The Mandie Collection (21 page)

Speechless with this lavish attention, the girls could only murmur a soft thank you.

“Amanda,” Miss Prudence continued, “Ben was just here with a message from your grandmother. She would like for you two young ladies to spend the weekend with her.”

Mandie and Celia exchanged glances of delight.

“So I asked Ben to come back about four o'clock,” the headmistress went on. “You have my permission to stay until after suppertime Sunday evening. Now run along and get your things ready.”

Mandie was so excited she could hardly speak. This meant her grandmother had some news for her one way or another about the Washington trip. “Thank you,” Mandie finally managed. “Thank you, Miss Prudence!” Mandie turned and hurried toward the stairs, with
Celia following. The girls didn't dare run while the headmistress was watching.

Upstairs in their room, the girls hurriedly crammed things into bags, not paying much attention to what they were taking for the weekend. Long before it was time for Ben to arrive, they were back downstairs, walking back and forth in the alcove and watching through the window.

Suddenly Celia stopped pacing. “Mandie, do you realize it's Friday, and we still haven't seen or heard tell of Miss Hope or Aunt Phoebe?”

Mandie halted. “We're just going to have to do something,” she said. “I don't know what, but we've got to find out where they are.”

“Have you thought that maybe they aren't coming back anymore?” Celia asked.

“Oh, no, Celia!” Mandie protested. “We've got to have them back. That's all there is to it. They're our friends.”

“And Uncle Cal must be staying awfully busy. We never see him anymore either,” Celia mused. “What are we going to do?”

“I haven't figured anything out yet, but maybe Grandmother will have some ideas,” Mandie told her friend. “We'll discuss it with her—after we discuss the Washington trip!”

Ben arrived promptly at four o'clock, and it didn't take much urging to get him to rush the horses on their way. He was known for his fast driving, that is, by everyone except Mrs. Taft, his employer.

And when they arrived at the mansion this time, Mrs. Taft herself was waiting to open the front door. Hurrying inside, the girls handed their coats and bags to the maid. Then they rushed Mrs. Taft into the parlor and warmed themselves while they eagerly shared their news.

Mandie grabbed Snowball, who was asleep on the hearth. “Grandmother, would you believe it?” she excitedly asked. “I made the highest score in the whole school! And Celia was second.”

Celia plopped onto the rug by the hearth as Mrs. Taft sat in an armchair by the fire. But Mandie was too excited to sit.

Mrs. Taft gave her granddaughter an endearing smile and pulled her to her side. “I knew you would,” she said. “And you, too, Celia. Congratulations!”

Celia leaned forward to warm her hands by the fire. “Thank you, Mrs. Taft,” she replied, looking a little embarrassed.

“I want to tell you something, Amanda,” Grandmother began. “Even your mother didn't make it to the top when she attended the Heathwoods' school.”

Mandie laughed. “That's what Miss Prudence just told us,” she replied, rubbing Snowball's white fur.

“Your mother just never did have the get up and go that you have, Amanda,” she said as Mandie finally sat on a low stool beside her.

“Or that you have, Grandmother,” Mandie laughed.

“I suppose you're right,” Mrs. Taft chuckled. “Your mother is more like your grandfather was—intelligent but quiet and with no desire to take chances.”

Celia sat back on her haunches. “My mother didn't do as well as I did, either, according to Miss Prudence,” she said.

Mrs. Taft reached out and squeezed the girl's hand. “Well, I know she's going to be proud of you, dear.”

“Grandmother, tell us your news,” Mandie begged. “We've told you ours.”

Mrs. Taft flashed a mischievous smile. “My news can be summed up in three words,” she said. “We . . . are . . . going!”

“We're going! We're going!” Mandie danced around the room in excitement while Snowball clutched her shoulder in fright. “We're going! We're going!” Mandie repeated over and over.

Celia tugged at her friend's skirt. “Mandie, now may I tell everybody that you're going to see the President? May I?”

Mandie stopped to consider the question. “I suppose I'd better tell Miss Prudence first,” she said.

Mrs. Taft looked up. “You'd better
ask
Miss Prudence first. Remember, she has to give permission for you to take all those days off from school.”

“I'm sure she will, Grandmother,” Mandie said, “especially since I came out number one on the mid-year examinations.”

Mrs. Taft raised her eyebrows. “I'd like to give you a little word of advice,” she warned. “Don't ever try to predict what that lady will do. I've known her a long time.”

“Well, anyway,” Mandie said, flopping down on the rug beside Celia, “tell us all about what you've been doing. How did you break your plans for the trip with your friends?”

“It turned out to be quite a complicated mess. I had to get my friends to let me out of the arrangements,” Mrs. Taft explained. “At first they were awfully angry with me, but then I was able to get another friend they knew to take my place for the trip. So after a whole lot of confusion changing names on reservations and so forth, we finally managed to get everything settled.”

Mandie felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of actually being able to make the trip.

“Then just this morning,” Grandmother continued, “I received an answer from your mother and your Uncle John giving you permission to go with me. And the Mannings have agreed for Hilda to stay with them while we're gone, so we're all set.”

Mandie jumped up and hugged her grandmother. “Oh, thank you, Grandmother. Thank you,” she said. “I really appreciate your cancelling your plans so that I could go to Washington. I hope our trip will be worth all this.”

“Just you never mind, dear,” Mrs. Taft replied, her eyes twinkling. “It is rather cold in Europe this time of year, anyway, so I thought I'd go later. Maybe in the summer, when you could go with me.”

Mandie's eyes widened. “Me? Go to Europe with you? Oh, Grandmother, could I? Could I?”

“I think your mother and your Uncle John will probably agree,” Mrs. Taft replied.

Celia exclaimed, “Oh, Mandie! That would be wonderful for you to get a chance to go to Europe!”

The two girls hugged each other; then Mandie turned back to her grandmother, who was smiling.

“Grandmother, what about Celia?” she asked. “Couldn't she go, too? Please?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Taft replied. “I'd love to have Celia go with us. But we would have to get her mother's permission.”

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Taft!” Celia jumped up and gave the woman a big hug.

“Now we have to do things in an orderly way, girls,” Mrs. Taft told them as Celia took her place on the hearth rug again. “First of all, Amanda, I have a letter from your mother for Miss Prudence requesting permission for you to take leave from school. We also need to do some
shopping, but since you shouldn't take any extra time away from your studies, I'll go to Raleigh this coming week to shop for both of us.”

“But, Grandmother,” Mandie protested, “I have so many expensive clothes already. Why do I need anything else?” She set Snowball down, and he immediately jumped into Celia's lap and curled up.

“My dear, you are going to visit the President of the United States,” Mrs. Taft reminded her. “And you will meet not only him but his wife and other influential people while we're in Washington.” She thought for a moment. “Now, let's see, we will also need a ball gown. I plan to allow you to at least appear at the ball. I know you're only twelve years old, but this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet such people,” she explained.

Mandie gasped. “Me? Go to a real ball? Oh, Grandmother, I wouldn't know how to act!”

“That's exactly why you're attending the school you're in, to learn how to act socially. So I suggest that you brush up on all those social graces you've been learning,” Mrs. Taft instructed her. “And I don't want you to frighten yourself with thoughts of how society operates in Washington, D.C. I want you to remember that you are your mother's daughter and my granddaughter. And our family is accepted in the highest circles of society.”

Mandie's mouth dropped open at her grandmother's bragging. Finally she spoke. “But I am one-fourth Cherokee,” she objected. “My other grandmother was full-blooded Cherokee, and I don't think Indians go to things like balls in Washington.”

“That makes no difference.” Mrs. Taft dismissed her protest. “President McKinley has personally invited you to visit him at the White House, and I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms anywhere we wish to go.” She smiled. “Now, what kind of ball gown would you like?”

Mandie sighed, then thought for a moment. “Just something that's not too fancy,” she replied. “Maybe something blue. But I just wouldn't feel right in stuffy, fancy clothes.”

“Blue would be nice, dear,” Mrs. Taft agreed. “I'll see what I can come up with. Now, I think you will also need a nice fur cape and—”

“A fur cape?” Mandie interrupted.

“Yes,” Mrs. Taft replied. “You have to have a suitable wrap for the new dresses I'm going to buy for you. And I imagine a fur cape will
feel good at the inauguration ceremony. As you know, it will be held outdoors.”

Ella, the maid, entered the parlor to announce that supper was on the table.

“Come on, girls.” Mrs. Taft got up to lead the way into the dining room. “Let's go eat, and we'll continue our conversation at the table.”

Behind her grandmother's back, Mandie looked at Celia and sighed. She didn't know a trip to Washington could be so bothersome.

CHAPTER FOUR

WHERE IS MISS PRUDENCE?

Mandie, Celia, and Mrs. Taft talked the whole weekend about the forthcoming trip to Washington and the future trip to Europe. They stayed up late Saturday, attended church Sunday morning, then returned to Mrs. Taft's house and continued their discussion until after supper when it was time for the girls to return to school.

As Mandie and Celia put on their winter coats in the front hallway, Mandie turned to her friend. “This is one time I'm eager to get back to school,” she said excitedly.

Mrs. Taft stood by the door, holding the letter for Miss Prudence that Mandie's mother had written. “Now don't forget, Amanda,” she said, handing her the letter. “You should give this letter to Miss Prudence as soon as you get back to school.”

Mandie took it and carefully tucked it in her pocket. “Don't worry, Grandmother. I won't forget,” she said.

Celia started buttoning her coat. “I'm so glad everything is settled now and I can tell everybody about your trip to see the President.”

“Not until I give the letter to Miss Prudence,” Mandie cautioned. “Remember, she should be the first one to know.”

“That's right, dear,” Mrs. Taft agreed. “Be sure Miss Prudence knows first.”

After everyone had said their goodbyes, the girls climbed into the rig with their bags and persuaded Ben to rush the horses so they could get back to school fast.

At the school, the girls ran up the front steps carrying their bags and gave the front door a hard shove. Excitedly, they hurried down the hallway toward Miss Prudence's office.

“I can't wait to give this letter to Miss Prudence,” Mandie said, leading the way.

As they approached the doorway to the office, they almost knocked Miss Hope down as she came out into the hallway. Mandie and Celia gasped in surprise and dropped their bags.

“Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Hope!” Mandie exclaimed. “Where have you been? We've missed you this past week.”

“Please excuse us,” Celia added.

The schoolmistress straightened her long dark skirt. “You're excused, young ladies.” Miss Hope smiled. “I was in a hurry, too.”

“But where have you been, Miss Hope?” Mandie asked.

Miss Hope smoothed back her faded auburn hair and looked from one girl to another. She stood erect. “I'm sorry, but I am in a hurry right now. We'll talk some other time,” she said, starting down the hallway.

Mandie and Celia quickly followed.

“I suppose there's some deep, dark secret about where you and Aunt Phoebe have been all week, so I won't ask again,” Mandie said. “But where is Miss Prudence? I have a letter for her from my mother.”

Miss Hope stopped and looked at Mandie. “My sister is not here today,” she said. “She'll probably be back tomorrow sometime. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Mandie's face crumpled in disappointment. “Oh, Miss Hope, this is a very important letter, and I was in a hurry to give it to her.” She held up the envelope for the schoolmistress to see. “It's sort of urgent.”

“Do you know if it's school business?” Miss Hope asked. “Because if it is, then I can open it and see if I can help you.”

Mandie and Celia looked at each other. Celia nodded. Mandie turned and handed the letter to Miss Hope.

The schoolmistress quickly opened the sealed envelope and scanned through the letter. Suddenly she gasped and put her arm around Mandie.

“Oh, Amanda, you are going to see the President of the United States! I'm so excited for you!”

Mandie looked up at Miss Hope and smiled. “Then do you think it'll be all right with Miss Prudence if I go?”

Miss Hope looked at her in surprise. “Why, I don't see why not. It isn't every day someone is invited by the President to his inauguration. I think my sister will be just as proud of you as I am.”