； trying to comfort her； 〃There； there； don't take it to heart so much； keep up your spirits； that is the great thing！ She has nearly made a hole in my head； but don't you let her bully you。〃 Then seeing that Heidi still did not stir； 〃We must go； she ordered me to take you in。〃
Heidi now began mounting the stairs； but with a slow； crawling step； very unlike her usual manner。 Sebastian felt quite sad as he watched her； and as he followed her up he kept trying to encourage her。 〃Don't you give in！ don't let her make you unhappy！ You keep up your courage！ Why we've got such a sensible little miss that she has never cried once since she was here； many at that age cry a good dozen times a day。 The kittens are enjoying themselves very much up in their home； they jump about all over the place and behave as if they were little mad things。
Later we will go up and see them； when Fraulein is out of the way； shall we？〃
Heidi gave a little nod of assent； but in such a joyless manner that it went to Sebastian's heart； and he followed her with sympathetic eyes as she crept away to her room。
At supper that evening Fraulein Rottenmeier did not speak； but she cast watchful looks towards Heidi as if expecting her at any minute to break out in some extraordinary way； but Heidi sat without moving or eating； all that she did was to hastily hide her roll in her pocket。
When the tutor arrived next morning； Fraulein Rottenmeier drew him privately aside； and confided her fear to him that the change of air and the new mode of life and unaccustomed surroundings had turned Heidi's head； then she told him of the incident of the day before； and of Heidi's strange speech。 But the tutor assured her she need not be in alarm； he had already become aware that the child was somewhat eccentric； but otherwise quite right in her mind； and he was sure that； with careful treatment and education； the right balance would be restored； and it was this he was striving after。 He was the more convinced of this by what he now heard； and by the fact that he had so far failed to teach her the alphabet； Heidi seeming unable to understand the letters。
Fraulein Rottenmeier was considerably relieved by his words； and released the tutor to his work。 In the course of the afternoon the remembrance of Heidi's appearance the day before； as she was starting out on her travels； suddenly returned to the lady； and she made up her mind that she would supplement the child's clothing with various garments from Clara's wardrobe； so as to give her a decent appearance when Herr Sesemann returned。 She confided her intention to Clara； who was quite willing to make over any number of dresses and hats to Heidi； so the lady went upstairs to overhaul the child's belongings and see what was to be kept and what thrown away。 She returned； however； in the course of a few minutes with an expression of horror upon her face。
〃What is this； Adelaide； that I find in your wardrobe！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I never heard of any one doing such a thing before！ In a cupboard meant for clothes； Adelaide； what do I see at the bottom but a heap of rolls！ Will you believe it； Clara； bread in a wardrobe！ a whole pile of bread！ Tinette；〃 she called to that young woman； who was in the dining…room；〃 go upstairs and take away all those rolls out of Adelaide's cupboard and the old straw hat on the table。〃
〃No！ no！〃 screamed Heidi。 〃I must keep the hat； and the rolls are for grandmother；〃 and she was rushing to stop Tinette when Fraulein Rottenmeier took hold of her。 〃You will stop here； and all that bread and rubbish shall be taken to the place they belong to；〃 she said in a determined tone as she kept her hand on the child to prevent her running forward。
Then Heidi in despair flung herself down on Clara's couch and broke into a wild fit of weeping； her crying becoming louder and more full of distress； every minute； while she kept on sobbing out at intervals； 〃Now grandmother's' bread is all gone！ They were all for grandmother； and now they are taken away； and grandmother won't have one；〃 and she wept as if her heart would break。 Fraulein Rottenmeier ran out of the room。 Clara was distressed and alarmed at the child's crying。 〃Heidi； Heidi；〃 she said imploringly； 〃pray do not cry so！ listen to me； don't be so unhappy； look now； I promise you that you shall have just as many rolls； or more； all fresh and new to take to grandmother when you go home； yours would have been hard and stale by then。 Come； Heidi； do not cry any more！〃
Heidi could not get over her sobs for a long time； she would never have been able to leave off crying at all if it had not been for Clara's promise； which comforted her。 But to make sure that she could depend upon it she kept on saying to Clara； her voice broken with her gradually subsiding sobs； 〃Will you give me as many； quite as many； as I had； for grandmother？〃 And Clara assured her each time that she would give her as many； 〃or more；〃 she added； 〃only be happy again。〃
Heidi appeared at supper with her eyes red with weeping； and when she saw her roll she could not suppress a sob。 But she made an effort to control herself； for she knew she must sit quietly at table。 Whenever Sebastian could catch her eye this evening he made all sorts of strange signs； pointing to his own head and then to hers； and giving little nods as much as to say； 〃Don't you be unhappy！ I have got it all safe for you。〃
When Heidi was going to get into bed that night she found her old straw hat lying under the counterpane。 She snatched it up with delight； made it more out of shape still in her joy； and then； after wrapping a handkerchief round it； she stuck it in a corner of the cupboard as far back as she could。
It was Sebastian who had hidden it there for her； he had been in the dining…room when Tinette was called； and had heard all that went on with the child and the latter's loud weeping。 So he followed Tinette； and when she came out of Heidi's room carrying the rolls and the hat； he caught up the hat and said； 〃I will see to this old thing。〃 He was genuinely glad to have been able to save it for Heidi； and that was the meaning of his encouraging signs to her at supper。
CHAPTER IX。 HERR SESEMANN HEARS OF THINGS WHICH ARE NEW TO HIM
A few days after these events there was great commotion and much running up and down stairs in Herr Sesemann's house。 The master had just returned； and Sebastian and Tinette were busy carrying up one package after another from the carriage； for Herr Sesemann always brought back a lot of pretty things for his home。 He himself had not waited to do anything before going in to see his daughter。 Heidi was sitting beside her； for it was late afternoon； when the two were always together。 Father and daughter greeted each other with warm affection； for they were deeply attached to one another。 Then he held out his hand to Heidi； 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 one another； or do you get angry and quarrel； and then cry and make it up； and then start quarreling 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 rose from his chair。 〃But you must excuse me； Clara； for I want my dinner； I have had nothing to eat all day。 Afterwards I will show you all the things I have brought home with me。〃
He found Fraulein Rottenmeier in the dining…room superintending the preparation for his meal； and when he had taken his place she sat down opposite to him； looking the every embodiment of bad news； so that he turned to her and said； 〃What am I to expect； Fraulein Rottenmeier？ You greet me with an expression of countenance that quite frightens me。 What is the matter？ Clara seems cheerful enough。〃
〃Herr Sesemann；〃 began the lady in a solemn voice； 〃it is a matter which concerns Clara； we have been frightfully imposed upon。〃
〃Indeed； in what way？〃 asked Herr Sesemann as he went on calmly drinking his wine。
〃We had decided； as you remember； to get a companion for Clara； and as I knew how anxious you were to have only those who were well…behaved and nicely brought up about her； I thought I would look for a little Swiss girl； as I hoped to find such a one as I have often read about； who； born as it were of the mountain air； lives and moves without touching the earth。〃
〃Still I think even a Swiss child would have to touch the earth if she wanted to go anywhere；〃 remarked Herr Sesemann； 〃otherwise they would have been given wings instead of feet。〃
〃Ah； Herr Sesemann； you know what I mean；〃 continued Fraulein Rottenmeier。 〃I mean one so at home among the living creatures of the high； pure mountain regions； that she would be like some idealistic being from another world among us。〃
〃And what could Clara do with such an idealistic being as you describe； Fraulein Rottenmeier。〃
〃I am not joking； Herr Sesemann； the matter is a more serious one than you think； I have been shockingly； disgracefully imposed upon。〃
〃But how？ what is there shocking and disgraceful？ I see nothing shocking in the child；〃 remarked Herr Sesemann quietly。
〃If you only knew of one thing she has done； if you only knew of the kind of people and animals she has brought into the house during your absence！ The tutor can tell you more about that。〃
〃Animals？ what am I to understand by animals； Fraulein Rottenmeier？〃
〃It is past understanding； the whole behavior of the child would be past understanding； if it were not that at times she is evidently not in her right mind。〃
Herr Sesemann had attached very little importance to what was told him up till nowbut not in her right mind！ that was more serious and might be prejudicial to his own child。 Herr Sesemann looked very narrowly at the lady opposite to assure himself that the mental aberration was not on her side。 At that moment the door opened and the tutor was announced。
〃Ah！ here is some one；〃 exclaimed Herr Sesemann； 〃who will help to clear up matters for me。 Take a seat；〃 he continued； as he held out his hand to the tutor。 〃You wil