Page:Heidi - Spyri - 1922.djvu/163

 “I am not joking, Herr Sesemann, the matter is a more serious one than you think; I have been shockingly, disgracefully imposed upon.”

“But how? what is there shocking and disgraceful? I see nothing shocking in the child,” remarked Herr Sesemann quietly.

“If you only knew of one thing she has done, if you only knew of the kind of people and animals she has brought into the house during your absence! The tutor can tell you more about that.”

“Animals? what am I to understand by animals, Fräulein Rottenmeier?”

“It is past understanding; the whole behavior of the child would be past understanding if it were not that at times she is evidently not in her right mind.”

Herr Sesemann had attached very little importance to what was told him up till now—but not in her right mind! that was more serious and might be prejudicial to his own child. Herr Sesemann looked very narrowly at the lady opposite to assure himself that the mental aberration was not on her side. At that moment the door opened and the tutor was announced.

“Ah! here is some one,” exclaimed Herr Sesemann, “who will help to clear up matters for me. Take a seat,” he continued, as he held out his hand to the tutor. “You will drink a cup of coffee with me—no ceremony, I pray! And now tell me, what is the matter with this child that has come to be a companion to my daughter? What is this strange thing I hear about her bringing animals into the house, and is she in her right senses?”

The tutor felt he must begin with expressing his pleasure at