"De boy what wants to see yo' little boy, Ma'am."
"Some one to see Freddie? Who is it?"
"I don't know, Ma'am. He didn't gib no name."
"Oh, perhaps it is Laddie," said Mrs, Bobbsey. "Bert, please go down and see, will you? If it's Laddie, who wants Freddie to play with him, I don't see why he didn't come here. But go and see."
"Oh, I know who it is," said Freddie. "You don't need to go, Bert. Just give me five dollars, Mother, and I'll buy him."
"Buy him? Buy what?" asked the surprised Mrs. Bobbsey. "What in the world are you talking about, Freddie?"
"Mike, the goat boy. He's brought Billy here, I guess, and Flossie and I are going to buy him. Can't we, please?"
"What? Buy a goat when we're stopping at this hotel?" cried his mother. "Bert, do go and see what mischief those children have gotten into now. A goat! Oh, dear!"
"I'll go with him, 'cause Mike don't know Bert," offered Freddie.
