The Mandie Collection (24 page)

“It's a music hall, I suppose you'd call it,” he said. “Some very well-known musicians and actors perform here from time to time. And you can only go inside when there is something going on, and then you have to have a ticket to get in.”

“We won't have time to attend a concert here,” Mrs. Hamilton told them. “Maybe next time we come to New York. I think we'd better go on downtown, Jonathan, if we're going to do any shopping today.”

“Oh yes, ma'am,” Jonathan replied as they returned to the carriage. “I'll tell Hodson where to go.”

“And, Jonathan, we will need to find a place to eat somewhere in the shopping district,” Jane replied. She and the girls entered the carriage. Jonathan gave instructions to the driver and then joined them.

“I asked Hodson to drive through Longacre Square on the way,” Jonathan told Mrs. Hamilton.

“Thank you, Jonathan. I'm sure it will be an interesting sight for the girls to see,” she replied.

“What is Longacre Square?” Mandie asked.

“It's the busiest section of New York. It's where everything and
almost everybody come together. It's where Forty-second Street and Seventh Avenue and Broadway cross each other,” Jonathan explained.

As the carriage continued down Broadway to what Jonathan called Longacre Square, both girls eagerly watched the crowds hurrying here and there. Stores and theaters were all tightly built together side-by-side. Vehicles and motorcars mingling with carriages rushed in what appeared to be every direction.

“Oh, you're right, Jonathan. Everything and everybody in New York must be out there,” Mandie said without glancing away from the scene outside the carriage.

“I don't think I'd like to walk out there,” Celia remarked.

“No, it's not a place to take a leisurely stroll,” Mrs. Hamilton said.

And as they went from one huge store to another to do their shopping, the girls were interested in the sizes of the buildings. Once they were inside, they were pushed and shoved by the rush of shoppers until they learned how to weave in and out of the crowds behind Mrs. Hamilton. Then they saw the beautiful merchandise, things Mandie had never seen in any store. There were ready-made dresses in every shape, color, and size.

“How can they sell dresses all made up like that? Suppose no one ever comes along that they will fit?” Mandie said as she stopped to look.

Mrs. Hamilton smiled at her and said, “Oh, but they have so many different sizes, and if you look around you'll see the customers are all different sizes.”

“But I still don't think these dresses would fit as well as the ones Aunt Lou makes for me,” Mandie said, walking the length of the clothes rack, not daring to touch the dresses.

“You are right about that,” Mrs. Hamilton told her. “Nothing readymade ever fits as well as your own seamstress's work.”

Mandie wasn't interested in buying any of the expensive merchandise she saw until they entered a hat shop. She and Celia went wild over the huge assortment of hats.

“Oh, I must buy a hat,” Mandie said, walking around the shop. “You know, Celia, it's impossible to find a store like this back home.”

“I want one, too,” Celia replied as she surveyed the stock.

Jonathan smiled at them as he watched and listened. “I know,” he teased. “You girls just want to look older.”

Mandie turned to him and said, “Well, we are getting older, you know, old enough to wear hats.” She looked at a simple but expensive hat trimmed with red ribbons.

“I agree with you, Amanda,” Mrs. Hamilton said, coming to stand beside the girls. “You and Celia do need to buy something in keeping with your age. As much as I hate to admit it, you two are growing into young ladies. Let me help y'all find something.”

They shopped the rest of the day, taking time only to eat in a nearby restaurant. Everything they bought was to be delivered the next day to Jonathan's house. Early winter dusk was beginning to cover New York as Hodson drove them back to Jonathan's house. Everyone was tired and silent.

As soon as they entered the house, Jonathan told the girls, “I have to go see Mrs. Cook and be sure the dog is all right.”

“I want to go with you,” Mandie told him as she began removing her tam.

“I do, too,” Celia said, taking off her coat.

“All right, girls, go ahead, but you'll have to hurry up to your room and get ready for supper. Make it quick now,” Mrs. Hamilton told them.

Mrs. Yodkin came into the front hallway and overheard the conversation. “Yes, ma'am, the meal will be served at six since Mr. Guyer is not home. When he's here he prefers seven o'clock,” she said. “I hope you had a nice time. I will show you the way to your room if you'd like.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Yodkin,” Mrs. Hamilton replied. “I appreciate your offer, but I believe I know the way now.” She smiled at the woman. “But I'd appreciate it if you would see that these girls get to their room as soon as they check on the dog.”

“Yes, ma'am, that I will,” Mrs. Yodkin replied as Mrs. Hamilton went into the hallway. “Young ladies, just hang your wraps on the hall tree if you please. And please hurry with your checking on the dog. I will wait here.”

“Yes, ma'am, we'll be right back,” Mandie told her as she and Celia hung up their coats and hats and quickly followed Jonathan down the hallway and into the kitchen.

When Jonathan pushed open the door to the kitchen, the white dog
rushed forward and eagerly jumped around Jonathan. Mrs. Cook stood at the stove and turned to watch.

Jonathan told the girls, “You see how well trained he is. He must belong to someone who taught him not to jump all over your clothes.” He reached down to pat the dog's head, and the dog immediately sat down. “Hello, fellow, you are a good doggie.”

“He is a good dog, that he is,” Mrs. Cook said. “Let me know every time he had to go out and then was ready to come right back inside. Stayed right here all day.”

Mandie suddenly remembered her cat. “Oh, I forgot all about Snowball,” she said. “He must be starved by now.”

“No, no, miss,” Mrs. Cook said. “I bring him down here. He eat everything I give him.”

“You brought him down here? Where is he?” Mandie asked, glancing around the huge kitchen.

“I take him back to room,” the woman said with a smile. “No worry. He's all right.”

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Cook,” Mandie told her with a sigh of relief.

“Jonathan, I'm glad your dog is all right,” Celia said. “But I think we'd better go upstairs to our room now.”

“That girl came over the wall in the garden again, this afternoon it was,” Mrs. Cook said. “When I tell her I will be calling for the police she goes away.”

“So she did come back,” Jonathan said.

“But she didn't come to knock on the door like you told her to,” Mandie reminded him.

“Maybe I'd better look in the garden to be sure she's gone,” Jonathan said, starting toward the door.

“I'll go with you,” Mandie said as she followed.

“So will I,” Celia added.

The three went out into the dark garden and looked around in the dim light. There was no sign of the girl, and Jonathan checked the gate to be sure it was locked.

Suddenly a chill ran over Mandie and she shivered. “Let's go back inside,” she said. “I didn't realize it was so cold out here.” She ran for the back door.

“We should have put our coats and hats back on,” Celia said, racing after Mandie.

“This is only November, just the beginning of cold weather. You girls should come up during December and January. Then it's really cold,” Jonathan told them as the three returned to the kitchen.

“Mandie, don't forget, Mrs. Yodkin is waiting for us,” Celia reminded her as she started for the hallway.

“Oh, that's right,” Mandie said. “Jonathan, we'll see you when we come back down for supper.”

“I have to go to my room, too,” Jonathan said.

The three left the kitchen, and Mrs. Yodkin showed the girls the way to their room even though Mandie insisted that she now knew the way.

All during the evening meal Mandie kept thinking it must be awfully cold, even with the furnace heat on and a fire crackling in the great fireplace in the dining room. She could hardly wait to get back to her room and crawl under the warm quilts on the big bed. The day had worn her out, and she was secretly wishing she was home in her own bed as everyone else carried on a conversation. New York was just too big and too busy for her.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUSPICIOUS HAPPENINGS

The next morning Mandie woke up with a sore throat, and when she sat up in bed her nose began running. “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, reaching for her handkerchief on the table beside the bed.

“I was wondering if you were going to wake up in time for breakfast,” Celia called to her from the bureau across the huge room, where she was brushing her long, curly auburn hair.

“Breakfast?” Mandie repeated as she pressed her hands against her aching head.

“What is it, Mandie? What's wrong?” Celia asked, quickly coming to stand beside the bed.

“Oh, shucks, Celia,” Mandie said with an irritated sigh. “I do believe I'm getting a cold. Of all the unlucky things to happen to me!”

“I'm sorry, Mandie, but you do sound like it,” Celia replied as she frowned.

Mandie swung her legs over the side of the big bed and said, “Maybe if I just get up and eat something it'll go away.” She swallowed hard because her throat burned. “I just can't let this interfere with seeing New York.”

“Yes, maybe you will feel better when you've dressed. I'll help you,” Celia told her. “Which dress do you want to wear today? I'll get it from the wardrobe for you.”

“Oh, anything that's warm will do. The navy wool one will be fine,” Mandie said.

“Leila has already been in and built up the fire in the fireplace, and Zelda has brought the orange juice. It's on the tray over there,” Celia told her, motioning across the room to a large table. Then she went over to the wardrobe to take down the dress Mandie wanted to wear.

With Celia's help, Mandie was dressed but feeling a little shaky by the time Mrs. Hamilton joined them to go down to breakfast. Zelda knocked on the door at about the same time.

“I'm sorry, but I seem to be getting a cold,” Mandie told Mrs. Hamilton.

“Oh dear, maybe you should go back to bed and rest awhile longer,” Mrs. Hamilton suggested.

“Eat first,” Zelda said from the doorway. “Then rest.”

Mandie tried hard to ignore the cold. She shut Snowball up in the bathroom, and they all went down to the dining room, where Jonathan was waiting for them at the door.

“My father rang up on the telephone last night to say he will be home this afternoon, Mrs. Hamilton,” Jonathan told her as they entered the dining room.

“Thank you for letting me know, Jonathan,” Mrs. Hamilton said. Everyone sat down at the table. “Then I will go out and do some more shopping this morning.” She glanced at Mandie and said, “Amanda, I think you had better stay inside today with that cold.”

Mandie sighed loudly and asked, “Do I have to?”

“Yes, I think you have to. I am responsible for you right now, and I don't think you should go out in this cold weather,” Mrs. Hamilton replied.

“If you don't need me to find your way around New York, Mrs. Hamilton, I'll stay here with Mandie, and Celia could go with you,” Jonathan volunteered.

“Thank you, Jonathan. I'm sure your driver can find the stores where I want to shop,” Mrs. Hamilton said with a smile.

“Mother, I could stay here with Mandie,” Celia suggested.

“No, no. Amanda needs to get some rest, and besides, I may need you along to be fitted for clothes,” her mother replied.

“I'm really not very interested in going shopping anyway, Celia, and I know you are, so y'all just go ahead,” Mandie told her friend.

Once their breakfast was finished, Mrs. Hamilton and Celia left in the carriage. Mandie went with Jonathan to sit by the fire in the parlor.

“Before we get too comfortable here, I'd better take the dog outside for a few minutes,” Jonathan told her as he stood up.

“Yes, we don't want any accidents,” Mandie agreed with a smile. “And I'd better check on Snowball.”

“Take him down to the kitchen where Mrs. Cook can feed him. She won't mind having him in there for a while. I'll bring the dog in here after he goes outside,” Jonathan said.

Mandie rose, and the two started toward the hallway.

“Do you need me to show you the way back up to your room to get Snowball?” Jonathan asked.

“No, I think I can find the way now. But I must say, you sure do have a huge house,” Mandie replied, smiling as they stepped into the corridor.

“My father keeps saying he is going to close off a lot of it except on special occasions, but he never gets around to doing that,” Jonathan replied. “Now I go this way and you go that way. Please don't get lost.” He motioned Mandie down the hallway to the right, and he went left.

“I won't,” Mandie promised.

Mandie found the way to her room, rescued Snowball out of the bathroom, fastened on his leash, and started back downstairs.

“Now, don't get any frisky ideas,” Mandie cautioned the cat as he tugged hard at the end of the leash.

But Snowball had a mind of his own. He suddenly jerked the leash out of Mandie's hand, raced down the stairs, and disappeared into the hallway.

“Snowball!” Mandie called. She ran after him. “Where are you? Kitty, kitty, come here.” Her cold was getting worse, and she certainly didn't feel like chasing that cat. Looking into every room with an open door down the hallway, she came to the doorway to the glass room. The glass door was closed.