Heidi by Johanna Spyri

CHAPTER X. ANOTHER GRANDMOTHER

There was much expectation and preparation about the house on the following evening,  and it was easy to see that the lady who was coming was one whose opinion was highly  thought of, and for whom everybody had a great respect. Tinette had a new white cap on  her head, and Sebastian collected all the footstools he could find and placed them in  convenient spots, so that the lady might find one ready to her feet whenever she chose to  sit. Fraulein Rottenmeier went about surveying everything, very upright and dignified, as if  to show that though a rival power was expected, her own authority was not going to be  extinguished. 

And now the carriage came driving up to the door, and Tinette and Sebastian ran down  the steps, followed with a slower and more stately step by the lady, who advanced to greet  the guest. Heidi had been sent up to her room and ordered to remain there until called  down, as the grandmother would certainly like to see Clara alone first. Heidi sat herself  down in a corner and repeated her instructions over to herself. She had not to wait long  before Tinette put her head in and said abruptly, "Go downstairs into the study."

Heidi had not dared to ask Fraulein Rottenmeier again how she was to address the  grandmother: she thought the lady had perhaps made a mistake, for she had never heard  any one called by other than their right name. As she opened the study 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 new-comer 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.

"I am always called Heidi; but as I am now to be called Adelaide, I will try and take care—"  Heidi stopped short, for she felt a little guilty; she had not yet grown accustomed to this  name; she continued not to respond when Fraulein Rottenmeier suddenly addressed her  by it, and the lady was at this moment entering the room. 

"Frau Sesemann will no doubt agree with me," she interrupted, "that it was necessary to  choose a name that could be pronounced easily, if only for the sake of the servants."

"My worthy Rottenmeier," replied Frau Sesemann, "if a person is called 'Heidi' and has  grown accustomed to that name, I call her by the same, and so let it be."

Fraulein Rottenmeier was always very much annoyed that the old lady continually  addressed her by her surname only; but it was no use minding, for the grandmother  always went her own way, and so there was no help for it. Moreover the grandmother was  a keen old lady, and had all her five wits about her, and she knew what was going on in  the house as soon as she entered it.