Free Mystery of the Hidden Painting by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

I’ll buy it.”
    â€œI don’t have much money,” Benny said, thoughtfully. “I won’t be able to pay my share.”
    â€œWe’ll work all that out, Benny. Don’t worry,” Jessie said, patting his shoulder.
    Violet suddenly jumped up. “I know. Let’s dress up for the party.”
    â€œYou mean I have to wear a tie?” Benny asked mournfully.
    â€œNo,” Violet said. “I mean dress up in costume. There are all kinds of old clothes in the attic. We could use those. It will be like a masquerade. Grandfather would love it. I know it.”
    â€œThat’s a wonderful idea,” Jessie said eagerly.
    Henry made a face. “I don’t know. Dressing up is sort of childish. Don’t you think?”
    â€œNo!” Violet and Jessie said at the same time.
    â€œCome on,” Jessie grabbed Henry’s hand. “Let’s go up to the attic right now. I know you’ll like dressing up.”
    They ran back to the house and into the front hall. Watch raced in after them. Mrs. McGregor came out of the kitchen with flour on her hands and nose. “What’s all the excitement about? Where are you all off to in such a hurry?”
    â€œWe’re going up to the attic so we can find dress up clothes for Grandfather’s party,” Violet said, catching her breath.
    â€œWhat party? What’s this all about?” Mrs. McGregor asked.
    â€œWe’ll tell you later,” Jessie shouted as they all ran for the stairs.
    â€œOpen the windows up there. It must be a hundred degrees in that attic,” Mrs. McGregor called after them.
    Upstairs, Jessie pulled open a window. “Whew! Mrs. McGregor was right. It’s really hot in here.”
    Violet was already poking around. She found an old, big straw hat and tried it on. She ran to a standing mirror and giggled at her image.
    â€œIt’s just right for you,” Jessie cried. “It’s lavender. Your favorite color.”
    Henry found a velvet coat and slipped into it. “How about this?”
    Benny had opened a trunk and was pulling out old toys—blocks and balls and a jump rope and a jack-in-the-box. “I like it up here. I’m glad we came.”
    Jessie was now standing silently in a corner with her back to her brothers and sister. Violet looked at her. “What did you find, Jessie?”
    Slowly, Jessie turned around. In her hands she had a small painting in a carved gold frame. “Look, how beautiful this is,” she said.
    Violet put down the hat and moved toward Jessie. “Ooh, you’re right, she is beautiful,” she gasped. “I don’t think I’d ever get tired of looking at it.”
    The painting was of a lovely young woman in an evening gown. Around her throat was a necklace of sparkling blue sapphires that matched her eyes. The woman was staring out of the picture with wide eyes, and she had a small smile on her red lips. She looked very happy.
    â€œWho do you suppose she is?” Benny asked.
    Henry moved closer to the painting. “She looks like the pictures Grandfather has shown us of Grandmother.”

    â€œBut those pictures were of an older lady,” Jessie said.
    â€œWell,” Violet said thoughtfully, “this could have been painted when Grandmother was much younger.”
    â€œBut if this is Grandmother, why is the picture hidden away up here?” Henry wondered.
    Benny shrugged. “Why don’t we ask Grandfather. He’ll know. Grandfather always knows everything.”
    Jessie laughed. “Benny, you always get right to the point.”

CHAPTER 2
    The Painting
    A fter dinner, when the whole family was settled in the big living room, Jessie ran up to her room and brought down the portrait. She took it over to her grandfather and held it out to him.
    â€œGrandfather,” she said softly. “We found this in the attic today. We’re all wondering who this lovely lady is.