Page:Heidi - Spyri - 1922.djvu/172

 door she heard a kind voice say, “Ah, here comes the child! Come along in and let me have a good look at you.”

Heidi walked up to her and said very distinctly in her clear voice, “Good-evening,” and then wishing to follow her instructions called her what would be in English “Mrs. Madam.”

“Well!” said the grandmother, laughing, “is that how they address people in your home on the mountain?”

“No,” replied Heidi gravely, “I never knew any one with that name before.”

“Nor I either,” laughed the grandmother again as she patted Heidi’s cheek. “Never mind! when I am with the children I am always grandmamma; you won’t forget that name, will you?”

"No, no,” Heidi assured her, “I often used to say it at home.”

“I understand,” said the grandmother, with a cheerful little nod of the head. Then she looked more closely at Heidi, giving another nod from time to time, and the child looked back at her with steady, serious eyes, for there was something kind and warm-hearted about this newcomer that pleased Heidi, and indeed everything to do with the grandmother attracted her, so that she could not turn her eyes away. She had such beautiful white hair, and two long lace ends hung down from the cap on her head and waved gently about her face every time she moved, as if a soft breeze were blowing round her, which gave Heidi a peculiar feeling of pleasure.

"And what is your name, child?” the grandmother now asked.