http://banerry.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
banerry.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
whatnancysaid2006-08-22 10:21 pm
banerry.livejournal.com) wrote in whatnancysaid2006-08-22 10:21 pm
The Hidden Staircase
In which Nancy's father is kidnapped and MIA for half the book, yet our brave heroine somehow finds the time to go merrily gallivanting about the countryside, ghosthunting.
"Nancy had taken an instant dislike to Gomber and now it was quadrupled. She judged him to be the kind of person who stays within the boundaries of the law but whose ethics are questionable." (page 5)
Narrator: "Nancy was quick to judge, and slow to forgive."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Quickly (Helen) explained that Miss Flora was her aunt's mother. 'Aunt Rosemary is really my great-aunt and MIss Flora is my great-grandmother. From the time she was a little girl everybody has called her Miss Flora." (page 7)
Helen: "It's really not as kinky as it sounds."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) gave (her father) a tremendous hug and a resounding kiss. He responded affectionately, but gave a little chuckle. 'What have I done to rate this extra bit of attention?' he teased. With a wink he added, 'I know. Your date for tonight is off and you want me to substitute.'" (page 12)
Well, you can't really blame the guy for thinking that. Nancy really *is* sending mixed signals...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Carson Drew on Nathan Gomer)
"'There are times when I'd like to thrash the man till he begged for mercy!'" (page 13)
Woah! Slow down, there!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'I will admit that there is a bit of a muddle about the railroad bridge.' Mr. Drew began. 'What happened was that the lawyer who went to get Willie Wharton's signature was very ill at the time. Unfortunately, he failed to have the signature witnessed or have the attached certificate of acknowledgement executed. The poor man passed away a few hours later.'" (page 13)
... So he's saying that all this grief could have been saved if only some idiot had thought, "Hey! Maybe it'd be a good idea if we didn't send the dying lawyer for a change!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Say, young lady, you'd better get dressed for that date of yours.' (Mr. Drew) winked. 'I happen to know that Dirk doesn't like to be kept waiting.'" (page 16)
...
Okay, I refuse to believe that Caroline Keene isn't doing this on purpose. It's just too easy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy enjoyed herself and was sorry when the affair ended." (page 16)
Wait, now she's having an *affair*?! With who? Dirk? Her father? Hannah? Nancy seriously needs to stop creating sexual tension with every character she comes in contact with.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The following morning (Nancy) and her father attended church together. Hannah said she was going to a special service that afternoon and therefore would stay home during the morning." (page 17)
Narrator: "Hannah was a devil-worshipping heathen, and the 'special service' was really a KKK meeting."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... (Mr. Drew) said, 'I expect to return on Wednesday, Nancy. Suppose I stop off at Cliffwood and see how you're making out?'" (page 23-24)
Mr. Drew: "I could give you kissing tips, maybe even join you?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... Helen replied. 'Nancy, I want to tell you a big, big secret. I'm going to be married!'
Nancy slowed the car and pulled to the side of the street." (page 24)
Nancy: "But Helen, what about *us*?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Riverview Manor has been sold several times during the years but has been vacant for a long time.'
'You mean no one lives there now?' Nancy asked." (page 33)
Helen: "Do I *look* like your pocket dictionary, Nancy?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The girls were about to pick up the luncheon dishes from the table,to carry them to the kitchen, when the front door knocker sounded loudly.
'Oh dear,' said Miss Flora. 'who can that be? Maybe it's the thief and he's come to harm us!'" (page 36)
Person at the Door: "Yeah, I'm the thief. And yeah, I'm here to harm you. Just thought I'd knock on the door politely to tell you that before I kill you. I mean, what did you think I was going to do? Keep sneaking around and stealing stuff like any normal thief would have done? Pshaw! Come on, this is a Nancy Drew book! The only character who isn't an idiot is Nancy!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Out there! Looking in that window!' Helen pointed to the front window of the parlor next to the hall. 'The most horrible face I ever saw!'
Was it a man's face?' Nancy questioned.
'Oh, I don't know. It looked just like a gorilla!'" (page 46)
Koko the gorilla isn't pleased with that comment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'I think we've had enough investigation for one day,' Aunt Rosemary remarked.
Nancy was about to say that she was not tired and would like to continue. But she realized that Mrs. Hayes had made this suggestion because her mother was once more showing signs of fatigue and strain." (page 50)
Nancy was an arrogant, self-centered brat who often had to be reminded that the world didn't revolve around her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Mother dear,' said her daughter, 'the captain and his men didn't believe us before because they thought we were imagining things. But Nancy and Helen heard music at two different times and they saw the chandelier rock. I'm sure that Captain Rossland will believe Nancy and send a guard out here.'" (page 56)
Yeah, but that's only because she and her father have the entire police force under their control. Don't kid yourself, Helen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy smiled at Miss Flora. 'I shan't ask the captain to believe in a ghost or even hunt for one. I think all we should request at the moment is that he have a man patrol the grounds here at night.'" (page 57)
Uh-huh. Because a twenty-four hour guard *really* isn't all that much to ask. You just keep telling yourself that, Nancy...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy urged Miss Flora to go with her daughter. 'I"ll stay here and try getting Mr. Owl out of the house.'" (page 60)
Nancy: "Then we'll try figuring out how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) climbed the stairs and for the second time that night undressed." (page 65)
Narrator: "All the local boys- including the night watchman- watched eagerly."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Helen felt sorry for her friend. To cheer Nancy, she said with a laugh, 'Storeroom after storeroom but no room to store a ghost!'" (page 70)
... Oy. Helen hon, leave the comedy to the comedians, m'kay?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'This pale-green silk gown with the panniers would look lovely on you, Nancy,' Miss Flora said. 'And I'm sure it's just the right size, too.'
Nancy surveyed the tiny waist of the ball gown. (page 75)
... Meanwhile, back in 1930, Caroline Keene is utterly convinced that she is being extremely subtle in pointing out that Nancy is anorexia-thin.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The guard reminded Albert Watson that he had not revealed why he was sneaking along the ground.
'Well,' the prisoner said, 'it was because of you. I heard downtown that there was a detective patrolling this place and I didn't want to bump into you.'" (page 79)
Albert Watson: "So because I didn't want to be caught by you, I decided to sneak across the property you were patrolling. Does that make sense?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... Miss Flora remarked, 'I wish you girls lived here all the time. Despite our troubles, you have brought a feeling of gaiety back into our lives.'" (page 83)
Miss Flora: "Or maybe that's just because we're having you sleep in the same bed."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) tapped the entire panel with her knuckles. A look of disappointment came over her face. 'There's certainly no hollow space behind it,' she said.
'Let's make sure,' said Helen. 'Suppose I go downstairs and get a screw driver and hammer? We'll see what happens when we drive the screw driver through this crack.'
'Good idea, Helen.'" (page 85)
When 'Trading Spaces' goes horribly, horribly wrong...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Putting a finger to her lips to indicate that Helen was not to comment, Nancy wrote on the sheet:
'I think the only way to catch the ghost is to trap him. I believe he has one or more microphones hidden some place and that he hears all our plans.'" (page 89)
Narrator: "Nancy suffered from paranoid delusions, and frequently tried to drag others into them with her."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Helen smiled. 'Nancy thinks of everything,' she said to herself." (page 90)
Helen: "Nancy is my one true God and Master. I should bow down and worship her, for Nancy is Perfect."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy hurried after (the cabbie), and before the train came in, asked if he would please give her a description of the two men who had been with her father.
'Well, both of them were dark and kind of athletic-looking. Not what I'd call handsome.'" (page 102)
See?! There it is again! Evil = ugly!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'... the fellow's hands didn't look as if he did any kind of physical work. The taximan said they were kind of soft and pudgy.'
'Well, that eliminates all the men I know who are short, heavy-set and have pale-blue eyes. None of them have hands like that.'" (page 111)
... Does Nancy keep a detailed log on the physical characteristics of all the men she meets? 'Cause that kind of borderlines on stalking.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'What's going to happen to you next?' the housekeeper exclaimed.
The young sleuth laughed. 'Something good, I hope.'" (page 117)
Nancy: "Teehee! Making light of my father's perilous situation is fun!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Miss Flora, Aunt Rosemary, and I wanted to have a special dish to surprise you, because they knew you were dreadfully upset.'" (page 122)
And hiding it very well, apparently. When exactly has Nancy been acting 'very upset' about the fact that her father has been kidnapped? I must have missed it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'(Miss Flora) had just stared up the stairway, when, for some unknown reason, she turned to look back. There, in the parlor, stood a man!' ...
'... Well, she didn't scream. You know, she's terribly brave. She just decided to go down and meet him herself.'" (page 122)
Hmmm. Frail, eighty-year-old woman single-handedly taking on dangerous, possibly armed burglar. That's not brave, that's just stupid.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Helen said that when Mrs. Turnbull had reached the parlor, no one was in it! 'And there was no secret door open.'
'What did Miss Flora do then?' Nancy asked.
'She fainted.' (page 122-123)
*gasp* How brave!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The doctor raised his eyebrows. 'You've heard of hallucinations?'
Nancy and Helen frowned, but remained silent." (page 123)
Narrator: "Neither of them wanted to admit that their vocabulary level didn't reach much beyond third grade."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Just as Nancy stepped back into the parlor, Aunt Rosemary appeared. She stared in astonishment at the opening in the wall and at the cabinet which now stood at right angles to it.
'You found something?' she asked.
'Only this,' Nancy replied, and handed Aunt Rosemary the folded paper." (page 129)
Nancy: "Just a secret passageway in your wall, and an uber-old letter from the Revolutionary War inside of it. No biggie."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Maybe Nathan Gomber is keeping Willie Wharton away!' (Nancy) said to herself. 'Willie may even be a prisoner! And if Gomber is that kind of a person, maybe he engineered the abduction of my father!'
The very thought frightened Nancy. Leaping up, she decided to ask the police to have Nathan Gomber shadowed. (page 134)
Yeah. Like the police are going to tail someone just because a random girl has a hunch.
...
Oh, what am I thinking. This is *Nancy Drew*! Of course the police are going to do whatever she tells them to...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Miss Flora) smiled wanly. 'I know I'm ill. But I'm not going to get better any quicker in the hospital than I am right here.'" (page 142)
Miss Flora: "All those pesky doctors and that newfangled medicine don't do a thing!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Focusing her light on the four edges of the panels, the young sleuth finally discovered a piece of metal wedged between two of the planks.
''I think I see a way to open this,' Nancy said, 'but I'll need some tools.'" (page 147)
Nancy: "Like dynamite."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Captain Rossland looked astounded. It was evident he could hardly believe that Nancy in only a few minutes had persuaded the man to talk!" (page 157-158)
Oh, please. So she used her mind-control powers on him. Big whoop.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Both girls went to the door. They were amazed to find that the caller was Mr. Dodd, the realtor. He held out a large brass key toward Nancy.
'What's this for?' she asked, mystified.
Mr. Dodd smiled.
'It's the front-door key to Riverview Manor. I've decided that you can look around the mansion tomorrow morning all you please.'" (page 163)
Mr. Dodd: "Screw the new owner's wishes! I've decided that you can invade his privacy whenever you like!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Well, you're not going down there,' Helen said firmly. 'That is, not without a policeman. It's too dangerous. As for myself, I want to live to get married and not be hit over the head in the dark by that ghost, so Jim won't have a bride!'" (page 166)
Narrator: "At this point, Nancy was considering hitting Helen over the head herself, so that she would shut up about Jim."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy laughed. 'You win. But I'll tell you why. At the moment I'm more interested in finding my father than in hunting for a secret passageway.' (page 166)
Well, there's a first time for everything, I suppose.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Are you sure you're all right?' Helen asked solicitously.
'I admit I got a good bang,' Nancy replied, 'but I feel fine now.' (page 168)
Nancy! Please, this is a children's book! On the plus side, I guess that means she found her father.
...
I am so going to hell for that last comment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy had taken an instant dislike to Gomber and now it was quadrupled. She judged him to be the kind of person who stays within the boundaries of the law but whose ethics are questionable." (page 5)
Narrator: "Nancy was quick to judge, and slow to forgive."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Quickly (Helen) explained that Miss Flora was her aunt's mother. 'Aunt Rosemary is really my great-aunt and MIss Flora is my great-grandmother. From the time she was a little girl everybody has called her Miss Flora." (page 7)
Helen: "It's really not as kinky as it sounds."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) gave (her father) a tremendous hug and a resounding kiss. He responded affectionately, but gave a little chuckle. 'What have I done to rate this extra bit of attention?' he teased. With a wink he added, 'I know. Your date for tonight is off and you want me to substitute.'" (page 12)
Well, you can't really blame the guy for thinking that. Nancy really *is* sending mixed signals...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
(Carson Drew on Nathan Gomer)
"'There are times when I'd like to thrash the man till he begged for mercy!'" (page 13)
Woah! Slow down, there!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'I will admit that there is a bit of a muddle about the railroad bridge.' Mr. Drew began. 'What happened was that the lawyer who went to get Willie Wharton's signature was very ill at the time. Unfortunately, he failed to have the signature witnessed or have the attached certificate of acknowledgement executed. The poor man passed away a few hours later.'" (page 13)
... So he's saying that all this grief could have been saved if only some idiot had thought, "Hey! Maybe it'd be a good idea if we didn't send the dying lawyer for a change!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Say, young lady, you'd better get dressed for that date of yours.' (Mr. Drew) winked. 'I happen to know that Dirk doesn't like to be kept waiting.'" (page 16)
...
Okay, I refuse to believe that Caroline Keene isn't doing this on purpose. It's just too easy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy enjoyed herself and was sorry when the affair ended." (page 16)
Wait, now she's having an *affair*?! With who? Dirk? Her father? Hannah? Nancy seriously needs to stop creating sexual tension with every character she comes in contact with.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The following morning (Nancy) and her father attended church together. Hannah said she was going to a special service that afternoon and therefore would stay home during the morning." (page 17)
Narrator: "Hannah was a devil-worshipping heathen, and the 'special service' was really a KKK meeting."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... (Mr. Drew) said, 'I expect to return on Wednesday, Nancy. Suppose I stop off at Cliffwood and see how you're making out?'" (page 23-24)
Mr. Drew: "I could give you kissing tips, maybe even join you?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... Helen replied. 'Nancy, I want to tell you a big, big secret. I'm going to be married!'
Nancy slowed the car and pulled to the side of the street." (page 24)
Nancy: "But Helen, what about *us*?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Riverview Manor has been sold several times during the years but has been vacant for a long time.'
'You mean no one lives there now?' Nancy asked." (page 33)
Helen: "Do I *look* like your pocket dictionary, Nancy?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The girls were about to pick up the luncheon dishes from the table,to carry them to the kitchen, when the front door knocker sounded loudly.
'Oh dear,' said Miss Flora. 'who can that be? Maybe it's the thief and he's come to harm us!'" (page 36)
Person at the Door: "Yeah, I'm the thief. And yeah, I'm here to harm you. Just thought I'd knock on the door politely to tell you that before I kill you. I mean, what did you think I was going to do? Keep sneaking around and stealing stuff like any normal thief would have done? Pshaw! Come on, this is a Nancy Drew book! The only character who isn't an idiot is Nancy!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Out there! Looking in that window!' Helen pointed to the front window of the parlor next to the hall. 'The most horrible face I ever saw!'
Was it a man's face?' Nancy questioned.
'Oh, I don't know. It looked just like a gorilla!'" (page 46)
Koko the gorilla isn't pleased with that comment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'I think we've had enough investigation for one day,' Aunt Rosemary remarked.
Nancy was about to say that she was not tired and would like to continue. But she realized that Mrs. Hayes had made this suggestion because her mother was once more showing signs of fatigue and strain." (page 50)
Nancy was an arrogant, self-centered brat who often had to be reminded that the world didn't revolve around her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Mother dear,' said her daughter, 'the captain and his men didn't believe us before because they thought we were imagining things. But Nancy and Helen heard music at two different times and they saw the chandelier rock. I'm sure that Captain Rossland will believe Nancy and send a guard out here.'" (page 56)
Yeah, but that's only because she and her father have the entire police force under their control. Don't kid yourself, Helen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy smiled at Miss Flora. 'I shan't ask the captain to believe in a ghost or even hunt for one. I think all we should request at the moment is that he have a man patrol the grounds here at night.'" (page 57)
Uh-huh. Because a twenty-four hour guard *really* isn't all that much to ask. You just keep telling yourself that, Nancy...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy urged Miss Flora to go with her daughter. 'I"ll stay here and try getting Mr. Owl out of the house.'" (page 60)
Nancy: "Then we'll try figuring out how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) climbed the stairs and for the second time that night undressed." (page 65)
Narrator: "All the local boys- including the night watchman- watched eagerly."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Helen felt sorry for her friend. To cheer Nancy, she said with a laugh, 'Storeroom after storeroom but no room to store a ghost!'" (page 70)
... Oy. Helen hon, leave the comedy to the comedians, m'kay?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'This pale-green silk gown with the panniers would look lovely on you, Nancy,' Miss Flora said. 'And I'm sure it's just the right size, too.'
Nancy surveyed the tiny waist of the ball gown. (page 75)
... Meanwhile, back in 1930, Caroline Keene is utterly convinced that she is being extremely subtle in pointing out that Nancy is anorexia-thin.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The guard reminded Albert Watson that he had not revealed why he was sneaking along the ground.
'Well,' the prisoner said, 'it was because of you. I heard downtown that there was a detective patrolling this place and I didn't want to bump into you.'" (page 79)
Albert Watson: "So because I didn't want to be caught by you, I decided to sneak across the property you were patrolling. Does that make sense?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"... Miss Flora remarked, 'I wish you girls lived here all the time. Despite our troubles, you have brought a feeling of gaiety back into our lives.'" (page 83)
Miss Flora: "Or maybe that's just because we're having you sleep in the same bed."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Nancy) tapped the entire panel with her knuckles. A look of disappointment came over her face. 'There's certainly no hollow space behind it,' she said.
'Let's make sure,' said Helen. 'Suppose I go downstairs and get a screw driver and hammer? We'll see what happens when we drive the screw driver through this crack.'
'Good idea, Helen.'" (page 85)
When 'Trading Spaces' goes horribly, horribly wrong...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Putting a finger to her lips to indicate that Helen was not to comment, Nancy wrote on the sheet:
'I think the only way to catch the ghost is to trap him. I believe he has one or more microphones hidden some place and that he hears all our plans.'" (page 89)
Narrator: "Nancy suffered from paranoid delusions, and frequently tried to drag others into them with her."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Helen smiled. 'Nancy thinks of everything,' she said to herself." (page 90)
Helen: "Nancy is my one true God and Master. I should bow down and worship her, for Nancy is Perfect."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy hurried after (the cabbie), and before the train came in, asked if he would please give her a description of the two men who had been with her father.
'Well, both of them were dark and kind of athletic-looking. Not what I'd call handsome.'" (page 102)
See?! There it is again! Evil = ugly!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'... the fellow's hands didn't look as if he did any kind of physical work. The taximan said they were kind of soft and pudgy.'
'Well, that eliminates all the men I know who are short, heavy-set and have pale-blue eyes. None of them have hands like that.'" (page 111)
... Does Nancy keep a detailed log on the physical characteristics of all the men she meets? 'Cause that kind of borderlines on stalking.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'What's going to happen to you next?' the housekeeper exclaimed.
The young sleuth laughed. 'Something good, I hope.'" (page 117)
Nancy: "Teehee! Making light of my father's perilous situation is fun!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Miss Flora, Aunt Rosemary, and I wanted to have a special dish to surprise you, because they knew you were dreadfully upset.'" (page 122)
And hiding it very well, apparently. When exactly has Nancy been acting 'very upset' about the fact that her father has been kidnapped? I must have missed it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'(Miss Flora) had just stared up the stairway, when, for some unknown reason, she turned to look back. There, in the parlor, stood a man!' ...
'... Well, she didn't scream. You know, she's terribly brave. She just decided to go down and meet him herself.'" (page 122)
Hmmm. Frail, eighty-year-old woman single-handedly taking on dangerous, possibly armed burglar. That's not brave, that's just stupid.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Helen said that when Mrs. Turnbull had reached the parlor, no one was in it! 'And there was no secret door open.'
'What did Miss Flora do then?' Nancy asked.
'She fainted.' (page 122-123)
*gasp* How brave!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The doctor raised his eyebrows. 'You've heard of hallucinations?'
Nancy and Helen frowned, but remained silent." (page 123)
Narrator: "Neither of them wanted to admit that their vocabulary level didn't reach much beyond third grade."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Just as Nancy stepped back into the parlor, Aunt Rosemary appeared. She stared in astonishment at the opening in the wall and at the cabinet which now stood at right angles to it.
'You found something?' she asked.
'Only this,' Nancy replied, and handed Aunt Rosemary the folded paper." (page 129)
Nancy: "Just a secret passageway in your wall, and an uber-old letter from the Revolutionary War inside of it. No biggie."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Maybe Nathan Gomber is keeping Willie Wharton away!' (Nancy) said to herself. 'Willie may even be a prisoner! And if Gomber is that kind of a person, maybe he engineered the abduction of my father!'
The very thought frightened Nancy. Leaping up, she decided to ask the police to have Nathan Gomber shadowed. (page 134)
Yeah. Like the police are going to tail someone just because a random girl has a hunch.
...
Oh, what am I thinking. This is *Nancy Drew*! Of course the police are going to do whatever she tells them to...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"(Miss Flora) smiled wanly. 'I know I'm ill. But I'm not going to get better any quicker in the hospital than I am right here.'" (page 142)
Miss Flora: "All those pesky doctors and that newfangled medicine don't do a thing!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Focusing her light on the four edges of the panels, the young sleuth finally discovered a piece of metal wedged between two of the planks.
''I think I see a way to open this,' Nancy said, 'but I'll need some tools.'" (page 147)
Nancy: "Like dynamite."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Captain Rossland looked astounded. It was evident he could hardly believe that Nancy in only a few minutes had persuaded the man to talk!" (page 157-158)
Oh, please. So she used her mind-control powers on him. Big whoop.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Both girls went to the door. They were amazed to find that the caller was Mr. Dodd, the realtor. He held out a large brass key toward Nancy.
'What's this for?' she asked, mystified.
Mr. Dodd smiled.
'It's the front-door key to Riverview Manor. I've decided that you can look around the mansion tomorrow morning all you please.'" (page 163)
Mr. Dodd: "Screw the new owner's wishes! I've decided that you can invade his privacy whenever you like!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Well, you're not going down there,' Helen said firmly. 'That is, not without a policeman. It's too dangerous. As for myself, I want to live to get married and not be hit over the head in the dark by that ghost, so Jim won't have a bride!'" (page 166)
Narrator: "At this point, Nancy was considering hitting Helen over the head herself, so that she would shut up about Jim."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Nancy laughed. 'You win. But I'll tell you why. At the moment I'm more interested in finding my father than in hunting for a secret passageway.' (page 166)
Well, there's a first time for everything, I suppose.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"'Are you sure you're all right?' Helen asked solicitously.
'I admit I got a good bang,' Nancy replied, 'but I feel fine now.' (page 168)
Nancy! Please, this is a children's book! On the plus side, I guess that means she found her father.
...
I am so going to hell for that last comment.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *