Free Mandie Collection, The: 4 by Lois Gladys Leppard Page B

floor and turned around.
    When they had seen everything they wanted to see at St. Paul’s, the senator took them to St. Pietro in Vincoli, which in English means St. Peter in Chains. Here they viewed the chains used by Herod to keep Peter in prison.
    And then they saw the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo. As Mandie stared up at the immense sculpture, she felt as though Moses would come alive any moment. He looked so real, so majestic.
    Mandie and Celia held hands most of the afternoon for support as they viewed the realities of the past. Jonathan volunteered to carry Snowball, who was well behaved for a change.
    By the time they finally returned to their hotel late that afternoon, Mandie and Celia collapsed with fatigue on their big bed. Mrs. Taft had told them to get some rest before dinner, and they gratefully complied.
    “Oh, Celia, I wish I could have lived when Jesus was living on earth,” Mandie told her friend. She turned over on her stomach and propped up on her elbows. “The people who actually knew Jesus then were the luckiest people who ever lived on this earth.”
    “I agree, Mandie, but it would have been terrible to live through the time of His crucifixion,” Celia reminded her.
    “Oh, you’re right,” Mandie said. “You know, I think this day will be the most important day in all our journey through Europe. Nothing else could compare with it.”
    “Yes,” Celia agreed. “Including the robbery at the catacombs and the disappearance of your purse.”
    “I still can’t remember for sure what I had in my bag,” Mandie said pensively. “I suppose it was nothing important. Anyway, whatever it was, it’s gone now.”
    “Too bad,” Celia murmured.
    Suddenly Mandie bounced off the bed. “Come to think of it, I have to find my other bag to take tonight.” She went to the bureau and began opening drawers until she found it.
    “Here it is,” she said, holding up an embroidered drawstring bag of various colors. “With all these colors, it goes with everything I have. Now I have to find an extra comb and a handkerchief.” Finding these in another drawer, she put them in the bag.
    Celia sat up on the side of the bed. “You had some money in your other bag, too, didn’t you?” she asked.
    “Yes, but Grandmother still has some of my money, if I need it,” Mandie said, pulling the strings on the bag shut.
    Celia got up and fetched her bag from a nearby chair. She opened it and pulled out a roll of paper money. “Here, Mandie, I’d like to share what I have with you. Take this.” She held out about half the bills to her friend.
    “No, Celia,” Mandie protested. “My grandmother has more of my money. I can’t take yours.”
    “Mandie, this is an opportunity for me to share something with you,” Celia insisted. “You’re my best friend, and you’re always so patient and considerate. I’d just like to give you something.”
    Mandie sighed. “Well, if you insist. I’ll buy something nice to remind me of Rome and say that you gave it to me. Will that be all right?” She took the proffered bills and stuffed them into her bag.
    Celia smiled. “Whatever you want to do with it is all right with me,” she agreed.
    At that moment Mrs. Taft knocked and then opened the door. “Girls, it’s time to get dressed for dinner,” she said. “And please wear something special. Senator Morton is taking us to the Roma Ristorante , which is probably the most expensive place in Rome. You have about thirty minutes. And, Amanda, this is one time you’ll have to leave Snowball here. Just lock him in the bathroom. He’ll be all right.”
    “Yes, Grandmother,” Mandie said.
    Mrs. Taft left the room and closed the door.
    The girls hurriedly flipped through their clothes in the huge wardrobe. Mandie chose her blue silk dress and Celia her yellow silk. They were dressed and waiting by the time Mrs. Taft returned. Mandie put a pillow in the bathtub and set Snowball on it, admonishing him to behave