"And Miss Carford can make almost as good cookies as Dinah!" cried
Freddie.

"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Carford. "I'll have to tell my sister that.
She'll be real proud."

Bert, looking from his father to Mr. Carford, wondered what could have
once taken place between the two men. That there was some sort of
secret he felt sure, and up to now there had been no explanation of
the strange words used by the aged man at the time Bert and the others
caught the runaways.

"I haven't seen you in some time, Mr. Bobbsey," said Mr. Carford,
after they had talked about the weather.

"No, I've been very busy, and I suppose you have also. Have you been
at Snow Lodge lately?"

"No, and I don't expect to set foot in the place again. I guess you
know why. And I want to say now, that though I was rather cross with
you when you tried to get me to change my mind about that matter, some
time ago, I want to say that I'm sorry for it. I realize that you did
it for the best."

"Yes," said Mr. Bobbsey, "I did, but I know how you felt about it. I
believed then, and I believe now, that you made a mistake about your
nephew Henry."

"No, I don't think I did," was the slow reply. "I am afraid Henry is a
bad young man. I don't want to see him again, nor Snow Lodge either.