our circus for nothing; can't she, Freddie?"

"Yes," he answered, "only we haven't got a circus now. It's all gone
except Downy."

"Well, I think you have played enough circus for today," said Mrs.
Bobbsey "Straighten up the room now, and have some other kind of fun."

The dog and cat, satisfied to get out of their cages, had gone to the
kitchen, where they could generally find something good to eat. Then
Flossie and Freddie were kept busy putting back the chairs, and
setting the room in order.

It was a day or so after the return of Mr. Bobbsey from his business
trip, and though Bert had asked his father about Mr. Carford, the
lumber dealer had not yet had time to give any explanation.

"It is quite a little story," he said. "I'll tell you about it some
time, Bert. But now I have a lot of back work to catch up with, on
account of being away so long, and I'll have to go to the office
early, and I'll be late getting home."

So the little incident had not yet been explained. The Christmas
holidays were drawing nearer, and there were busy times in the Bobbsey
household. Flossie and Freddie were expecting a visit from Santa
Claus, and they wrote many letters to the dear old saint, telling what
they wished to receive.

"But have you thought of what you are going to _give?_" asked Mrs.
Bobbsey one day, a short time before Christmas. "It is more fun to