sitting on the end of the row. She plays with Bert and Flossie plays with
me. We're two sets of twins. Don't you like girls?"

"Well, I don't know," said Laddie slowly. "I never played with 'em much.
I--I like your sister, though. She can play with us. Do you ever play
store?"

"Lots of times," said Freddie. "We take some dirt for sugar, some little
stones for eggs, some big stones for loaves of bread, clam shells and
pieces of tin for dishes--we have lots of fun like that. But we haven't
had any fun that way since we came to New York. I fell on a turtle's back
in the 'quarium, though, and had a ride."

"You did!" cried Laddie, so loudly that many persons in near-by seats
turned to smile at him.

"Sure I did," answered Freddie. "I'll tell you about it. I was scared at
first, but----"

"Laddie, dear, the curtain is going up and you had better keep quiet,"
said the elderly lady who was with the new boy.

"Is she your mother?" Freddie asked.

"No, she's my aunt. My mother is out in California, but she's comin' home
soon, and I'm glad of it, though my aunt is awful nice."

"Hush!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, thinking it was Freddie talking, for now
the last act had started. So the two little boys quieted down, each one
resolved to start talking again as soon as he could.