The Mandie Collection Read Online Free PDF Page B

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.
    â€œWhew!” Mandie exclaimed, alighting from the rig. “It’s got everything but a moat.”
    â€œWhat a place!” Celia cried, joining her friend in the yard before the monstrosity. “Robert and Tommy live here ?”
    â€œI think I’d rather live in our school,” Mandie said. “At least it’s a real house and not a spooky thing like this.”
    â€œYoung 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.
    â€œIf 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.
    â€œBe 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.
    â€œIt’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