Heidi stepped out of the cart and climbed up the steep path from Dorfli, carrying her basket.
The baker had promised to send her suitcase up to Grandfather's the next day.
She recognized every tree along the way, and the high tops of the mountains looked down on her like old friends.
At last, Heidi caught sight of the hut where Peter and his grandmother lived.
With her heart beating louder and louder, she ran up to the door and burst in.
"Oh my!" cried a voice from the corner.
"That was just how Heidi used to run in.
Who is there?" asked Grannie.
"It is I, Grannie!"
cried Heidi, and she ran and flung her arms around her.
Grannie was so surprised that she couldn't speak.
She stroked Heidi's head quietly and said at last,
"Yes, yes, that is Heidi's hair and her voice.
It really is you. Thank God."
Tears of joy fell from the blind woman's eyes.
"Yes, Grannie, it's really me," answered Heidi.
"I have come back and I am never going away again.
And you won't have any more hard bread to eat. Look!"
One by one, Heidi took out the white rolls and piled them on Grannie's lap.
"What a present to bring me!"
exclaimed Grannie as her hands touched the soft bread.
"But you're the best present of all!"
"I was afraid you might have died while I was gone," cried Heidi.
"And you would never get to taste the rolls."
Grannie smiled and stroked Heidi's cheeks.
After a friendly pause, Heidi reached into her basket, pulled out her old straw hat, and put it on.
She told Grannie she had to go home to Grandfather, but promised to visit the next day.
On her way up the steep path, Heidi paused to look all around her.
The beauty of the mountain with the rocks aglow in the sun was just as she remembered.
She dropped her basket, threw her arms above her head, and hopped from foot to foot with pure joy.
Then she picked up her basket and started to run.
First she saw the tops of the fir trees, then the roof of Grandfather's hut, and at last, Grandfather sitting in his favorite seat.
"Grandfather, Grandfather," she called.
She ran up, jumped onto his lap, and clasped her arms about his neck.
For the first time in years, Grandfather's eyes were moist with tears, and he had to brush them away with his hand.
"So you have come back to me, Heidi," he said.
"Why is that? Did they send you away?"
"Oh no, Grandfather. Don't think that," said Heidi.
"They were all so kind, Clara, her father, and Grandmamma.
But I was very homesick.
I used to get a lump in my throat as if I were choking.
I never said anything because I didn't want to be ungrateful.
And then, suddenly, one morning Clara's father said I could come home.
I'm sure the letter explains it all."
She hopped down and handed him the packet and letter from her basket.
Then hand in hand, they went inside.
"The packet is for you," said Grandfather after reading the letter.
"Put it in the cupboard.
It is money for you to buy a bed and any clothes you may need.
And now, Heidi, do you think you can still drink milk with me?" he asked.
Eagerly Heidi sat down on her stool.
Grandfather filled her cup right to the brim and handed it to her.
Holding it with two hands, Heidi drank.
"Our milk tastes nicer than anything else in the world, Grandfather," she said and smiled.