Cousin Dorothy was also a guest on the houseboat trip, and she and Nan, who were about the same age, greatly enjoyed themselves. The Bobbseys, and their country and seashore cousins, had come back from the trip, Dorothy going to her home, and Harry to his, when there happened the little accident to Freddie and Dinah, which I have mentioned in the first chapter of this book. Now the house was quiet once again. Freddie had on a clean dry suit, Dinah had changed her damp apron for a fresh one, and Mr. Bobbsey was sipping his cup of iced tea, which was not spilled this time. "Now can you tell us what we are going to do the rest of this summer vacation?" asked Bert. "Yes," said Mr. Bobbsey, "I can. Your Uncle William, as I started to tell you, before Freddie gave us that circus exhibition, has invited us up to Meadow Brook. And, as I have a little time I can spare from my business, I think I shall take you all down there. We can go to the country and have a fine time." "We had a good time on the houseboat," said Nan. "It was lovely there." "Indeed it was," agreed Mrs. Bobbsey. "And when we found the ghost!" exclaimed Bert. "Hush! You mustn't say ghost!" cautioned Mrs. Bobbsey, with a smile. "It wasn't a ghost, you know." "Well, we thought it was--at first," laughed Bert. "Anyhow we'll have some fun at Meadow Brook." "I'm going to fly a kite!" declared Freddie. "All right, as long as you don't tie Snoop to the tail of it," said his father. "And I'm going to feed the chickens," exclaimed Flossie. "But you mustn't chase the rooster," cautioned her mother. "I won't," promised the little fat twin. "Now when are we going?" asked Nan. "What train do we take?" Bert wanted to know. "I'll have to see to all that to-morrow," said Mr. Bobbsey. "We might as well go right off to the country, for it is not very pleasant staying in the hot city. We won't need to unpack much, for we'll stay here only this one night. To-morrow morning we shall start for Meadow Brook." "And are we going to take the _Bluebird_ along?" inquired Flossie. "No, the houseboat will stay at home this trip," her mother said. "There isn't enough water at Meadow Brook to sail the _Bluebird_." They talked over their new summer plans, and the children were delighted at the prospect of going to see their cousin, their uncle and their aunt. "Dinah is going, isn't she?" asked Nan. "Oh, yes, we couldn't get along without her," answered Mrs. Bobbsey with a smile. "And I'm going to take Snoop!" cried Freddie, hugging the big, black cat, which did not seem to mind being loved so hard. "Well if Snoop goes, then we ought to take Snap, the dog, too," declared Bert. "Snap would be lonesome if he were left behind, wouldn't he?" "Oh, may we take them both, mamma?" begged Nan. "Well, I guess so," was the answer, as Mrs. Bobbsey looked at her husband. "That will be all right," he nodded. "The country is just the place for dogs and cats--it's better for them than houseboats."