"When can we start?" Flossie inquired.

"To-night?" asked Freddie eagerly.

"Oh, indeed not!" laughed his mother. "It will take at least a week to get
ready, and perhaps longer. You children have to have some new clothes, and
Daddy has to look after his business here. I think we will close this
house, and Dinah and Sam can visit their friends."

"What about Snap and Snoop?" asked Flossie.

"Oh, let's take them!" begged Freddie.

"It would be no fun going to New York with pet cats and dogs," said Bert.
"They'd only be in the way or get lost."

"I wouldn't want either one of 'em to get lost," put in Flossie.

"Then we'll leave them with Dinah," said Mother Bobbsey, glad that that
part was over. Every time they went away it was always hard to get the
younger twins to consent to leave Snoop and Snap at Home.

"It will be great, going to New York!" cried Bert. "I want to see some of
the flying machines I've read about."

"And I want to see some of the lovely stylish dresses the girls wear as
they ride on Fifth Avenue," declared Nan. "Mother, do you think I could
have a _real_ dress from New York?" she asked in a whisper. "Not one
that's _too_ stylish, of course, but so I could say it came from New
York."