Feeling that a little liberty might be allowed on this day, Mrs.
Bobbsey did not insist on the younger children dressing completely
until after breakfast, so in their warm robes and slippers Flossie and
Freddie were soon again examining their toys, discovering new delights
every few minutes.

Nan was busy inspecting her camera, while Bert was looking at a new
postage stamp album he had long wanted, when from the kitchen where
Dinah was getting breakfast came a series of excited cries, mingled
with laughter and shouts of:

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"

"Mercy! What's that?" screamed Mrs. Bobbsey, turning pale.

Mr. Bobbsey made a rush for the kitchen. Nan and Bert, with Flossie,
gathered about their mother. Then they heard Dinah calling:

"Stop it, Freddie! Stop it I done tell you! Does yo'-all want me t'
git soaked? An' yo'-all will suah spoil them pancakes! Oh, now yo' hab
done it! Yo' squirted right in mah mouf! Oh mah goodness sakes alive!"

Mrs. Bobbsey looked relieved.

"Freddie must be up to some prank," she said.

"Freddie, stop it!" commanded Mr. Bobbsey, and then he was heard to
laugh. The others all went out to the kitchen and there they saw a
curious sight.