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her？〃
〃He is sitting by the table； making round wooden spoons；〃 Heidi informed him； as she opened the door。
He was the old village pastor from Dorfli who had been a neighbor of Uncle's when he lived down there； and had known him well。 He stepped inside the hut； and going up to the old man； who was bending over his work； said； 〃Good…morning； neighbor。〃
The grandfather looked up in surprise； and then rising said； 〃Good…morning〃 in return。 He pushed his chair towards the visitor as he continued； 〃If you do not mind a wooden seat there is one for you。〃
The pastor sat down。 〃It is a long time since I have seen you； neighbor；〃 he said。
〃Or I you；〃 was the answer。
〃I have come to…day to talk over something with you；〃 continued the pastor。 〃I think you know already what it is that has brought me here；〃 and as he spoke he looked towards the child who was standing at the door； gazing with interest and surprise at the stranger。
〃Heidi； go off to the goats；〃 said her grandfather。 You take them a little salt and stay with them till I come。〃
Heidi vanished on the spot。
〃The child ought to have been at school a year ago； and most certainly this last winter；〃 said the pastor。 〃The schoolmaster sent you word about it； but you gave him no answer。 What are you thinking of doing with the child； neighbor？〃
〃I am thinking of not sending her to school；〃 was the answer。
The visitor； surprised； looked across at the old man； who was sitting on his bench with his arms crossed and a determined expression about his whole person。
〃How are you going to let her grow up then？〃 he asked。
〃I am going to let her grow up and be happy among the goats and birds； with them she is safe； and will learn nothing evil。〃
〃But the child is not a goat or a bird； she is a human being。 If she learns no evil from these comrades of hers； she will at the same time learn nothing； but she ought not to grow up in ignorance； and it is time she began her lessons。 I have come now that you may have leisure to think over it； and to arrange about it during the summer。 This is the last winter that she must be allowed to run wild； next winter she must come regularly to school every day。〃
〃She will do no such thing；〃 said the old man with calm determination。
〃Do you mean that by no persuasion can you be brought to see reason； and that you intend to stick obstinately to your decision？〃 said the pastor； growing somewhat angry。 〃You have been about the world； and must have seen and learnt much； and I should have given you credit for more sense； neighbor。〃
〃Indeed；〃 replied the old man； and there was a tone in his voice that betrayed a growing irritation on his part too； 〃and does the worthy pastor really mean that he would wish me next winter to send a young child like that some miles down the mountain on ice…cold mornings through storm and snow； and let her return at night when the wind is raging； when even one like ourselves would run a risk of being blown down by it and buried in the snow？ And perhaps he may not have forgotten the child's mother； Adelaide？ She was a sleep…walker； and had fits。 Might not the child be attacked in the same way if obliged to over…exert herself？ And some one thinks they can come and force me to send her？ I will go before all the courts of justice in the country； and then we shall see who will force me to do it！〃
〃You are quite right； neighbor；〃 said the pastor in a friendly tone of voice。 〃I see it would have been impossible to send the child to school from here。 But I perceive that the child is dear to you； for her sake do what you ought to have done long ago： come down into Dorfli and live again among your fellowmen。 What sort of a life is this you lead； alone； and with bitter thoughts towards God and man！ If anything were to happen to you up here who would there be to help you？ I cannot think but what you must be half…frozen to death in this hut in the winter； and I do not know how the child lives through it！〃
〃The child has young blood in her veins and a good roof over her head； and let me further tell the pastor； that I know where wood is to be found； and when is the proper time to fetch it； the pastor can go and look inside my wood…shed； the fire is never out in my hut the whole winter through。 As to going to live below that is far from my thoughts； the people despise me and I them； it is therefore best for all of us that we live apart。〃
〃No； no； it is not best for you； I know what it is you lack；〃 said the pastor in an earnest voice。 〃As to the people down there looking on you with dislike； it is not as bad as you think。 Believe me； neighbor； seek to make your peace with God； pray for forgiveness where you need it； and then come and see how differently people will look upon you； and how happy you may yet be。〃
The pastor had risen and stood holding out his hand to the old man as he added with renewed earnestness； 〃I will wager； neighbor； that next winter you will be down among us again； and we shall be good neighbors as of old。 I should be very grieved if any pressure had to be put upon you； give me your hand and promise me that you will come and live with us again and become reconciled to God and man。〃
Alm…Uncle gave the pastor his hand and answered him calmly and firmly； 〃You mean well by me I know； but as to that which you wish me to do； I say now what I shall continue to say； that I will not send the child to school nor come and live among you。〃
〃Then God help you！〃 said the pastor； and he turned sadly away and left the hut and went down the mountain。
Alm…Uncle was out of humor。 When Heidi said as usual that afternoon； 〃Can we go down to grandmother now？〃 he answered； 〃Not to…day。〃 He did not speak again the whole of that day； and the following morning when Heidi again asked the same question； he replied； 〃We will see。〃 But before the dinner bowls had been cleared away another visitor arrived； and this time it was Cousin Dete。 She had a fine feathered hat on her head； and a long trailing skirt to her dress which swept the floor； and on the floor of a goatherd's hut there are all sorts of things that do not belong to a dress。
The grandfather looked her up and down without uttering a word。 But Dete was prepared with an exceedingly amiable speech and began at once to praise the looks of the child。 She was looking so well she should hardly have known her again； and it was evident that she had been happy and well…cared for with her grandfather； but she had never lost sight of the idea of taking the child back again； for she well understood that the little one must be much in his way； but she had not been able to do it at first。 Day and night； however； she had thought over the means of placing the child somewhere； and that was why she had come to…day； for she had just heard of something that would be a lucky chance for Heidi beyond her most ambitious hopes。 Some immensely wealthy relatives of the people she was serving； who had the most splendid house almost in Frankfurt； had an only daughter； young and an invalid； who was always obliged to go about in a wheeled chair； she was therefore very much alone and had no one to share her lessons； and so the little girl felt dull。 Her father had s