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〃No；〃 replied Heidi； 〃I only wanted to go up that I might look down。〃
〃Get along home with you and don't try this trick on me again； or you may not come off so easily a second time；〃 and with that he turned and was about to shut the door。 But Heidi took hold of his coat and said beseechingly； 〃Let me go up； just once。〃
He looked around； and his mood changed as he saw her pleading eyes； he took hold of her hand and said kindly； 〃Well； if you really wish it so much； I will take you。〃
The boy sat down on the church steps to show that he was content to wait where he was。
Hand in hand with the old man Heidi went up the many steps of the tower； they became smaller and smaller as they neared the top； and at last came one very narrow one； and there they were at the end of their climb。 The old man lifted Heidi up that she might look out of the open window。
〃There； now you can look down；〃 he said。
Heidi saw beneath her a sea of roofs； towers； and chimney…pots； she quickly drew back her head and said in a sad； disappointed voice； 〃It is not at all what I thought。〃
〃You see now； a child like you does not understand anything about a view！ Come along down and don't go ringing at my bell again！〃
He lifted her down and went on before her down the narrow stairway。 To the left of the turn where it grew wider stood the door of the tower…keeper's room； and the landing ran out beside it to the edge of the steep slanting roof。 At the far end of this was a large basket； in front of which sat a big grey cat； that snarled as it saw them； for she wished to warn the passers…by that they were not to meddle with her family。 Heidi stood still and looked at her in astonishment； for she had never seen such a monster cat before； there were whole armies of mice； however； in the old tower； so the cat had no difficulty in catching half a dozen for her dinner every day。 The old man seeing Heidi so struck with admiration said； 〃She will not hurt you while I am near； come； you can have a peep at the kittens。〃
Heidi went up to the basket and broke out into expressions of delight。
〃Oh； the sweet little things！ the darling kittens；〃 she kept on saying； as she jumped from side to side of the basket so as； not to lose any of the droll gambols of the seven or eight little kittens that were scrambling and rolling and falling over one another。
〃Would you like to have one？〃 said the old man； who enjoyed watching the child's pleasure。
〃For myself to keep？〃 said Heidi excitedly； who could hardly believe such happiness was to be hers。
〃Yes； of course； more than one if you likein short； you can take away the whole lot if you have room for them；〃 for the old man was only too glad to think he could get rid of his kittens without more trouble。
Heidi could hardly contain herself for joy。 There would be plenty of room for them in the large house； and then how astonished and delighted Clara would be when she saw the sweet little kittens。
〃But how can I take them with me？〃 asked Heidi； and was going quickly to see how many she could carry away in her hands； when the old cat sprang at her so fiercely that she shrank back in fear。
〃I will take them for you if you will tell me where；〃 said the old man； stroking the cat to quiet her； for she was an old friend of his that had lived with him in the tower for many years。
〃To Herr Sesemann's； the big house where there is a gold dog's head on the door； with a ring in its mouth；〃 explained Heidi。
Such full directions as these were not really needed by the old man； who had had charge of the tower for many a long year and knew every house far and near； and moreover Sebastian was an acquaintance of his。
〃I know the house；〃 he said； 〃but when shall I bring them； and who shall I ask for？you are not one of the family； I am sure。〃
〃No； but Clara will be so delighted when I take her the kittens。〃
The old man wished now to go downstairs； but Heidi did not know how to tear herself away from the amusing spectacle。
〃If I could just take one or two away with me！ one for myself and one for Clara； may I？〃
〃Well； wait a moment；〃 said the man； and he drew the cat cautiously away into his room； and leaving her by a bowl of food came out again and shut the door。 〃Now take two of them。〃
Heidi's eyes shone with delight。 She picked up a white kitten and another striped white and yellow； and put one in the right； the other in the left pocket。 Then she went downstairs。 The boy was still sitting outside on the steps； and as the old man shut the door of the church behind them； she said； 〃Which is our way to Herr Sesemann's house？〃
〃I don't know；〃 was the answer。
Heidi began a description of the front door and the steps and the windows； but the boy only shook his head； and was not any the wiser。
〃Well； look here；〃 continued Heidi； 〃from one window you can see a very； very large grey house； and the roof runs like this〃 and Heidi drew a zigzag line in the air with her forefinger。
With this the boy jumped up； he was evidently in the habit of guiding himself by similar landmarks。 He ran straight off with Heidi after him； and in a very short time they had reached the door with the large dog's head for the knocker。 Heidi rang the bell。 Sebastian opened it quickly； and when he saw it was Heidi； 〃Make haste！ make haste；〃 he cried in a hurried voice。
Heidi sprang hastily in and Sebastian shut the door after her； leaving the boy； whom he had not noticed； standing in wonder on the steps。
〃Make haste； little miss；〃 said Sebastian again； 〃go straight into the dining…room； they are already at table； Fraulein Rottenmeier looks like a loaded cannon。 What could make the little miss run off like that？〃
Heidi walked into the room。 The lady housekeeper did not look up； Clara did not speak； there was an uncomfortable silence。 Sebastian pushed her chair up for her； and when she was seated Fraulein Rottenmeier； with a severe countenance； sternly and solemnly addressed her： 〃I will speak with you afterwards； Adelheid； only this much will I now say； that you behaved in a most unmannerly and reprehensible way by running out of the house as you did； without asking permission； without any one knowing a word about it； and then to go wandering about till this hour； I never heard of such behavior before。〃
〃Miau！〃 came the answer back。
This was too much for the lady's temper； with raised voice she exclaimed； 〃You dare； Adelheid； after your bad behavior； to answer me as if it were a joke？〃
〃I did not〃 began Heidi〃Miau！ miau！〃
Sebastian almost dropped his dish and rushed out of the room。
〃That will do；〃 Fraulein Rottenmeier tried to say； but her voice was almost stifled with anger。 〃Get up and leave the room。〃
Heidi stood up frightened； and again made an attempt to explain。 〃I really did not〃 〃Miau！ miau！ miau！〃
〃But； Heidi；〃 now put in Clara； 〃when you see that it makes Fraulein Rottenmeier angry； why do you keep on saying miau？〃
〃It isn't I； it's the kittens；〃 Heidi was at last given time to say。
〃How！ what！ kittens！〃 shrieked Fraulein Rottenmeier。 〃Sebastian！ Tinette！ Find the horrid little things！ take them away！〃 And she rose and fled into the study and locked the door； so as to make