“I like dogs,” said Billy.  “We could have one in Washington if we had a barn to keep him in.”

“We’ve got a barn,” went on Bert.  “You ought to have seen what happened there this morning to Flossie and Freddie,” and then he told about the little twins having been hidden under the hay.

Mr. Bobbsey’s automobile was in the lumberyard, and in this the trip was quickly made to the home of the four twins, after Mrs. Bobbsey had been told, by telephone, that company was coming

Nell and Billy were glad to see Flossie and Freddie, and the six children had fun playing around the house and barn with Snoop and Snap.

Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey wanted Mr. Martin to stay two or three days with his children, but the Washington lumberman said it could not be done this time.

“I’m on a business trip,” he said, “and I can’t spend as much time in visiting and pleasure as I’d like, though I am trying to give Billy and Nell a good time.  This is the first time I have ever taken them on a trip with me.”

“And we’ve had such a lovely time!” exclaimed Nell.

“Packs of fun!” added her brother.

“I’m sorry we can’t stay longer,” went on Mr. Martin.  “You folk must come to Washington some day.”

“Yes, I expect to,” said Mr. Bobbsey.  “I’ve been counting on going there some day on some business matters.”

“Well, when you come be sure to bring the children,” said the father of Nell and Billy.  “I think they would enjoy seeing the White House, the big Capitol building, the Congressional Library, Washington’s home at Mt.  Vernon and places like that.”

“Could we see the Washington Monument?” asked Nan.  She remembered looking at a picture of that in her geography.

“Oh, yes, I’d show you that, too,” said Mr. Martin.

“And could we see the Potomac River?” Bert wanted to know.

“Surely!” laughed Billy’s father.  “I’ll show you all the sights of Washington if you’ll come and pay me a visit—­all you Bobbsey twins!” he added.

“I wish we could go!” sighed Nan.

“Perhaps you can,” said her father.

“Have you got any hay in Wash’ton?” asked Freddie, suddenly, and every one else laughed except himself and Flossie.

“Oh, I guess I could find enough hay for you and your little sister to hide under,” answered Mr. Martin with a laugh, for he had heard the story of what had happened in the barn.

A little later Mr. Martin and his boy and girl had to leave.  They said “good-bye,” and while the father of the Washington children again asked Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey to come to visit him at his home, Nell and Billy whispered to Nan and Bert: 

“Be sure and come, and bring Flossie and Freddie with you!”

“We will!” promised Nan, but neither she nor Bert guessed what a queer little adventure they were soon to have in Washington.

A few days later school opened, and the Bobbsey twins had to go back to their class-rooms.  At first they did not like it, after the long, joyous vacation on the deep, blue sea, but their teachers were kind, and finally the twins began to feel that, after all, school was not such a bad place.