"I can't," Peter remarked. "Nobody believes you about that any more, and I won't either," Heidi said resolutely. "When I was in Frankfurt, grandmama told me that it wasn't true and that I shouldn't believe you." Peter's astonishment was great. "I'll teach you, for I know how; when you have learnt it, you must read one or two songs to grandmother every day." "I shan't!" grumbled the boy. This obstinate refusal made Heidi very angry. With flaming eyes she planted herself before the boy and said: "I'll tell you what will happen, if you don't want to learn. Your mother has often said that she'll send you to Frankfurt. Clara showed me the terrible, large boys' school there, where you'll have to go. You must stay there till you are a man, Peter! You mustn't think that there is only one teacher there, and such a kind one as we have here. No, indeed! There are whole rows of them, and when they are out walking they have high black hats on their heads. I saw them myself, when I was out driving!" Cold shivers ran down Peter's back. "Yes, you'll have to go there, and when they find out that you can't read or even spell, they'll laugh at you!" "I'll do it," said Peter, half angry and half frightened. "Oh, I am glad. Let us start right away!" said Heidi joyfully, pulling Peter over to the table. Among the things that Clara had sent, Heidi had found a little book with the A,B,C and some rhymes. She had chosen this for the lessons. Peter, having to spell the first rhyme, found great difficulty, so Heidi said, "I'll read it to you, and then you'll be able to do it better. Listen: "If A, B, C you do not know, Before the school board you must go." "I won't go," said Peter stubbornly. "Where?" "Before the court." "Hurry up and learn the three letters, then you won't have to!" Peter, beginning again, repeated the three letters till Heidi said: "Now you know them." Having observed the good result of the first rhyme, she began to read again: D, E, F you then must read, Or of misfortune take good heed! Who over L and M doth stumble, Must pay a penance and feel humble. There's trouble coming; if you knew, You'd quickly learn N, O, P, Q. If still you halt on R, S, T, You'll suffer for it speedily. Heidi, stopping, looked at Peter, who was so frightened by all these threats and mysterious horrors that he sat as still as a mouse. Heidi's tender heart was touched, and she said comfortingly: "Don't be afraid, Peter; if you come to me every day, you'll soon learn all the letters and then those things won't happen. But come every day, even when it snows. Promise!" Peter did so, and departed. Obeying Heidi's instructions, he came daily to her for his lesson. Sometimes the grandfather would sit in the room, smoking his pipe; often the corners of his mouth would twitch as if he could hardly keep from laughing.