But it was no tramp. The next-door neighbor, Mr. Flander, having seen Sam leave that day with a valise, guessed that the colored man had been called out of town. And knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey had left, Mr. Flander called to see if the Bobbsey twins needed anything.
“Oh, thank you, we’re all right,” said Bert, when he learned who it was.
“That’s good,” Mr. Flander said. “No, I won’t come in, Mrs. Pry. I just ran over the side garden instead of ringing the bell at the front door. Well, if you want anything just let me or my wife know. Don’t let the Bobbsey twins go hungry or cold, you know.”
“I guess there’s no danger of that,” laughed Mrs. Pry.
The kind neighbor took his departure, and soon after that Nan and Bert went to bed.
One of the first things Bert did the next morning when he came downstairs to breakfast, was to put on his cap and run out on the porch.
“Where are you going?” asked Mrs. Pry, who let Dinah do the cooking while she managed the house and saw to it that the twins had plenty to eat.
“I’m just going out to look and see if it’s going to snow any more,” Bert answered.
“Land sakes! do you want more snow?” laughed the old lady.
“Sure we do,” Bert answered. “There isn’t quite enough for good sleigh-riding, and it takes a lot to make snow houses and snow forts.”