She went over to a desk and began to write.  A little later she handed a slip of blue paper to Mr. Bobbsey.

“What is this?” he asked.

“A check for one hundred dollars,” answered Miss Pompret.  “It is the reward I promised for the finding of my china.  I have made the check out to you, Mr. Bobbsey.  You can get the money and give half to Nan and half to Bert.”

Mr. Bobbsey slowly shook his head.  Then he handed the blue check back to Miss Pompret.

“Their mother and I couldn’t think of letting the children take the hundred dollars just for having discovered your dishes, Miss Pompret,” he said.  “I thank you very much, but Nan and Bert would not want it, themselves,” he went on.”  They really did not earn the money.  It was just good luck; and so, I’m sure, they would rather the money would go to the Red Cross.  Wouldn’t you?” he asked Nan and Bert.

For a moment only did they hesitate.  Then with a sigh, which she tried hard to keep back.  Nan said: 

“Oh, yes.  It wouldn’t be right to take a hundred dollars just for two dishes.”

“No,” agreed Bert, “it wouldn’t.  Please give the money to the Red Cross.”

Miss Pompret looked from the children to their father, then to the china in the closet and next at the check in her white, thin hand.

“Very well,” said the old lady.  “Since you wish it, I’ll give the hundred dollars to the Red Cross; and very glad I am to do it, Mr. Bobbsey.  I would gladly have paid even more to get back my sugar bowl and pitcher.”

“It would hardly be right for the children to have so much money,” he said.  “The Red Cross needs it for poor and starving children in other lands.”

“Very well,” answered Miss Pompret.  “But at least let me give them back the dollar and thirty-four cents they spent to get the dishes.  That was their own spending money, I presume.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Bobbsey, “it was.  And I don’t mind if you give that back.”

So Nan and Bert did not really lose anything, and soon the disappointed feeling about not getting the reward wore off.  They were glad it was to go to the Red Cross.

And the next morning, when they awakened to find the ground a foot deep in snow, their joy knew no bounds.  They forgot all about rewards, china dishes, and even Washington.

“Now for some coasting!” cried Bert.

“And snow men!” added Freddie.

“And I’m going to make a snow house for my Washington doll!” cried Flossie.

“Oh, I love snow!” ejaculated Nan.  “It’s lovely to have it come so near Christmas!”

“That’s so!” exclaimed Bert.  “It soon will be Christmas!  Now let’s go out and have some fun in the snow!”

And they did, rolling and tumbling about, making snow men and houses, and coasting on their sleds.

Miss Pompret wrote Mr. Bobbsey a letter. stating that she had sent a check for one hundred dollars to the Red Cross in the names of Bert and Nan Bobbsey.