As they walked through the village, Heidi asked Detie,
"Can I come back home again this evening?"
Detie looked at Heidi in surprise.
"Tomorrow, we will be in Frankfurt to visit Clara, the crippled girl," she explained.
"Yes, but will I be able to come home when I want?" asked Heidi.
"Yes, yes," replied Detie impatiently.
"Now hurry up.
We have a long way to go."
At the next town, they caught a train, and the following day, they arrived at Clara's house.
It was the biggest house Heidi had ever seen.
Detie rang the bell, and a maid took them to meet a tall, frowning woman.
She had a stern face, and her hair was tied tightly in a bun.
This was the housekeeper, Fraulein Rottenmeier.
Clara's father, Herr Sesemann, traveled a lot on business, and while he was away, Fraulein ran the house.
She rose and went over to Heidi.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Heidi," said Heidi.
"And how old are you?"
"Grandfather told me I am almost eight," answered Heidi.
"What? Only eight?
I asked for a child Clara's age, and she is already twelve," said Fraulein angrily.
"What books have you studied?"
"None," said Heidi.
"What? How did you learn to read, then?" asked Fraulein.
"I don't know how to read," Heidi informed her.
"Mercy upon us!
You do not know how to read!" exclaimed Fraulein.
Fraulein turned to Detie.
"How could you bring me a child like this?"
While Fraulein and Detie talked, Heidi stood by the study door.
She looked out into the hallway and at the stairs going up.
It was all so large that she felt very small and lost.
Suddenly, with a bow, Detie quickly left the room and ran out the front door.
Fraulein stood for a moment in surprise and then ran after Detie.
A young voice called, "Hi, come over here!" and Heidi turned her head.
Clara was in the study and had watched the whole interview without saying a word.
She had a kind face, and Heidi went over to her.
"I have never seen a child like you before.
Have you always had that short curly hair?" said Clara.
"Yes, I think so," said Heidi.
"Are you pleased to be in Frankfurt?" asked Clara.
"No, but tomorrow, I will go home again and see Grannie," said Heidi.
"Well, you are a funny child," said Clara.
"You were sent to stay with me and learn lessons, but there will be some fun too."
Suddenly, Fraulein walked back into the room looking quite unsettled.
She rang the bell and the butler, Sebastian, appeared.
"We are ready for supper.
You can put the dishes on the table," Fraulein ordered.
"As for you, Heidi, I see that I shall have to teach you the first rules about behavior."
As they sat at the dinner table, Fraulein listed all the rules of good behavior.
She talked about how to get up and how to go to bed, how to go in and out of rooms, and how to shut the doors and keep everything tidy.
Fraulein went on and on and on.
Heidi had been awake since five o'clock that morning, and while Fraulein was talking, her eyes slowly closed.
Soon, Heidi was leaning back in her chair, fast asleep, but Fraulein didn't notice and kept on talking.
Eventually Clara cleared her throat and said,
"Fraulein, Heidi is asleep."
Fraulein's face wrinkled with embarrassment, and Clara giggled.
She had not had such an entertaining dinner for a long time.