Heidi filled her pockets with the two furry bundles, one for herself and one for Clara.
The priest said he would deliver the rest of the kittens to Clara the following day.
The boy with the organ led Heidi home.
When they arrived, Sebastian pulled Heidi inside and slammed the door without noticing the little boy.
"Hurry, miss! They are waiting for you at the dining room table.
Fraulein looks like a loaded cannon ready to explode!"
When Heidi stepped into the dining room, Fraulein did not look up and Clara didn't speak.
Once Heidi was seated, Fraulein said icily,
"I will punish you after dinner, Heidi.
It was rude and wicked for you to leave the house without permission."
"Meow!" came the answer back.
Fraulein trembled with anger.
"How dare you answer me as if it were a joke?!"
"I didn't . . . ," began Heidi.
"Meow, meow!" she was interrupted.
Sebastian's face broke into a smile.
He had figured out what was going on and had to cover his mouth to keep from bursting into laughter.
Clara looked at Heidi in alarm.
"It's the kittens!"
said Heidi, and the kittens meowed again.
"What?! Kittens!" shrieked Fraulein.
"Sebastian! Find the horrible things and take them away!"
She leapt from the table and ran into the study.
"You must help us," said Clara to Sebastian.
"The kittens need a home," said Heidi.
"I will see to it," answered Sebastian willingly.
He found a warm basket and put the two kittens in a safe place where Fraulein was not likely to go.
The next morning, Sebastian had just shown the tutor into the study when he heard the doorbell.
He opened the door, and there in front of him was a messy little boy carrying a hand organ.
"I want to see Clara," said the boy.
"She owes me four pennies."
"What for?" asked Sebastian.
"For walking Heidi to the church and then home."
"Oh," thought Sebastian, "this is more of Miss Heidi's mischief."
He brought the boy into the house and showed him the study.
"Clara is inside," he said.
"Be sure to play your organ the moment you enter.
Clara loves music."
Fraulein, of course, ran to the study as soon as she heard the organ.
Inside, the messy little boy was playing noisily and with great energy.
Clara was delighted and Heidi clapped her hands.
"Stop it! Stop it at once!" screamed Fraulein Rottenmeier.
"Take him out, Sebastian.
Take him out right now!"
Sebastian pulled the boy out of the room.
At the front door, he kindly gave the boy his money.
"Here are four pennies from Miss Clara and three more for the music," said Sebastian.
Fraulein decided to stay and watch the rest of the lesson.
Soon, Heidi and Clara had settled down to their work again.
There was a knock on the study door, and Sebastian entered with a large basket.
"This was just delivered for you, miss," he said to Clara.
"For me?" said Clara.
"I think the girls should finish their lesson before the basket is opened," said Fraulein.
Sebastian placed the basket on the floor and shut the door.
The lesson continued quietly, and then, all of a sudden, Fraulein sprang up and jumped onto her chair.
There were kittens scampering all over the floor.
Clara was thrilled.
"Oh, the dear little things!
Look, Heidi! How pretty they are!"
Fraulein was so overcome with horror that she couldn't speak.
At last, she found her voice and shrieked so loudly that the whole neighborhood heard.
"Sebastian, Sebastian!"