as Bill started off again with no time to lose.

"I don't think so," answered Nettie, for she had never been on an
excursion--poor people can rarely afford to spend money for such
pleasures.

"I've got my duck," called Freddie to the little girl, who had given
the little creature to Freddie at the farewell party as a souvenir of
Meadow Brook.

"Have you?" laughed Nettie. "Give him plenty of water, Freddie, let
him loose in the ocean for a swim!" Then Nettie ran back to her home
duties.

"Queer," remarked Nan, as they hurried on. "The two girls I thought
the most of in Meadow Brook were poor: Nettie Prentice, and Nellie the
little cash girl at the fresh-air camp. Somehow, poor girls seem so
real and they talk to you so close--I mean they seem to just speak
right out of their eyes and hearts."

"That's what we call sincerity, daughter," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You
see, children who have trials learn to appreciate more keenly than we,
who have everything we need. That appreciation shows in their eyes,
and so they seem closer to you, as you say."

"Oh! oh! oh!" screamed Freddie, "I think my duck is choked. He's got
his head out the hole. Take Snoop, quick, Bert, till I get Downy in
again," and the poor little fellow looked as scared as did the duck
with his "head out of the hole."