joy。 There would be plenty of room for them in the large house； and then how astonished and delighted Clara would be when she saw the sweet little kittens。
〃But how can I take them with me？〃 asked Heidi； and was going quickly to see how many she could carry away in her hands； when the old cat sprang at her so fiercely that she shrank back in fear。
〃I will take them for you if you will tell me where；〃 said the old man；