and Nan was warm.

"Yes, it's fun all right," agreed Bert. "But I liked the deep, blue sea
better--or even Blueberry Island," and off came his hat to cool his
flushed face, for, though it was late in September, the day was warm.

"But we couldn't stay on the island, always," went on Nan. "We have to
go to school, daddy says!"

"Don't speak about it!" begged Bert. "I don't want to go to school for a
long, long time, and not then!"

"Have we got to go to school?" asked a little light-haired and blue-eyed
girl, as she ran up the steps, to sink in a heap at the feet of her
sister, Nan Bobbsey. "When do we go?" she went on.

"Oh, not right away, 'little fat fairy!'" laughed Nan, giving Flossie
the name her father sometimes called her. "School won't open for two
weeks more."

"Hurray!" cried Bert. "The longer it stays closed the better I like it.
But come on, Nan! Let's have some more fun. This isn't like Blueberry
Island, sitting still on a porch!"

"You haven't sat still more than three minutes, Bert Bobbsey!" cried his
sister. "I can hardly get my breath, you made me run so fast!"

Just then a little boy, who had the same sort of blue eyes and golden
hair that made Flossie such a pretty little girl, came tumbling up the
steps with a clatter and a bang, falling down at Bert's feet. The older