The Mandie Collection (4 page)

“I hope it doesn't come out and get in our room.” Celia backed toward the door.

“Let's close the door real tight and go find Uncle Cal,” Mandie suggested, closing the door behind them. “He can put a trap in there.”

“Or maybe Aunt Phoebe has found Snowball, and he could catch it,” Celia added.

The girls hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Aunt Phoebe was preparing supper. Uncle Cal was stoking the huge iron cookstove. At Uncle Cal's feet, Snowball was busy licking up a saucerful of milk.

“Snowball! You found him!” Mandie exclaimed.

At the sound of his mistress' voice the white kitten stopped long enough to look up at her and then continued eating.

“He come straight to de kitchen when y'all skeerd him out of de parlor,” Aunt Phoebe told them. “He know a good place when he find one.”

“Well, we know a better place for him, Aunt Phoebe,” Mandie said. “Celia saw a mouse in our bathroom upstairs.”

“It's the same one Snowball had in the parlor,” Celia added.

Uncle Cal and Aunt Phoebe looked at each other and shook their heads.

“I sho' hopes it be de same one,” Uncle Cal said. “Don't want dis house to git full of mice.”

“We ain't never seed any mouses till dat one showed up in yo' room,” Aunt Phoebe added.

“I'll set a trap in de bathroom,” Uncle Cal told the girls as he headed for the pantry.

“He's under the bathtub,” Celia explained.

“Jes' you girls be mighty careful how you walks 'round in dat bathroom now whilst de trap be dere,” the old man said, coming out of the pantry with a mousetrap in his hand.

The girls watched as Aunt Phoebe sliced a tiny chip off a block of cheese sitting in a round wooden box on the sideboard nearby. Uncle Cal took it and set the trap, catching the spring with the latch on the piece of cheese.

“We's gotta put a stop to dese mouses runnin' round dis house,” Aunt Phoebe fussed, “even if we has to put a stop to dat April gal comin' to dis school. Ain't never had dis trouble befo'.”

Mandie carried Snowball as she and Celia followed Uncle Cal back upstairs to the bathroom. The two girls watched Uncle Cal set the trap under the tub.

“Be sho' dat cat don't git in heah,” Uncle Cal cautioned. “He might git caught in dat trap.”

“We'll see that he stays in our room, Uncle Cal,” Mandie assured him.

The girls took Snowball back to their room and hurriedly went back to their sewing. But as they worked, they discussed plans for making sure that April didn't let Snowball out again.

When it was time for supper, the girls hid near the stairway and waited for April to leave her room, then followed her downstairs. And after supper was over, they rushed up the stairs ahead of her.

Snowball was still in their room, now curled up in the middle of the bed sound asleep.

“Well, I guess we outdid her this time,” Mandie said triumphantly.

“But we've got all day tomorrow and tomorrow night to worry about before we go home the next morning.” Celia sighed.

“I think we can manage,” Mandie said. “Let's get these handkerchiefs done.”

CHAPTER THREE

VISIT TO MR. CHADWICK'S SCHOOL

The next day, by staying alert and watching April Snow's every move without her knowledge, Mandie and Celia were able to keep Snowball in their room and April out of it.

Time dragged by with classes most of the day while the girls all wished the time away until they could go to the boys' school for dinner. The teachers had trouble holding their students' attention and reminded the girls of the examinations that were coming up after the Christmas holidays.

At last, with classes over for the day, the girls were free. Mandie and Celia breathed sighs of relief as they entered their room and closed the door. They had the rest of the afternoon to get dressed for dinner.

Mandie reached into the chifferobe and took out her red velvet dress while Celia chose her green one.

Mandie turned back to the bed and saw Snowball waking up. He sat up and washed his face with his paws. “Snowball, you have to get off the bed,” Mandie told him, giving him a little shove and brushing off the bedspread. “You're going to have white hairs all over the counterpane, and they'll get on our dresses.”

Reluctantly Snowball jumped down and sat on the rug.

The girls spread their dresses on the bed and rummaged through the bureau drawers, looking for underwear, stockings, and jewelry.

Mandie climbed onto a chair to reach the top of the chifferobe.

“What are you doing up there?” Celia asked.

Mandie pulled down two boxes and handed them to Celia. “We have to wear our good slippers with those dresses, don't you think?”

“Yes, I suppose so, but it's awfully cold outside to wear these flimsy things,” Celia replied, taking her slippers from one of the boxes.

Mandie removed hers from the other box. “I know it's cold outside, but we're only going to be outside long enough to get to the boys' school, and that's not far away.”

Celia sorted her jewelry on the bureau. “Do you know if April Snow is being allowed to go?” she asked.

“I heard Miss Prudence tell Miss Hope this morning that she would be allowed to go because it's Christmastime,” Mandie answered, laying out a fresh petticoat. “But she said that when school reopens after the holidays, April will still be restricted to her room except for meals and classes.” Mandie paused for a moment. “In a way I'm glad she
is
going,” she said slowly. “I'd hate for her to be left alone here in this big house while everyone else is having fun.”

“But, Mandie, she brought it on herself,” Celia reminded her.

“I know, and I don't know why she does all these things,” Mandie said with a sigh. “Anyhow, let's get dressed.”

The two girls primped and preened before the mirror, and when they had everything adjusted to their satisfaction, they grabbed their neatly wrapped gifts for Tommy and Robert, shut Snowball in the room, and hurried downstairs to join the other students in the parlor.

A few moments later Miss Prudence entered the room, wearing her winter coat, gloves, scarf, and hat.

“Young ladies, we're ready to embark on our journey,” the headmistress told the girls. “Please put on your coats and hats and line up in the hallway. Uncle Cal and Aunt Phoebe have our rigs in the driveway, and the rigs Mr. Chadwick sent are now approaching from the road.”

The students quickly slipped into their winterwear and waited, chattering quietly among themselves.

Miss Prudence cleared her throat. “Young ladies,” she addressed them again, “please be on your very best behavior tonight. Remember the school's reputation, and remember that we will be guests at Mr. Chadwick's
school.” Calling to Miss Hope at the front door, she said, “Sister, please open the door and let the girls start loading.”

Mandie and Celia were among the first to leave, and they quickly took places in the rig Uncle Cal was driving.

“Oh, Mandie,” Celia whispered, “I'm so nervous I won't be able to eat a thing.”

“Me, too,” Mandie admitted. Looking up, she saw April Snow taking a seat in the back of the rig, and she nudged Celia. “April is in this rig,” she whispered.

Mandie saw Celia try to look behind them without turning her head, but she couldn't. And Miss Prudence was standing at the front with Uncle Cal, watching.

“I hope Snowball is still in our room,” Celia said quietly. “April was downstairs before us, and I didn't see her leave the parlor after we came down, so I don't think she had a chance to let him out.”

As soon as the last of the girls found places in Mr. Chadwick's rigs, Uncle Cal picked up the reins and drove off at Miss Prudence's command.

Mandie and Celia had never seen Mr. Chadwick's School for Boys. So when the rig drove up a long winding driveway through corridors of trees and came to a stop in front of something that looked like a giant castle, they were speechless. The huge gray stone structure was adorned with turrets, gables, balconies, and gargoyles.

“Whew!” Mandie exclaimed, alighting from the rig. “It's got everything but a moat.”

“What a place!” Celia cried, joining her friend in the yard before the monstrosity. “Robert and Tommy live
here
?”

“I think I'd rather live in our school,” Mandie said. “At least it's a real house and not a spooky thing like this.”

“Young ladies,” Miss Prudence called to the students as they stepped down from the rigs, “get in line quickly, please.”

Mr. Chadwick stood in the huge double-door entranceway. He hurried down the stone steps to greet Miss Prudence. “Welcome to our school, Miss Heathwood and young ladies,” he said, bending to take Miss Prudence's hand. “Please come in.”

Miss Prudence beckoned to the girls, and they immediately fell into line behind her as she took Mr. Chadwick's arm and entered the huge building.

Mandie and Celia gasped again as they viewed the entrance hallway. The floor was made of shining black-and-white marble. Suits of armor stood along the wall, some with swords and some with spears. Tapestries decorated the high walls above the marble wainscoting. Several huge chandeliers hung from overhead, and in the middle of each one was one of those new-fangled electric light bulbs. The original candlelights were not in use. Antique portraits, surrounded by velvet, silk, and tassels, hung along the way.

The girls jammed the hallway as Miss Prudence and Mr. Chadwick walked to the back where huge double doors stood open, revealing a banquet room large enough to hold five hundred people.

Long trestle tables were lined up through the room and were covered with white tablecloths, sparkling crystal, and shiny dishes and silverware. Holly and poinsettias decorated the room everywhere. Pieces of mistletoe hung from the huge chandeliers overhead. Comfortable chairs lined the walls.

All the girls gasped and sighed as they crowded in the doorway.

“If the young ladies will please find a seat, the young men will be in shortly,” Mr. Chadwick announced. He turned to Miss Prudence. “Please excuse me,” he said, leaving the room.

“Be seated, young ladies,” Miss Prudence repeated as she and Miss Hope directed the students to places to sit.

Mandie sat down next to Celia and nudged her. “Did you ever see such a place? I had no idea!” Mandie whispered, looking around in awe.

“It's like stepping back into the seventeenth century,” Celia replied.

As soon as the last girl was seated, uniformed maids came into the room and worked their way around, taking coats and hats as they were removed, and then leaving the room with the garments.

Miss Prudence stood at the doorway watching, and the girls dared not speak. Miss Hope walked to the back of the room and waited.

Mandie's heart beat wildly at the excitement of such a place. She had seen pictures of places like this in history books, but she didn't realize they were still in existence.
I can't wait to get home and tell Joe about this castle
, she thought.
He won't believe me
. Mandie's friend Joe always got involved in Mandie's adventures, but this was one he wouldn't be able to share.

Just then Mandie heard the sound of many feet in the hallway.

“Here they come!” Celia whispered very softly.

Mr. Chadwick led the boys into the room, and they stood quietly behind their headmaster, surveying their guests.

Mandie and Celia looked at the well-dressed young men. “I'm glad we got all dressed up,” Mandie whispered. “Just look at them!”

“Young ladies, if you please,” Mr. Chadwick began. “There are place cards on the tables. The young men know where their seats are, and they will come forward to lead you young ladies to the tables.” Turning to the boys behind him, he said, “Now if you will each please step forward and claim your partner.”

The boys moved around the room taking the girls one by one to the table assigned to them. There were already chairs around the tables, and the group stood behind these until the last ones had been claimed. Tommy Patton and Robert Rogers were among the last to find their partners.

Mandie and Celia, still speechless, just smiled up at the two boys and accompanied them to the table.

After Mr. Chadwick returned thanks for the food, there was a loud shuffling noise as chairs were pulled out from the tables and everyone was seated. After they sat down, Mandie and Celia laid their gifts for the boys in their laps. Miss Prudence and Miss Hope sat on either side of Mr. Chadwick at the head table.

Finally the tension was broken, and the room was filled with laughter and conversation as the dinner began.

“How can you live in such a castle?” Mandie asked Tommy as the maids started bringing the food to the tables.

“I have to live here because my parents sent me here,” Tommy said with a sigh. “You see, my father went to school here.”

“Oh, I see,” Mandie said. “So did my mother—I mean she went to my school, too.” She turned to Robert. “And so did Celia's mother.”

“My mother and Mandie's were friends,” Celia added.

“Guess I'm the outsider,” Robert said. “Nobody in my family ever went to this school.”

“By the way, did Snowball ever catch that mouse?” Tommy asked.

Mandie and Celia brought the boys up-to-date.

“There's April Snow over at the next table,” Mandie said, glancing in that direction.

April, dressed in the latest New York fashion, carried on a conversation with a tall handsome lad beside her.

“I wonder what she's telling that boy,” Celia said. “She hardly ever talks to anyone.”

“She really does look pretty,” Mandie said.

At that moment a group of musicians came in, dressed in festive costumes, and carrying musical instruments. They sat down in a corner of the room, and began playing and singing Christmas carols. The buzz of conversation died down as the group sang.