When Heidi finished playing under the fir trees, she found Grandfather sitting on his chair facing the valley. She went straight up to the old man, put out her hand, and said, "Good evening, Grandfather." It didn't bother her that Grandfather was rude to Detie, and even a little to her.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I want to see inside the house," said Heidi.
"Come, then!" Grandfather rose and stepped to the door. "Bring your bundle of clothes with you."
"I don't want them anymore," Heidi said.
"And why don't you want them?" he asked.
"Because I want to run on the mountain like the goats."
The old man turned and looked at Heidi. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with happy anticipation. "She is definitely intelligent," he thought to himself. "Well, you can go about like the goats if you want to," said Grandfather, "but bring your things in anyway. We must put them in the cupboard."
Heidi did as she was told. Inside the hut was one room. There was a small table and a chair on one side, and Grandfather's bed was in a corner. There was also a large fireplace. Next to the bed was the cupboard. They put her belongings inside, right next to Grandfather's things. Heidi then looked carefully around the room. "Where am I going to sleep?" she asked.
"Wherever you like," he answered.
Heidi was delighted. After examining all the corners of the room, she saw a short ladder and climbed it. At the top was the hayloft. In it was a large heap of fresh, sweet-smelling hay. Through a round hole in the wall she could see right down the valley.
"I want to sleep up here, Grandfather," she told him. "It is so lovely."
They busily arranged the hay into a soft bed and found a sheet and a warm blanket. Now Heidi could lie in her bed and fall asleep looking down on the beautiful valley below.
After all their work, it was time to eat. Heidi quickly found the bowls. "Good, I see you know how to set the table," said Grandfather. He put out the food, and they ate a delicious meal of cheese, bread, and milk. Heidi had never tasted anything so wonderful. "Was the milk good?" asked Grandfather.
"It's the best milk I've ever had," said Heidi.
"Then you must have some more." Grandfather poured her another big cup.
Suddenly, they heard a sharp whistle. They went outside and watched as goats came springing down the mountain. In their midst was Peter, the twelve-year-old goatherd. Peter lived with his old, blind grandmother a little further down the mountain. As Peter neared Grandfather's hut, the goats stood still. Two of them ran forward to where Grandfather was standing. "Are they yours, Grandfather?" Heidi asked excitedly.
"Yes, yes, the white one is named Daisy, and the brown one, Dusky," Grandfather said.
Heidi watched as he milked the white goat and then settled them both in their shed for the night. Next, it was Heidi's turn to settle down for the night. She climbed up to her bed of straw. Soon, she was sleeping as sweetly and soundly as any young princess on a silk bed.