HEIDI
ing, and would bring back a faithful account of his experiences and of all he saw and heard.
The servants of a household have a curious faculty of divining what is going on before they are actually told about anything. Sebastian and Tinette must have possessed this faculty in a high degree, for even as the doctor was going downstairs, Tinette, who had been rung for, entered Clara’s room.
“Take that box and bring it back filled with the soft cakes which we have with coffee,” said Clara, pointing to a box which had been brought long before in preparation for this. Tinette took it up, and carried it out, dangling it contemptuously in her hand.
“Hardly worth the trouble I should have thought,” she said pertly as she left the room.
As Sebastian opened the door for the doctor he said with a bow, “Will the Herr Doctor be so kind as to give the little miss my greetings?”
“I see,” said the doctor, “you know then already that I am off on a journey?”
Sebastian hesitated and gave an awkward little cough. “I am—I have—I hardly know myself Oh, yes, I remember; I happened to pass through the dining-room and caught little miss’s name, and I put two and two together—and so I thought—”
“I see, see, I see,” smiled the doctor, “one can find out a great many things by thinking. Good-bye till I see you again, Sebastian, I will be sure and give your message.”
The doctor was hastening off when he met with a sudden obstacle; the violent wind had prevented Fräulein Rottenmeier
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