“They’re all right,” declared Bert. “It’s just that the mails are late on account of the storm. I guess we’ll hear from them by to-morrow. But, Nan, I’ve got good news!”
“What is it?” she asked. “Did you see Sam and Dinah coming back?”
“No. But maybe they’ll be along soon. But I found Danny’s ring in the church under the broken window, and that proves he did it,” and the boy quickly told his sister what had happened.
“Oh, I’m glad of that!” cried Nan. “Danny was mean to keep still and let it be thought you did it.”
“Yes, he’s a sort of a sneak,” agreed Bert. “But wait until he sees the deacon and me with his ring! He’ll feel queer then!”
Flossie and Freddie were playing about the house when Bert came back, and they were delighted when he gave them some sticks of candy he had bought at the store.
“Aunt Sallie says she feels cold,” reported Nan, when she had taken a cup of tea and one of the lamb chops Bert had brought up to the invalid. “Can you make the house any warmer, Bert? You know Doctor Martin said we must keep her lumbago warm.”
“I’ll turn on the furnace more, shake it down and put a lot of coal on,” decided the boy. “I’m glad we have plenty of coal in the bin.”
“So am I!” agreed Nan.
Soon the pipes were cracking with the additional heat that Bert turned on. And though the wind still blew cold outside and though more flakes of snow began to fall as evening settled down, the Bobbsey twins were warm and snug.