"Oh, yes, we often carry them," replied Nan. "They'll soon be wide awake again, and they won't want to go to sleep until late to-night, on account of the nap they've had."
Mrs. Bobbsey was at the door waiting for the children Flossie and
Freddie soon roused up enough to walk in.
"Won't you come in?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of Mr. Carford. "I can give you a cup of tea. Mr. Bobbsey just came home. Perhaps you'd like to say 'how-d'ye-do.'"
"Thanks, I'll come in for just a minute," was the answer. "Then I must be getting back before the storm breaks. And I'll tie my horses, too. I can't risk another runaway," Mr. Carford said with a smile at Bert.
Mr. Bobbsey greeted the caller cordially, and the children were soon telling their parents of the nice visit they had had.
"And Miss Carford can make almost as good cookies as Dinah!" cried
Freddie.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Carford. "I'll have to tell my sister that. She'll be real proud."
Bert, looking from his father to Mr. Carford, wondered what could have once taken place between the two men. That there was some sort of secret he felt sure, and up to now there had been no explanation of the strange words used by the aged man at the time Bert and the others caught the runaways.
"I haven't seen you in some time, Mr. Bobbsey," said Mr. Carford, after they had talked about the weather.
"No, I've been very busy, and I suppose you have also. Have you been at
Snow Lodge lately?"