Heidi by Johanna Spyri

CHAPTER XIII. A SUMMER EVENING ON THE MOUNTAIN

Herr Sesemann, a good deal irritated and excited, went quickly upstairs and along the  passage to Fraulein Rottenmeier's room, and there gave such an unusually loud knock at  the door that the lady awoke from sleep with a cry of alarm. She heard the master of the  house calling to her from the other side of the door, "Please make haste and come down  to me in the dining-room; we must make ready for a journey at once." Fraulein  Rottenmeier looked at her clock: it was just half-past four; she had never got up so early  before in her life. What could have happened? What with her curiosity and excitement  she took hold of everything the wrong way, and it was a case with her of more haste less  speed, for she kept on searching everywhere for garments which she had already put on.

Meanwhile Herr Sesemann had gone on farther and rung the bells in turn which  communicated with the several servants' rooms, causing frightened figures to leap out of  bed, convinced that the ghost had attacked the master and that he was calling for help.  One by one they made their appearance in the dining-room, each with a more terrified  face than the last, and were astonished to see their master walking up and down, looking  well and cheerful, and with no appearance of having had an encounter with a ghost. John  was sent off without delay to get the horses and carriage ready; 

Tinette was ordered to wake Heidi and get her dressed for a journey; Sebastian was  hurried off to the house where Dete was in service to bring the latter round. Then Fraulein  Rottenmeier, having at last accomplished her toilet, came down, with everything well  adjusted about her except her cap, which was put on hind side before. Herr Sesemann put  down her flurried appearance to the early awakening he had caused her, and began  without delay to give her directions. She was to get out a trunk at once and pack up all the  things belonging to the Swiss child—for so he usually spoke of Heidi, being unaccustomed  to her name—and a good part of Clara's clothes as well, so that the child might take home  proper apparel; but everything was to be done immediately, as there was no time for  consideration.

Fraulein Rottenmeier stood as if rooted to the spot and stared in astonishment at Herr  Sesemann. She had quite expected a long and private account of some terrible ghostly  experience of his during the night, which she would have enjoyed hearing about in the  broad daylight. Instead of this there were these prosaic and troublesome directions, which  were so unexpected that she took some time to get over her surprise and disappointment,  and continued standing awaiting further explanation.

But Herr Sesemann had no thought or time for explanations and left her standing there  while he went to speak to Clara. As he anticipated, the unusual commotion in the house  had disturbed her, and she was lying and listening and wondering what had happened. So  he sat down and told her everything that had occurred during the past night, and  explained that the doctor had given his verdict and pronounced Heidi to be in a very highly  strung state, so that her nightly wanderings might gradually lead her farther and farther,  perhaps even on to the roof, which of course would be very dangerous for her. And so  they had decided to send her home at once, as he did not like to take the responsibility of  her remaining, and Clara would see for herself that it was the only thing to do. Clara was  very much distressed, and at first made all kinds of suggestions for keeping Heidi with her;  but her father was firm, and promised her, if she would be reasonable and make no further  fuss, that he would take her to Switzerland next summer. So Clara gave in to the  inevitable, only stipulating that the box might be brought into her room to be packed, so  that she might add whatever she liked, and her father was only too pleased to let her  provide a nice outfit for the child. Meanwhile Dete had arrived and was waiting in the hall,  wondering what extraordinary event had come to pass for her to be sent for at such an  unusual hour. Herr Sesemann informed her of the state Heidi was in, and that he wished  her that very day to take her home. Dete was greatly disappointed, for she had not  expected such a piece of news. She remembered Uncle's last words, that he never  wished to set eyes on her again, and it seemed to her that to take back the child to him,  after having left it with him once and then taken it away again, was not a safe or wise thing  for her to do. So she excused herself to Herr Sesemann with her usual flow of words; to day and to-morrow it would be quite impossible for her to take the journey, and there was  so much to do that she doubted if she could get off on any of the following days. Herr  Sesemann understood that she was unwilling to go at all, and so dismissed her. Then he  sent for Sebastian and told him to make ready to start: he was to travel with the child as  far as Basle that day, and the next day take her home. He would give him a letter to carry  to the grandfather, which would explain everything, and he himself could come back by  return.