Heidi Page #4

on this tortoise, was it, Miss Rottenmeier?

After being attacked by at least one

of the felines, yes.

Good Lord.

Frankly, sir it makes my skin crawl

just touching them.

And all this was the child

Heidi's doing, you say?

Absolutely.

So what you're saying, Miss Rottenmeier

is that you don't consider her a suitable

companion for my daughter?

What I'm saying is, Mr Sesseman...

that I'm not entirely sure that

Adelheid is quite right in the head.

Here, Clara.

Heidi. Would you mind

bringing me a glass of water?

Fresh water?

Fresh cold water, ideally.

Of course, sir.

Now, Clara,

tell me about these cats that Heidi

apparently smuggled into the house.

They weren't cats, papa,

they were kittens.

And she only did it to save their lives.

Oh?

They were going to be put down.

So what's happened to these animals?

Sebastian's hidden them in the attic

until he can find good homes for them.

Oh, but please, papa,

let me keep a couple of them.

And I know the doctor said that they

weren't good for my condition

but I'm sure I'll be all right now.

Who told you the doctor said

they were bad for your condition?

Miss Rottenmeier.

Good day to you.

Good day.

Miss Rottenmeier thinks that

we should send Heidi away anyway.

No, papa. Since she came,

wonderful things have

happened nearly every day.

And she does make me laugh so.

Ah, thank you,

Heidi. My, this is cold.

I got it from the fountain.

Outside, on the street.

You went out for it?

You did want it cold, sir.

Thank you, Heidi.

Terribly sorry, sir.

You wanted a word, sir.

I did, Rottenmeier, yes.

I need to return to Paris tomorrow

for some important meetings.

And I know that I can, leave the household

in your more than capable hands.

But of course, sir.

Now, as for the little Swiss Miss...

it seems that Clara has formed

quite an attachment to her.

And I think it would be wiser not

to send her back just yet.

As you wish, sir.

And despite her little idiosyncrasies

she will, of course, be treated with

kindness and understanding at all times.

But of course, sir.

And if you find her too much to

manage on your own, help is at hand.

Oh?

My mother will be arriving shortly

for her usual visit.

Thank you, Sebastian.

Clara, grandmamma's here!

Adelheid!

How dare you presume to address

Mrs Sesseman as grandmamma.

She isn't your grandmamma.

Never forget that.

In future, therefore...

you will call her. Gracious Madam.

Gracious Madam! Is that quite clear?

Yes, ma'am.

Now go to your room at once.

And sit quietly until you're called.

Are you clean?

Yes.

Well, in that case,

you're to go to the study.

There you are, darling.

Thank you.

And this is your friend, is it?

Yes, this is her, grandmamma.

Come in, my dear.

Let me have a good look at you.

Good evening, Madam Gracious.

What? Is that what you call people

in the mountains?

Oh, no, we never call anybody that.

Nor here either, I can assure you.

I'm grandmamma,

and that's what you shall call me.

Now, you will remember that, won't you?

Yes, grandmamma.

And what's your name?

My real name's Heidi...

but Miss Rottenmeier thinks

it should be Adelheid.

So I answer to that as well.

I'm sure you'll agree, madam,

that it's better for her.

To be called by a name which isn't

a cause of ribaldry and embarrassment.

My dear Rottenmeier.

If Heidi is her name,

then that

is what she shall be called.

As you wish, madam.

You sent for me, madam?

Yes. Clara's taking

her afternoon nap, isn't she?

Yes, madam.

And what does Heidi do in the afternoons?

Sits quietly in her room

until called, madam.

I see.

In that case, bring her down, will you?

I want to give her some books I've found.

I hardly think that books would

be of any use to her, madam.

She hasn't even learnt her alphabet yet.

Strange. She doesn't seem stupid.

But then appearances can often

be deceptive, madam.

Can't they?

Come in.

Heidi.

Come and sit over here.

I've found some books for you to read.

But I can't read, grandmamma.

You can at least look

at some of the pictures.

My dear child, whatever's the matter?

This reminds me of...

Home?

You miss it very much, don't you?

Grandfather especially.

Even if he doesn't want me any more.

And little Finch.

Little Finch?

He's a goat.

I see.

Well, why don't you look

at some other books.

Perhaps the pictures

won't upset you so much.

But I like this book.

And the pictures in it are lovely.

And it has a lovely story to go with it.

If only you could read it.

Only I told you.

I can't read, it's too hard.

Whoever told you that?

Peter.

Peter?

The goatherd.

Anyone can read, Heidi.

Would you like me to teach you?

Oh, yes, please but you'd

be wasting your time.

We'll see.

When's Heidi coming back?

That one.

Good.

And that one.

And that one.

Good.

Once upon...

- a time there was a...

- The child can suddenly read.

Don't be ridiculous.

Well, my own reaction exactly

when witnessed it just now.

How can this be, I ask myself?

How is this possible? But...

she's reading aloud...

to Mrs Sesseman at this moment.

- Rottenmeier.

- Oh, yes madam?

I think it's high time we did something

about Heidi's wardrobe, don't you?

Her clothes don't seem entirely

appropriate somehow

for a companion to my granddaughter.

We could cut down some

of Clara's old dresses to fit her.

What I had in mind...

was taking her into town before I leave

and buying her some clothes of her own.

Nothing too grand, you understand.

It would only embarrass the child...

so perhaps you'd make

the necessary arrangements.

Good evening.

Good evening, ma'am.

Hello, Clara.

It's yours now, dear.

To keep?

Yes.

Even when I go home?

But of course.

But of course you won't be

going home, Adelheid.

Grandmamma will be leaving soon...

and then Clara will need you

more than ever.

Won't you,

Clara, dear?

Walk on.

Bye, children.

Bye.

Hand me that, Tinette.

That's mine!

It's falling to pieces, child.

What are you going to do with it?

Burn it, of course.

You have new clothes now.

Not the hat as well!

And will you kindly explain

what these are doing here?

They're rolls.

I can see what they are.

Or rather were. What I want to know

is what you're doing with them.

They're for grannie.

Grannie?

Peter's grannie.

She finds black bread too hard to chew.

She'll find this a lot harder.

Must be weeks old, some of them.

Don't you realise rolls are to be

eaten the day they're baked?

Remove them at once, Tinette.

Perhaps a spot of this, Miss.

No, thanks.

Please, Miss, you must have something.

You haven't eaten for

days.

Something wrong with your food, is there?

I'm not hungry.

Well then will you kindly leave the table

before you put the rest of us off.

Wretched child.

Doesn't appreciate

how very fortunate she is.

Oh well, then.

If she insists on starving herself

to death, so be it.

Grandfather.

Grandfather.

Heidi? Heidi!

What are you doing?

Are you all right?

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