“And can we take the ice-boat?” Freddie asked eagerly.

“Yes, of course you’re going,” said Mrs. Bobbsey.

“But no ice-boat,” added Bert.  “There’s no chance to sail one in New York City—­and if there was we wouldn’t have time.”

“Oh, are we going to New York?” cried Flossie.

“Yes,” her father nodded.

“Then I’m going to take my fire engine!” cried Freddie.  “They have fires in New York, don’t they, Daddy?”

“Plenty of them, I think.  And they have big engines there to put them out—­larger ones than we have in Lakeport.  But now let’s get quiet so I can tell Mother and you the news.”

Then, with the smaller twins cuddled up on his lap and Bert and Nan seated near their mother, Mr. Bobbsey told the news.  He was going to start a new business, from which he hoped to make a great deal of money, and he had to go to New York to see about it.  The trip would take the best part of a day from Lakeport, and Mr. Bobbsey would have to stay in the big city several weeks.

He had long promised his wife that when the time came to go to New York he would take her and the whole family with him, and that time had now come.

“When can we start?” Flossie inquired.

“To-night?” asked Freddie eagerly.

“Oh, indeed not!” laughed his mother.  “It will take at least a week to get ready, and perhaps longer.  You children have to have some new clothes, and Daddy has to look after his business here.  I think we will close this house, and Dinah and Sam can visit their friends.”

“What about Snap and Snoop?” asked Flossie.

“Oh, let’s take them!” begged Freddie.

“It would be no fun going to New York with pet cats and dogs,” said Bert.  “They’d only be in the way or get lost.”

“I wouldn’t want either one of ’em to get lost,” put in Flossie.

“Then we’ll leave them with Dinah,” said Mother Bobbsey, glad that that part was over.  Every time they went away it was always hard to get the younger twins to consent to leave Snoop and Snap at Home.

“It will be great, going to New York!” cried Bert.  “I want to see some of the flying machines I’ve read about.”

“And I want to see some of the lovely stylish dresses the girls wear as they ride on Fifth Avenue,” declared Nan.  “Mother, do you think I could have a real dress from New York?” she asked in a whisper.  “Not one that’s too stylish, of course, but so I could say it came from New York.”

“I guess so,” and Mrs. Bobbsey smiled.  “But let’s hear what Flossie and Freddie most want to see in New York,” and she looked at the two small twins.

Flossie and Freddie thought for a moment, and then the blue-eyed boy, shaking his flaxen curls, cried: 

“I want to see a big fire, and watch the firemen put it out.  But I hope nobody gets hurt!”

“That last part is good, anyhow,” said Mr. Bobbsey.  “And how about my little fat fairy?” and he playfully pinched Flossie’s plump leg.  “What do you want to see?”