"Poor boy!" sighed Mr. Bobbsey. "Life is a hard matter for a little chap with no real home." In the automobile the lumber man and his two boys went back to Lakeport, passing on their way the house where Mr. Mason lived. The two little girls waved their hands to Freddie and Bert as the boys rode past. But there was no sign of Frank Kennedy. The sadness of the scene the two Bobbsey boys had witnessed was soon forgotten in the joys of getting ready to go to Meadow Brook. They spent that night in their city house, unpacking only such few things as they needed. When morning came Flossie and Freddie were the first up. "We're going to the country!" sang Flossie, walking about in a long night-gown that trailed over the floor. "Going to Meadow Brook!" chanted Freddie. "Where's Snoop? I'm going to take him!" "And may we take Snap, too?" asked Bert, who had taught the former circus dog many new tricks. [Illustration: THE BOBBSEY HOUSE WAS SOON A VERY BUSY PLACE] "Yes, we'll take them both," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Now hurry, children dear. We are going to leave soon after breakfast, and it is a long ride in the train, you know." "Are we going to ride in the 'merry-go-round car'?" asked Flossie. "She means a parlor car, with chairs that swing around," said Nan, with a laugh. "Yes, we'll ride in a chair car," decided Mr. Bobbsey. The Bobbsey house was soon a very busy place. Valises that had been opened were packed again. Dinah got a quick breakfast. Mr. Bobbsey had much telephoning to do about business matters, and Mrs. Bobbsey--well, she had to do what all mothers do on such occasions--look after everything. Nan and Bert helped as much as they could. Flossie and Freddie tried to help, but you know how it is with little children. The two smaller twins were very anxious that Snoop, the black cat, be taken with them in his little traveling crate. "I'll get him and pack him up," said Freddie. "And I'll help," offered Flossie. Soon all was in readiness for the start to the depot where the Bobbseys would take the train for Meadow Brook. Just as the automobile came up to the door to take the family, there arose a cry from the direction of the side porch where Flossie and Freddie had gone with the cat-cage, in which to put Snoop. "Oh, my!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "I wonder what has happened now? I hope those twins are all right!" "I'll go see!" offered Nan, setting off on a run. CHAPTER V SNAP'S ESCAPE Nan found Flossie and Freddie, standing one on either side of the wooden crate in which Snoop made his journeys. The twins each had hold of the black cat, who did not seem to be enjoying life very much just then. "He goes in this way, I tell you!" shouted Freddie. "No, he goes in the other way!" cried Flossie, and then they both tried, at the same time, to thrust poor Snoop into his cage. The cat cried out, and scrambled to get away.