"Hush!" begged Nan. "Please don't dispute. Houseboats and babies are
both nice. But now it's time to go to school."

The Bobbsey twins could hardly wait for the classes to be out that
day, for their mother had promised to call for them after lessons,
and, with their father, they were going to see the Bluebird. The
houseboat had been brought up the lake by Mr. Marvin, and tied to a
dock not far from Mr. Bobbsey's lumber office. The boat was now the
property of Mr. Bobbsey, but that gentleman had not yet fully planned
what he would do with her.

Just as the children were trooping out of the school yard, along came
Mrs. Bobbsey. Nan and Flossie saw their mother and hastened toward
her, while Freddie and Bert came along more slowly.

In a little while all five of them were at Mr. Bobbsey's lumber
office. He came out of his private room, when one of his clerks told
him Mrs. Bobbsey and the children were there.

"Ah, what can I do for you to-day?" asked Mr. Bobbsey of his wife,
just like Mr. Fitch, the grocery-store-keeper. "Would you like a
barrel of sawdust, ma'am; or a bundle of shingles to fry for the
children's suppers?" and Mr. Bobbsey pretended he was no relation to
his family.

"I think we'll have a houseboat," said his wife with a laugh. "Have
you time to take us down to it? I can't do a thing with these
children, they are so anxious to see the Bluebird." "Well, I hope
they'll like her," said Mr. Bobbsey, "and not pull any feathers out of