he was doing these things, he told his wife and children to sit down and
wait for him. Mrs. Bobbsey led Nan and Bert and Flossie and Freddie to one
of the many long benches in the large depot, but the two smaller twins
were so excited at being in such an immense place that they had not been
seated more than a few seconds before they jumped up to gaze all about
them. Bert and Nan, too, though older than their brother and sister, were
much astonished at what they saw.

"Why--why!" gasped Freddie, "it's bigger than our armory at home!" for in
Lakeport there was a big hall where the soldiers drilled.

"It's three times as big," said Flossie.

"Four!" declared Freddie. "Come on!" he called to his sister, "let's see
how long it takes to walk around it."

"Don't go too far away," said Mrs. Bobbsey, who, for the moment, did not
realize how really large the station was. "Don't get lost!" she went on.

"No'm, we won't!" promised Flossie and Freddie.

They started off to walk around the large depot, which, as you who have
seen it know, takes up a whole New York City block, or "square," as you
will say if you live near Philadelphia.

Mr. Bobbsey's business took him a little longer than he expected, but as
Bert and Nan begged to be allowed to buy a little candy at the newspaper
stand near them, and as Mrs. Bobbsey wanted a magazine, the getting of
these things took a little time, so the three did not notice how long Mr.
Bobbsey was away from them.