When Fraulein left Heidi's room, Heidi broke into a wild fit of weeping.
"Now Grannie's rolls are all gone!" she cried.
"They were all for Grannie and now they are all gone!"
Clara was distressed at Heidi's tears.
"Heidi, Heidi, please don't cry!" she said desperately.
"I promise that when you go home, you shall have as many fresh rolls for Grannie as you want.
Yours would have been hard and dry by then.
Please, Heidi, don't cry anymore."
Clara's promise comforted Heidi a little, but she did not stop sobbing for a long time.
When she arrived at supper, her eyes were still red from crying.
She sat quietly at the table and tried her best to be well behaved.
Whenever Sebastian caught her eye, he pointed strangely to his head and then to hers.
Heidi couldn't understand what he was trying to tell her.
But when she went to bed that night, she found her old straw hat under her bedspread.
She snatched it up with delight and hugged it.
Then she wrapped a handkerchief around it and hid it as far back in her cupboard as she could.
A few mornings later, there was a great commotion and much running up and down the stairs in the large house.
Clara's father had just returned with packages and boxes and lots of pretty things.
When he arrived, he immediately went to see Clara.
Heidi was sitting beside her in the study.
Father and daughter hugged each other with warm affection.
Then, Herr Sesemann held out his hand to Heidi and said kindly,
"So this is our little Swiss girl.
Come and shake hands with me!
Now tell me, are Clara and you good friends?"
"Yes, Clara is very kind to me," answered Heidi.
He stayed and talked with the girls for a few minutes, and then they left to eat supper.
Fraulein sat across from him at the table, her face sour with bad news.
"Herr Sesemann, if you only knew the things Heidi has done─or the people and animals she has brought into this house!
Her behavior is past understanding!"
Clara's father listened to Fraulein, and he spoke with the tutor as well.
Finally, he went to Clara.
"And now, my dear little Clara,"
he said, pulling up his chair and taking her hand in his.
"What kind of animals has Heidi brought into the house?
And why does Fraulein think that she is not in her right mind?"
Clara had no difficulty explaining.
She told her father about the kittens and the organ boy.
Herr Sesemann laughed heartily and asked,
"So do you want me to send Heidi home?"
"Oh, no, no!" Clara exclaimed.
"Please do not send her away."
"It is settled then," said her father.
Herr Sesemann was only home for a short time.
He comforted Clara with the promise that Clara's Grandmamma would arrive soon to keep her company.
Clara was overjoyed, and she told Heidi all about her.
Upon her arrival, Clara's Grandmamma was eager to meet Heidi and welcomed her warmly.
When Clara took her nap that afternoon, Grandmamma asked Fraulein,
"Where is Heidi?
And what does she do in the afternoons?"
"She is sitting in her room, Frau Sesemann," said Fraulein.
"Bring her to my room," said Grandmamma cheerfully.
"I have some pretty books with me that I would like to give her."