“We do not live in a nice part of New York,” wrote the lady—­who was a Mrs. Robinson—­in her letter, “for we can’t pay much rent.  But our apartment house is not hard to reach from your hotel, and I would very much like to see you.  Come and bring the children.  They can watch the other children playing in the streets.  I know the streets are not a very nice place to play in, but that’s all we have in New York.”

* * * * *

So Mrs. Bobbsey decided to call on her old friend, whom she had not seen for many years.  She said she would take Flossie and Freddie with her.  Nan and Bert were going to a moving picture show with another boy and girl and the latter’s mother.

Mrs. Robinson lived on the east side of New York, in what is called an apartment house.  Some called them tenements, and in them many families are crowded together, for room is very valuable in the big city of New York.

After Mrs. Bobbsey had talked for a while with her former girlhood friend, Flossie and Freddie, who had been sitting still in the parlor, asked if they could not go out in the street and watch the other children at play.

“Yes, but don’t go off the steps,” said their mother.

The two Bobbsey twins promised, but something happened that made them forget.  This was the sight of a red-haired, snub-nosed boy, driving a goat, hitched to a small wagon, up and down the street.

“Oh, look at that!” cried the excited Freddie.  “Isn’t that great!”

“It’s cute,” said Flossie.  “I wonder if he’d give us a ride?”

“Let’s ask him,” said Freddie.  “I’ve got ten cents.  Maybe he’d ride us for that.  Come on!”

And so, forgetting all about their promise not to go off the steps of the apartment house where their mother’s friend lived, the two small Bobbsey twins hurried down to look at the goat.

CHAPTER XX

MR. BOBBSEY COMES BACK

“Hey, Jimmie!  Give us a goat ride, will you?” called a boy in the street.

“I will for two cents,” answered the red-haired lad driving the goat and wagon.

“Aw, go on.  Give us a ride for a cent!”

“Nope.  Two cents!”

“Oh, did you hear that?” asked Flossie of Freddie.  “He gives rides for two cents.”

“Then we’ll have some,” said Freddie.  “How many rides can you get for ten cents?”

“A lot, I guess,” said Flossie, who forgot all about the number-work she had studied for a little while in school.

“Hey!” called Freddie to the boy with the goat.  “We’ve got two cents—­we want a ride.”

The boy, who was sitting in an old goat wagon, pulled on the reins and guided his animal over toward the curb.

“Does you really want a ride?” he asked, “No foolin’?”

“No foolin’,” answered Freddie.  “Sure we want a ride.  I’ve got five cents.”  He showed only half of the money he had in his pocket, keeping the other nickel back.