He generally invited Peter to stay to supper afterwards, which liberally rewarded the boy for all his great exertions. Thus the days passed by. In all this time Peter had really made some progress, though the rhymes still gave him difficulty. When they had come to U, Heidi read: Whoever mixes U and V, Will go where he won't want to be! and further, If W you still ignore, Look at the rod beside the door. Often Peter would growl and object to those measures, but nevertheless he kept on learning, and soon had but three letters left. The next few days the following rhymes, with their threats, made Peter more eager than ever. If you the letter X forget For you no supper will be set. If you still hesitate with Y, For shame you'll run away and cry. When Heidi read the last, And he who makes his Z with blots, Must journey to the Hottentots, Peter sneered: "Nobody even knows where they are!" "I am sure grandfather does," Heidi retorted, jumping up. "Just wait one minute and I shall ask him. He is over with the parson," and with that she had opened the door. "Wait!" shrieked Peter in great alarm, for he saw himself already transported to those dreadful people. "What is the matter with you?" said Heidi, standing still. "Nothing, but stay here. I'll learn," he blubbered. But Heidi, wanting to know something about the Hottentots herself, could only be kept back by piteous screams from Peter. So at last they settled down again, and before it was time to go, Peter knew the last letter, and had even begun to read syllables. From this day on he progressed more quickly. It was three weeks since Heidi had paid her last visit to the grandmother, for much snow had fallen since. One evening, Peter, coming home, said triumphantly: "I can do it!" "What is it you can do, Peter?" asked his mother, eagerly. "Read." "What, is it possible? Did you hear it, grandmother?" exclaimed Brigida. The grandmother also was curious to learn how this had happened. "I must read a song now; Heidi told me to," Peter continued. To the women's amazement, Peter began. After every verse his mother would exclaim, "Who would have ever thought it!" while the grandmother remained silent. One day later, when it happened that it was Peter's turn to read in school, the teacher said: "Peter, must I pass you by again, as usual? Or do you want to try--I shall not say to read, but to stammer through a line?" Peter began and read three lines without stopping. In dumb astonishment, the teacher, putting down his book, looked at the boy. "What miracle has happened to you?" he exclaimed. "For a long time I tried to teach you with all my patience, and you were not even able to grasp the letters, but now that I had given you up as hopeless, you have not only learnt how to spell, but even to read. How did this happen, Peter?" "It was Heidi," the boy replied.