“We’ll have some fun this afternoon,” his father promised him.

Just as Mr. Bobbsey had expected, the children were not much amused in the art gallery or the museum.  But Mrs. Bobbsey liked these places, and, after all, as Nan said, they wanted their mother to have a good time on this Washington trip.

After lunch they went again to call on the Martins, as Mr. Bobbsey had to see the father of Billy and Nell on business.

“And where are we going to have some fun?” Bert asked, as they journeyed away from their hotel toward the Martin house.

“You’ll see,” his father promised.  The children tried to guess what it might be, but they could not be sure of anything.

It did not take Mr. Bobbsey long to get through with his business with Mr. Martin and then the father of the twins said to Mrs. Martin: 

“Can you let Billy and Nell come with us on a little trip?”

“To be sure.  But where are you going?” Mrs. Martin replied.

“I thought we’d take one of the big sight-seeing autos and ride about the city, and perhaps outside a little way,” said Mr. Bobbsey.  “Nell and Billy can tell us the best way to go”

“Oh, yes!  I can do that’” cried Billy.  “I often take rides that way with my uncle when he comes to Washington.  Come on, Nell!  We’ll get ready.”

“May we really go?” asked Nell, of her mother.

“Yes, indeed!” was the answer.

So, a little later, the Bobbsey twins, with Billy and Nell and Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, were on one of the big automobiles.  It was not too cold to ride outside, as they were all bundled up warm.

Through the different parts of the city the sight-seeing car went, a man on it telling the persons aboard about the different places of interest as they were passed.  In a little while the machine rumbled out into the quieter streets, where the houses were rather far apart.

Then the automobile came to a stop, and some one asked: 

“What’s so wonderful to see here?”

“Nothing,” the driver of the car answered.  “But I have to get some water for the radiator.  We won’t be here very long.  Those who want to, can get out and walk around.”

“Yes, I’ll be glad to stretch by legs,” said one man with a laugh.  He was sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey, and they began talking to him.  Nan and Bert were talking to Billy and Nell, and, for the time being, no one paid much attention to Flossie and Freddie, who were in a rear seat.

Suddenly Flossie called to her little brother;

“Oh, look!  There’s a cat!  It’s just like our Snoop!”

Freddie looked to where Flossie pointed with her chubby finger.

“No, that isn’t like our Snoop,” said the little boy, shaking his head.

“Yes, ’tis too!” declared his sister.  “I’m going to get down and look at it.  I like a cat, and I didn’t see one close by for a long time.”