“Call ’em in, now!” said the cook.  “Everything is ready.  And is the cat there?”

“Yes,” answered Tom, as he looked out and saw the pussy curled up in the sun on the steps.  “It’s there.”

“Well, I think I’ll give it some milk,” said the cook.

So, a little later, Flossie and Freddie, the stray children—­for that is what they were—­sat down to a nice little lunch in a strange, house.  Tom Walker sat down with them, and the stray cat had a saucer of milk in the kitchen.

“I looked out in the street,” said the cook, as she came back to get Freddie another glass of milk, “but I don’t see any automobile there.  Did you really ride here in an auto?”

“Oh, yes,” answered Freddie.  “And the man on it all the time talked through a red horn, but I didn’t know what he said.”

“That was the man speaking through a megaphone so everybody on the sight-seeing auto would know what they were looking at as they rode along,” said Tom.  “They often pass through here, though I haven’t seen any to-day.”

“But what to do about you children I don’t know,” said the cook, when Flossie and Freddie had eaten as much as they wanted.  “If you did come here on an auto it’s gone now, and there isn’t a sign of it.  I think you must have come two or three streets away from the car before you turned in here.”

“Oh, no!” exclaimed Freddie.  “When we got down off the auto we saw the cat and we came in after it.  The auto was right out in front.”

“Well, it isn’t there now,” said the cook.  “I guess it must have gone away and taken your folks with it.  Maybe they’re looking for you.  But I guess you’ll have to stay here until they come to find you.  You’re too small to be allowed to go about alone.”

“We like it here,” said Flossie, settling back comfortably in her chair.  “We can stay as long as you want us to.”

“And we can stay to supper if you ask us,” went on Freddie.  “Course mother wouldn’t let us ask for an invitation, but if you want to ask us to stay we can’t help it.”

“’Specially if you have cake,” added Flossie, smoothing out her dress.

“Yes, ’specially cake!” agreed Freddie.

“Oh my!” laughed the cook.  “Sure an’ you’re very funny!  But I like you.  And I only wish I knew where your folks were.  But the best I can do is to keep you here until they come.  They must know about where they lost you.  Come, Tom, take the stray children out and amuse them.  Your mother’ll be home pretty soon.”

If Tom’s mother had been at home she would have at once telephoned and told the police that she had two lost—­or stray—­children at her house, so that in case Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey inquired, as they did, they would know that the tots were all right.

But Mrs. Walker was not at home, and the cook did the best she could.  She made sure the children were safe and comfortable while they were with her.