When Peter went down into Dorfli that evening, he saw a knot of people a little way off the path. He wriggled through the crowd to see what they were looking at. "I saw it when they came through town," said the pastor. "It must have cost a lot of money."
"I wonder how it was broken," a woman said.
"I don't know," remarked the baker, "but someone will suffer for it. The gentleman in Frankfurt will want the matter investigated."
It was the ruined wheelchair! The baker's words frightened Peter and he hurried home, afraid that a policeman might arrive from Frankfurt any moment.
The days that followed were the most joyous days Heidi and Clara spent on the mountain. Clara awoke each morning with a happy voice inside her that said, "I am well! I can walk by myself, like other people!" Every day, she practiced walking with Grandfather, and every day, it got easier. The exercise gave her quite an appetite, so Grandfather started cutting her bread and cheese in thicker slices. He also brought out a large jug of foaming milk at every meal and filled her bowl over and over.
During the week, Heidi noticed that Peter was acting strangely. He never asked if she was coming up the mountain in the morning, but ran off with the goats as soon as Grandfather let Daisy and Dusky out of their pen. When Heidi asked Grandfather about Peter's behavior, he replied, "Perhaps Peter fears punishment for something he has done."
Heidi and Clara had planned to give Grandmamma a big surprise. When she arrived on her horse the next afternoon, she saw Heidi and Clara sitting on the grass under the fir trees. She quickly climbed down from her horse. "Why aren't you resting in your chair, Clara?" she asked, worried. As she got closer, she said, "Is it really you? Your cheeks are so round and rosy! I hardly recognize you!" It was then that Clara and Heidi stood up and walked over to her, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Grandmamma could hardly believe her eyes. Laughing and crying, she embraced them both over and over again. She caught sight of Grandfather looking on and smiling. "My dear Grandfather! I do believe this is all your doing!" said Grandmamma. "How much we have to thank you for!"
"You can thank God's good sunshine and mountain air!" said Grandfather, smiling.
"Yes, and don't forget the beautiful milk," said Clara. "You wouldn't believe how much I have been drinking and how good it is!"
"I can see by your cheeks, Clara. But we must really telegraph your father. He must come see you at once!" exclaimed Grandmamma. So when Peter arrived with the goats a short time later, Grandmamma gave him a note to take to the telegraph office in Dorfli.
Meanwhile, Clara's father, Herr Sesemann, had prepared a little surprise of his own. He had changed his schedule and, at that very moment, was walking up the mountainside. He paused, hot and tired from the walk, and saw Peter running down the path with the note in his hand. "You lad! Come here," he cried, meaning to ask if he was on the right path to Grandfather's hut.
"The policeman!" thought Peter. He let out a frightened cry, ran off the path, and found a large tree to hide behind.
"Oh my," said Herr Sesemann to himself. "What a shy boy!" And turning to face the mountain path, he resumed his climb.