The Mandie Collection Read Online Free PDF Page A

too.” Mandie, exasperated, finished her explanation in a rush.
    Ben scratched his head under his cap. “Well now, missy, we jes’ won’t go back down dat alley. Den ain’t nuthin’ to tell.”
    â€œBut, Ben, I had to explain to Miss Prudence how we knew about the alley. I had to tell her the rig broke down when we took a shortcut back to the school that night,” Mandie groaned. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œWudn’t no harm done, so Miz Taft, she ain’t gwine git upset ’bout dat. All she do will be say don’t go back dat way agin, andwe sho’ ain’t gwine back dat way agin,” Ben replied, glancing back at Mandie with a big smile. “Don’t let it worry you none, missy.”
    â€œI’m just dreading this visit at my grandmother’s, and I hope we don’t have to stay late,” Mandie said, sitting back in her seat.
    The girls were the first to arrive, and Mrs. Taft was directing Ella, her maid, as to what dishes and linens to use that night. Annie, the bedroom maid, had let them in the front door, and after removing their wraps they found Mrs. Taft in the dining room.
    â€œUse the small silver set for the coffee, Ella. Mrs. Manning has asked to borrow the large one for a dinner she is giving for her church, and if we don’t use it tonight you won’t have to polish it up for her,” Mrs. Taft was saying to Ella, who was removing dishes from the china closet. She turned when she saw the girls enter the room.
    â€œWhere is everybody, Grandmother? Aunt Rebecca and Mollie and Hilda?” Mandie asked.
    Mrs. Taft smiled at her granddaughter and Celia. “Celia’s aunt Rebecca is reading to them in the back parlor and trying to keep them out of mischief while I get everything set up. So please don’t disturb them right now.”
    â€œI won’t,” Mandie agreed, smiling. She knew how active Mollie was.
    Mrs. Taft turned back to the maid and said, “Ella, while you’re in the cabinet, get down that large set and set it on the buffet so it’ll be handy when Mrs. Manning comes after it.”
    â€œYessum,” Ella replied, climbing up on a stool to reach the top shelf of the glass-doored china cabinet.
    Mandie hurried across the room and held up her arms. “I’ll help you, Ella. Just give me a piece at a time and I’ll set it down for you,” she said.
    â€œThank you, Missy Manda,” Ella answered warmly. “That be a big help.” She carefully passed each part of the silver down, and Mandie carefully placed them on the buffet. She stepped back to admire the fancy coffeepot, sugar bowl, and cream pitcher she had set on the matching silver tray. Each piece had been polished to shine like a looking glass.
    Annie came to the doorway and announced, “More company knockin’ at de door.”
    â€œWell, go let them in,” Mrs. Taft instructed. Turning to the girls she said, “You two go receive them for me and I’ll be with y’all shortly. Take them to the front parlor.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Mandie replied eagerly, imagining the new arrivals to be Tommy Patton and Robert Rogers. She winked at Celia, and they followed Annie down the hallway and went on into the parlor while the maid continued to the front door.
    â€œIt’s probably Tommy and Robert,” Mandie whispered to Celia as they quickly sat down on a settee near the fireplace.
    But then the next minute Mandie could hear Annie saying, “Yes, ma’am, right dis way, please, ma’am. I take yo’ wraps and put dem right heah.”
    Mandie looked at Celia and made a face. “Must be Miss Prudence,” she whispered, and Celia nodded in agreement.
    In a moment the schoolmistress appeared at the doorway to the parlor. Mandie and Celia both stood up. “Come right in, Miss Prudence. My grandmother said she would be with us shortly. Have a seat, please,