So that incident passed, much to the amusement of the other hotel guests, and, really, no great harm was done, for the sugar was easily put back in the bowl.  Then dinner was served, and for a time the Bobbsey twins did not talk very much.  They were too busy with their knives, forks and spoons.

Bert wanted to go out and take a look at the Capitol by night, to see the searchlights that were arranged to cast their glow up on the dome from the outside.  Nan, also, said she would like to take a little walk, and as Mrs. Bobbsey was tired she said she would stay in with Flossie and Freddie.

So it was arranged, and Mr. Bobbsey took the two older children out of the hotel.  It was still early evening, and the streets were filled with persons, some on foot, some in carriages, and many in automobiles.

It was not far from the hotel where the Bobbseys were staying to the Capitol, and soon Bert and Nan, with their father, were standing in front of the beautiful structure, with its long flight of broad steps leading up to the main floor.

“It’s just like the picture in my geography!” exclaimed Nan, as she stood looking at it.

“But the picture in your book isn’t lighted up,” objected Bert.

“Well, no,” admitted Nan.

“The lights have not been in place very long,” explained Mr. Bobbsey.  “Very likely the picture in Nan’s book was made before some one thought of putting search lamps on the dome.”

“Could we go inside?” Bert wanted to know.  “I’d like to see where the President lives.”

“He doesn’t live in the Capitol,” explained Nan.  “He lives in the White House; doesn’t he Daddy?  Our history class had to learn that.”

“Yes, the White House is the home of the President,” said Mr. Bobbsey.  “But we could go inside the Capitol for a few minutes I guess.  The senators and congressmen are having a night session.”

“What for?” asked Nan.  “Do they have to work at night?”

“Sometimes.”

“They don’t work,” declared Bert.  “They just talk.  I know, ’cause I heard Mr. Perkins say so down in our post-office at home one day.  He said all the senators and congressmen did was talk and talk and talk!”

“Well, they do talk a lot!” laughed Bert’s father.  “But that is one of the ways in which they work.  Now we’ll go inside for a little while.”

In spite of the fact that it was night the Capitol was a busy place.  Later Mr. Bobbsey learned that the senators and congressmen were meeting at night in order to finish a lot of work so they could the sooner end the session—­“adjourn,” as it is called.

Bert and Nan walked around the tiled corridors.  They saw men hurrying here and there, messenger boys rushing to and fro, and many visitors like themselves.

The children looked at the pictures and statues of the great men who had had a part in the making of United States history, but, naturally, Nan and Bert did not care very much for this.