They found Mr. Martin about to leave. And then Mr. Bobbsey thought of
something.

"Look here, Henry!" he exclaimed to his friend, "there's no need of your
going back to that hotel. Come out to the house--you and the children--
and have dinner with me. I want you and your boy and girl to meet
Flossie and Freddie, and I want you to meet Mrs. Bobbsey."

"Well, I'd like to," said Mr. Martin slowly, while the eyes of Nell and
Billy glowed in delight. "But, perhaps it might bother your wife."

"Oh, no!" laughed Mr. Bobbsey. "She likes company. I'll telephone out
that we're coming, and Dinah, that's our cook, will be delighted to get
up something extra. They'll be glad to see you. Come out to the house,
all of you, and make me a nice visit. Can't you stay a day or so?"

Eagerly Nan and Bert waited for the answer, for they liked the
Washington children very much.

"Oh, no, we can't stay later than this evening," said Mr. Martin. "I've
got other business to look after. But I'll come out to dinner with you."

"Oh, we'll have lots of fun!" whispered Nan to Nell. "You'll just love
Flossie--she's so cute!"

"I'll show you my dog Snap," said Bert to Billy. "You ought to have seen
him scare a strange dog just before we came down here."

"I like dogs," said Billy. "We could have one in Washington if we had a