Mrs. Pry was an elderly lady who went about doing housework, and Mrs. Bobbsey had engaged her on other occasions when it was necessary for her to leave home for a time.
“I won’t worry about the children when Aunt Sallie is with them,” Mrs. Bobbsey said. “And now, if we are to leave early in the morning, Dick,” she said to her husband, “we had better begin packing now. You do that and I’ll telephone to the boarding house where Mrs. Pry lives and leave word for her to come early to-morrow.”
Then began a busy time in the Bobbsey house.
“My, what a lot of things have happened since yesterday!” said Nan a little later when she was helping her mother put Flossie and Freddie to bed. “Freddie fell down a drain pipe, it snowed, the church window was broken, and now you’re going away, Mother!”
“Yes, but daddy and I won’t be gone any longer than we need be, my dear. And I know you will help Dinah and Aunt Sallie keep house.”
“Oh, yes, I’ll help—I love to!” answered Nan.
After the first shock of it was over and Bert and Nan had passed the disappointment of not being allowed to make the journey with their father and mother, the older Bobbsey twins rather began to like the idea of keeping house.
“I guess Aunt Sallie will give me all the cookies I want,” thought Freddie, as he went to bed.
Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey remained up later, to pack in readiness for the early morning start. Word came from Mrs. Pry that she would come as soon as she could.
“Now, doan you all worry, Miz Bobbsey,” said Dinah to the children’s mother when the taxicab came to take the travelers to the railroad station. “Sam an’ me we’ll look after de chilluns jes’ same’s if you all was heah!”