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The Bobbsey Twins in the Country by Laura Lee Hope, CHAPTER I. THE INVITATION

CHAPTER I. THE INVITATION

"There goes the bell! It's the letter carrier! Let me answer!" Freddie exclaimed.

"Oh, let me! It's my turn this week!" cried Flossie.

"But I see a blue envelope. That's from Aunt Sarah!" the brother cried.

Meanwhile both children, Freddie and Flossie, were making all possible efforts to reach the front door, which Freddie finally did by jumping over the little divan that stood in the way, it being sweeping day.

"I beat you," laughed the boy, while his sister stood back, acknowledging defeat. "Well, Dinah had everything in the way and anyhow, maybe it was your turn. Mother is in the sewing room, I guess!" Flossie concluded, and so the two started in search of the mother, with the welcome letter from Aunt Sarah tight in Freddie's chubby fist. Freddie and Flossie were the younger of the two pairs of twins that belonged to the Bobbsey family. The little ones were four years old, both with light curls framing pretty dimpled faces, and both being just fat enough to be good-natured. The other twins, Nan and Bert, were eight years old, dark and handsome, and as like as "two peas" the neighbors used to say. Some people thought it strange there should be two pairs of twins in one house, but Nan said it was just like four-leaf clovers, that always grow in little patches by themselves.

This morning the letter from Aunt Sarah, always a welcome happening, was especially joyous.

"Do read it out loud," pleaded Flossie, when the blue envelope had been opened in the sewing room by Mrs. Bobbsey. "When can we go?" broke in Freddie, at a single hint that the missive contained an invitation to visit Meadow Brook, the home of Aunt Sarah in the country.

"Now be patient, children," the mother told them. "I'll read the invitation in just a minute," and she kept her eyes fastened on the blue paper in a way that even to Freddie and Flossie meant something very interesting. "Aunt Sarah wants to know first how we all are." "Oh, we're all well," Freddie interrupted, showing some impatience. "Do listen, Freddie, or we won't hear," Flossie begged him, tugging at his elbow. "Then she says," continued the mother, "that this is a beautiful summer at Meadow Brook." "Course it is. We know that!" broke in Freddie again.

"Freddie!" pleaded Flossie.

"And she asks how we would like to visit them this summer." "Fine, like it—lovely!" the little boy almost shouted, losing track of words in his delight.

"Tell her we'll come, mamma," went on Freddie. "Do send a letter quick won't you, mamma?" "Freddie Bobbsey!" spoke up Flossie, in a little girl's way of showing indignation. "If you would only keep quiet we could hear about going, but—you always stop mamma. Please, mamma, read the rest," and the golden head was pressed against the mother's shoulder from the arm of the big rocking chair. "Well, I was only just saying—" pouted Freddie. "Now listen, dear." The mother went on once more reading from the letter: "Aunt Sarah says Cousin Harry can hardly wait until vacation time to see Bert, and she also says, 'For myself I cannot wait to see the babies. I want to hear Freddie laugh, and I want to hear Flossie "say her piece," as she did last Christmas, then I just want to hug them both to death, and so does their Uncle Daniel.'" "Good!—goody!" broke in the irrepressible Freddie again. "I'll just hug Aunt Sarah this way," and he fell on his mother's neck and squeezed until she cried for him to stop. "I guess she'll like that," Freddie wound up, in real satisfaction at his hugging ability. "Not if you spoil her hair," Flossie insisted, while the overcome mother tried to adjust herself generally. "Is that all?" Flossie asked.

"No, there is a message for Bert and Nan too, but I must keep that for lunch time. Nobody likes stale news," the mother replied. "But can't we hear it when Bert and Nan come from school?" coaxed Flossie.

"Of course," the mother assured her. "But you must run out in the air now. We have taken such a long time to read the letter." "Oh, aren't you glad!" exclaimed Flossie to her brother, as they ran along the stone wall that edged the pretty terrace in front of their home.

"Glad! I'm just—so glad—so glad—I could almost fly up in the air!" the boy managed to say in chunks, for he had never had much experience with words, a very few answering for all his needs.

The morning passed quickly to the little ones, for they had so much to think about now, and when the school children appeared around the corner Flossie and Freddie hurried to meet Nan and Bert, to tell them the news.

"We're going! we're going!" was about all Freddie could say.

"Oh, the letter came—from Aunt Sarah!" was Flossie's way of telling the news. But it was at the lunch table that Mrs. Bobbsey finished the letter.

"'Tell Nan,'" she read, "'that Aunt Sarah has a lot of new patches and tidies to show her, and tell her I have found a new kind of jumble chocolate that I am going to teach her to make.' There, daughter, you see," commented Mrs. Bobbsey, "Aunt Sarah has not forgotten what a good little baker you are." "Chocolate jumble," remarked Bert, and smacked his lips. "Say, Nan, be sure to learn that. It sounds good," the brother declared. Just then Dinah, the maid, brought in the chocolate, and the children tried to tell her about going to the country, but so many were talking at once that the good-natured colored girl interrupted the confusion with a hearty laugh.

"Ha! ha! ha! And all you-uns be goin' to de country!" "Yes, Dinah," Mrs. Bobbsey told her, "and just listen to what Aunt Sarah says about you," and once more the blue letter came out, while Mrs. Bobbsey read: "'And be sure to bring dear old Dinah! We have plenty of room, and she will so enjoy seeing the farming.'" "Farming! Ha! ha! Dat I do like. Used to farm all time home in Virginie!" the maid declared. "And I likes it fuss-rate! Yes, Dinah'll go and hoe de corn and" (aside to Bert) "steal de watermelons!" The prospects were indeed bright for a happy time in the country, and the Bobbseys never disappointed themselves when fun was within their reach.


CHAPTER I. THE INVITATION KAPITEL I. DIE EINLADUNG 第一章 招待状 CHƯƠNG I. THƯ MỜI

"There goes the bell! 「ベルが鳴る! It's the letter carrier! 手紙の配達人だ! Let me answer!" 答えさせてください!" Freddie exclaimed. フレディが叫んだ。

"Oh, let me! It's my turn this week!" 今週は僕の番だ!」。 cried Flossie. とフロッシーが叫んだ。

"But I see a blue envelope. That's from Aunt Sarah!" サラおばさんからだ!」。 the brother cried.

Meanwhile both children, Freddie and Flossie, were making all possible efforts to reach the front door, which Freddie finally did by jumping over the little divan that stood in the way, it being sweeping day. Meanwhile both children, Freddie and Flossie, were making all possible efforts to reach the front door, which Freddie finally did by jumping over the little divan that stood in the way, it being sweeping day. その間、フレディとフロッシーの2人の子供たちは、玄関のドアにたどり着こうとあらゆる努力をしていた。

"I beat you," laughed the boy, while his sister stood back, acknowledging defeat. "Well, Dinah had everything in the way and anyhow, maybe it was your turn. "まあ、ダイナは何もかも邪魔だったし、いずれにせよ、あなたの番だったのかもしれない。 Mother is in the sewing room, I guess!" お母さんは裁縫室にいると思う!」。 Flossie concluded, and so the two started in search of the mother, with the welcome letter from Aunt Sarah tight in Freddie's chubby fist. Freddie and Flossie were the younger of the two pairs of twins that belonged to the Bobbsey family. フレディとフロッシーは、ボブジー家に生まれた2組の双子のうち、小さいほうだった。 The little ones were four years old, both with light curls framing pretty dimpled faces, and both being just fat enough to be good-natured. その子は4歳で、ふたりとも軽いカールをしていて、えくぼのあるかわいらしい顔を縁取っていた。 The other twins, Nan and Bert, were eight years old, dark and handsome, and as like as "two peas" the neighbors used to say. もう一人の双子、ナンとバートは8歳で、色黒でハンサムだった。 Some people thought it strange there should be two pairs of twins in one house, but Nan said it was just like four-leaf clovers, that always grow in little patches by themselves. ひとつの家に双子のペアが2組いるのはおかしいと思う人もいたが、ナンは、それは四つ葉のクローバーと同じだと言った。

This morning the letter from Aunt Sarah, always a welcome happening, was especially joyous. 今朝、サラおばさんからの手紙は、いつも歓迎されるハプニングだが、とりわけ嬉しかった。

"Do read it out loud," pleaded Flossie, when the blue envelope had been opened in the sewing room by Mrs. Bobbsey. "When can we go?" 「いつ行ける? broke in Freddie, at a single hint that the missive contained an invitation to visit Meadow Brook, the home of Aunt Sarah in the country. その手紙には、田舎にあるサラ叔母さんの家、メドー・ブルックへの招待状が書かれていた。

"Now be patient, children," the mother told them. 「我慢しなさい、子供たち」と母親は言った。 "I'll read the invitation in just a minute," and she kept her eyes fastened on the blue paper in a way that even to Freddie and Flossie meant something very interesting. 「すぐに招待状を読むわ」。フレディとフロッシーにとってさえ、とても興味深いことを意味するように、彼女は青い紙に目を凝らしたままだった。 "Aunt Sarah wants to know first how we all are." 「サラおばさんは、まず私たちがどうしてるか知りたがっている。 "Oh, we're all well," Freddie interrupted, showing some impatience. 「ああ、みんな元気だよ」フレディが少し焦った様子で口を挟んだ。 "Do listen, Freddie, or we won't hear," Flossie begged him, tugging at his elbow. 「フロッシーは彼の肘を引っ張りながら、「聞いてよ、フレディ。 "Then she says," continued the mother, "that this is a beautiful summer at Meadow Brook." 「メドウ・ブルックの夏は美しいと。 "Course it is. 「もちろんそうだ。 We know that!" broke in Freddie again.

"Freddie!" pleaded Flossie.

"And she asks how we would like to visit them this summer." 「そして、この夏、どのように彼らを訪ねたいかと尋ねてくる。 "Fine, like it—lovely!" "いいよ、気に入ったよ。 the little boy almost shouted, losing track of words in his delight.

"Tell her we'll come, mamma," went on Freddie. 「ママ、私たちが行くと伝えて」とフレディは言った。 "Do send a letter quick won't you, mamma?" "早く手紙を出してね、ママ?" "Freddie Bobbsey!" 「フレディ・ボブシー! spoke up Flossie, in a little girl's way of showing indignation. "If you would only keep quiet we could hear about going, but—you always stop mamma. 「黙っていれば、私たちは行くことを聞けるのに。 Please, mamma, read the rest," and the golden head was pressed against the mother's shoulder from the arm of the big rocking chair. お願い、ママ、続きを読んで」。大きなロッキングチェアの肘から、金色の頭が母親の肩に押し付けられた。 "Well, I was only just saying—" pouted Freddie. 「とフレディは口を尖らせた。 "Now listen, dear." "よく聞いて、あなた" The mother went on once more reading from the letter: "Aunt Sarah says Cousin Harry can hardly wait until vacation time to see Bert, and she also says, 'For myself I cannot wait to see the babies. 母親はもう一度手紙を読み上げた:「サラおばさんは、いとこのハリーがバートに会うのを休暇まで待ちきれないと言っています。 I want to hear Freddie laugh, and I want to hear Flossie "say her piece," as she did last Christmas, then I just want to hug them both to death, and so does their Uncle Daniel.'" フレディの笑い声が聞きたいし、去年のクリスマスのようにフロッシーの "発言 "も聞きたい。 "Good!—goody!" 「グッド!グッディ!」。 broke in the irrepressible Freddie again. と、抑えきれないフレディが再び口を開いた。 "I'll just hug Aunt Sarah this way," and he fell on his mother's neck and squeezed until she cried for him to stop. "I guess she'll like that," Freddie wound up, in real satisfaction at his hugging ability. フレディは自分のハグ力に満足しながら、「彼女も気に入ると思うよ」と言った。 "Not if you spoil her hair," Flossie insisted, while the overcome mother tried to adjust herself generally. 「フロッシーはそう主張したが、克服した母親は全身を整えようとした。 "Is that all?" Flossie asked.

"No, there is a message for Bert and Nan too, but I must keep that for lunch time. Nobody likes stale news," the mother replied. 誰も古臭いニュースなんて好きじゃないわ」と母親は答えた。 "But can't we hear it when Bert and Nan come from school?" 「でも、バートとナンが学校から帰ってきたら聴けないの? coaxed Flossie.

"Of course," the mother assured her. "But you must run out in the air now. 「しかし、今すぐ空中に飛び出さなければならない。 We have taken such a long time to read the letter." "Oh, aren't you glad!" exclaimed Flossie to her brother, as they ran along the stone wall that edged the pretty terrace in front of their home.

"Glad! I'm just—so glad—so glad—I could almost fly up in the air!" the boy managed to say in chunks, for he had never had much experience with words, a very few answering for all his needs.

The morning passed quickly to the little ones, for they had so much to think about now, and when the school children appeared around the corner Flossie and Freddie hurried to meet Nan and Bert, to tell them the news.

"We're going! we're going!" was about all Freddie could say.

"Oh, the letter came—from Aunt Sarah!" was Flossie's way of telling the news. But it was at the lunch table that Mrs. Bobbsey finished the letter.

"'Tell Nan,'" she read, "'that Aunt Sarah has a lot of new patches and tidies to show her, and tell her I have found a new kind of jumble chocolate that I am going to teach her to make.' There, daughter, you see," commented Mrs. Bobbsey, "Aunt Sarah has not forgotten what a good little baker you are." "Chocolate jumble," remarked Bert, and smacked his lips. "Say, Nan, be sure to learn that. It sounds good," the brother declared. Just then Dinah, the maid, brought in the chocolate, and the children tried to tell her about going to the country, but so many were talking at once that the good-natured colored girl interrupted the confusion with a hearty laugh.

"Ha! ha! ha! And all you-uns be goin' to de country!" "Yes, Dinah," Mrs. Bobbsey told her, "and just listen to what Aunt Sarah says about you," and once more the blue letter came out, while Mrs. Bobbsey read: "'And be sure to bring dear old Dinah! We have plenty of room, and she will so enjoy seeing the farming.'" "Farming! Ha! ha! Dat I do like. Used to farm all time home in Virginie!" the maid declared. "And I likes it fuss-rate! Yes, Dinah'll go and hoe de corn and" (aside to Bert) "steal de watermelons!" The prospects were indeed bright for a happy time in the country, and the Bobbseys never disappointed themselves when fun was within their reach.