HEIDI
Fräulein Rottenmeier herself, just returning from a walk, which put a stop to Heidi’s journey.
Fräulein Rottenmeier stood still a moment, looking at her from top to toe in blank astonishment, her eye resting particularly on the red bundle. Then she broke out,—
“What have you dressed yourself like that for? What do you mean by this? Have I not strictly forbidden you to go running about in the streets? And here you are ready to start off again, and going out looking like a beggar.”
“I was not going to run about, I was going home,” said Heidi, frightened.
“What are you talking about! Going home! You want to go home?” exclaimed Fräulein Rottenmeier, her anger rising. “To run away like that! What would Herr Sesemann say if he knew! Take care that he never hears of this! And what is the matter with his house, I should like to know! Have you not been better treated than you deserved? Have you wanted for a thing? Have you ever in your life before had such a house to live in, such a table, or so many to wait upon you? Have you?”
“No,” replied Heidi.
“I should think not indeed!” continued the exasperated lady. “You have everything you can possibly want here, and you are an ungrateful little thing; it’s because you are too well off and comfortable that you have nothing to do but think what naughty thing you can do next!”
Then Heidi’s feelings got the better of her, and she poured forth her trouble. “Indeed I only want to go home, for if I stay so long away Snowflake will begin crying again, and grandmother is waiting for me, and Greenfinch will get beaten,
[140]
