The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel Read Online Free Page B

was filled with rugs and books and potted plants. Miss Brewer herself appeared ancient. It was impossible to tell how old she might be, except that her skin was as wrinkled as a lizard’s and she wore her silver hair back in a bun. A string of jet beads dangled around her neck.
    â€œMrs. Ratcliff, what a pleasure,” Miss Brewer said. The headmistress was sitting behind a huge walnut desk. She picked up a pair of spectacles on a long ivory handle and stared at Mabel through them. “How old are you, child?”
    â€œFive and three quarters,” Mabel whispered, not letting go of her mother’s hand.
    Miss Brewer raised an eyebrow, continuing to study Mabel. Finally she put her spectacles aside and flapped her hands at them. “Do sit, do sit. I have ordered some refreshment.”When a maid brought in a tray loaded with tea and fruitcake, Mabel forgot her shyness and helped herself to a piece. The fruitcake was delicious and she chewed away happily, her mouth full of nuts and sugared plums. “Small bites, Mabel,” Miss Brewer instructed. “It is not fitting to have such a hearty appetite. And sit up straight, child. You are slouching like a sack of onions.”
    The headmistress looked at Nora. “Here at Ruthersfield we pride ourselves on teaching young girls more than just the traditional skills of magic. These things are certainly important, but so are poise and manners, learning to become a gracious hostess. Each girl leaves here knowing how to dance the waft and glide, create a sparkling conversation spell, and thanks to our excellent magic hands program, all our graduates excel in the fine art of making homes more pleasant and beautiful. They will also be taught how to knit a wand case, sew a spell apron, and embroider covers for their crystal balls.”
    â€œAnd magic hands is a class?” Nora inquired rather nervously.
    â€œIt covers many classes. Knitting, sewing, embroidery, cookery.” Miss Brewer gave a proud smile. “We even teach magic in the garden.”
    â€œI see,” Nora said, glancing at her daughter. Mabelhad stopped eating and was staring at Miss Brewer in alarm. The last time Nanny Grimshaw had tried to teach her how to knit, she almost poked Nanny’s eye out and managed to tie herself to the chair.
    â€œClose your mouth, please, Mabel. It is not polite,” Miss Brewer said. “Now, why don’t you show me what sort of magic you can do?” She tapped a letter opener on the table. “You must understand, Mrs. Ratcliff, we have far more girls applying for places than we can possibly accommodate.”
    â€œThat is why we are here, Miss Brewer. So you can judge Mabel’s magic for yourself.” Nora turned to Mabel. “Can you show Miss Brewer your floating?”
    Mabel nodded, trying to rise into the air. But her magic wasn’t fizzing the way it had been. All that talk of embroidery and knitting and not eating too much cake made her feel as leaden and heavy as a boulder.
    â€œRelax, Mabel,” Miss Brewer advised. “Think of what you were doing when you first started to float.”
    Mabel shut her eyes, imagining the Leaning Tower of Melton Bay. It really had been a spectacular invention, and she smiled as her toes began to tingle. The tingling spread up her legs, and Mabel felt as if she was being tickled all over from the inside. With a wisp of laughter she slowly began to rise.
    â€œWell done,” Nora encouraged as Mabel floated up tothe ceiling. She did a somersault before remembering that it wasn’t polite to show her pantalets.
    â€œThat will do,” Miss Brewer said, watching Mabel breathe her way back down. “You clearly have the gift, Mabel, but you need to work on your modesty.” She stood up and walked over to a cupboard, returning with a crystal ball. Miss Brewer placed the ball on her desk. “This will show me the strength of your magic, so you need to