Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard

Author:Lois Gladys Leppard
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Christian, Juvenile Fiction, Mysteries & Detective Stories, General, Historical, Religious
ISBN: 9780764209321
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: 2011-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

AUNT LOU’S SUGGESTION

Everyone sat in the parlor that night after supper and discussed everything from the weather to the upcoming dinner party, but no mention was made of plans for the summer. Mandie stayed right there to be sure her grandmother didn’t bring up the subject of summer vacation, and when Mrs. Taft finally declared she was tired and would like to retire, Mandie blew out a breath of relief.

“Now we can go to the arbor and watch that house,” Mandie whispered to Joe as Mrs. Taft left the parlor.

“All right,” Joe agreed.

Mandie made motions to Uncle John, who was sitting nearest to them, that they were going outside. He nodded and smiled. Everyone else was so involved in conversation that they didn’t notice when the two quietly left the room.

However, someone else was waiting for them. As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Liza appeared from the direction of the kitchen and said, “Lawsy mercy, Missy ’Manda, thought y’all never was goin’ to go to dat arbor place. I been waitin’ ever since we cleaned up de kitchen. We needs to git goin’ so’s we kin have time to sleep a little bit tonight.”

Mandie smiled at the girl and said, “Sorry, Liza, but I had to wait until my grandmother went to bed to be sure she didn’t bring up plans for the summer.” She and Joe walked down toward the back door. Liza followed.

“Besides, we didn’t know you were waiting. You didn’t let us know,” Joe added.

“All right, den, next time I let you know,” Liza replied.

“Is Snowball still in the kitchen?” Mandie asked as she came to the door.

“Last time I was in dere he be dere,” Liza assured her. “And I was de onliest one left in dere, so I sho’ ain’t gwine let him out.”

The moon was shining through the new leaves of the trees and lighted the way down to the rose arbor. Then they discovered if they sat inside the arbor they would be in shadows but could see the old house down the hill by the light of the moon.

They sat on the plank bench that ran around the interior and waited. For a while no one spoke as they kept their eyes toward the old house. Finally Liza grew impatient and said, “Missy ’Manda, don’t y’all be thinkin’ we jes’ oughta walk on down a piece so’s we kin see better?”

“I suppose we could, but we’ll have to be awfully quiet and careful to stay behind bushes,” Mandie warned as they stood up.

“And please watch where y’all step,” Joe added. “The pathway is steep and uneven. I don’t think I could pick up two girls at one time.” He laughed.

“I can see de path all right anyhow,” Liza said.

“I’ll be careful,” Mandie said, following Joe as he led the way.

They were almost at the boundary line when Mandie held up her hand and whispered, “I think this is far enough.” She moved behind a bush.

Joe and Liza joined her, and they kept peeping around the bush to look at the old house as they stood there.

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