THE WINTER CONTINUES
PETER arrived punctually at school the following day. He had brought his dinner with him, for all the children who lived at a distance regularly seated themselves at mid-day on the tables, and resting their feet firmly on the benches, spread out their meal on their knees and so ate their dinner, while those living in Dörfli went home for theirs. ’Till one o’clock they might all do as they liked, and then school began again. When Peter had finished his lessons on the days he attended school, he went over to Uncle’s to see Heidi.
When he walked into the large room at Uncle’s to-day, Heidi immediately rushed forward and took hold of him, for it was for Peter she had been waiting. “I’ve thought of something, Peter,” she said hastily.
“What is it?” he asked.
“You must learn to read,” she informed him.
“I have learnt,” was the answer.
“Yes, yes, but I mean so that you can really make use of it,” continued Heidi eagerly.
“I never shall,” was the prompt reply.
“Nobody believes that you cannot learn, nor I either now,” said Heidi in a very decided tone of voice. “Grandmamma in Frankfurt said long ago that it was not true, and she told me not to believe you.”
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