SESEMANN’S RETURN
what to ask for, but he wanted to get the child out of the room for a little while, “fetch me—fetch me a glass of water.”
“Fresh water?” asked Heidi.
“Yes—yes—as fresh as you can get it,” he answered. Heidi disappeared on the spot.
“And now, my dear little Clara,” he said, drawing his chair nearer and laying her hand in his, “answer my questions clearly and intelligibly: what kind of animals has your little companion brought into the house, and why does Fräulein Rottenmeier think that she is not always in her right mind?”
Clara had no difficulty in answering. The alarmed lady had spoken to her also about Heidi’s wild manner of talking, but Clara had not been able to put a meaning to it. She told her father everything about the tortoise and the kittens, and explained to him what Heidi had said the day Fräulein Rottenmeier had been put in such a fright. Herr Sesemann laughed heartily at her recital. “So you do not want me to send the child home again,” he asked, “you are not tired of having her here?”
“Oh, no, no,” Clara exclaimed, “please do not send her away. Time has passed much more quickly since Heidi was here, for something fresh happens every day, and it used to be so dull, and she has always so much to tell me.”
“That’s all right then—and here comes your little friend. Have you brought me some nice fresh water?” he asked as Heidi handed him a glass.
“Yes, fresh from the pump,” answered Heidi.
“You did not go yourself to the pump?” said Clara.
“Yes I did; it is quite fresh. I had to go a long way, for there were such a lot of people at the first pump; so I went further
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