crowd hung around
impatiently, waiting for news. The excitement increased, and Mrs.
Bobbsey came forth, followed by Freddie and Flossie, who had just
finished playing horse.

"Nan, Nan! what can it mean?" said Mrs. Bobbsey.

"Oh, mamma!" murmured Nan, and sank, limp and helpless, into her
mother's arms.

Just then Mr. Bobbsey came forth from the Lavine residence. Seeing his
wife supporting their daughter, he hurried in that direction.

"Grace is not dead," he announced. "She had a fainting spell, that is
all. But I think after this she had better leave rope skipping alone."

CHAPTER III

THE FIRST SNOW STORM

Nan felt greatly relieved to learn that Grace was not dead.

"Oh, mamma, I am _so_ glad!" she said, over and over again.

"I am glad too," answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "Her mamma has told her several
times not to jump so much."

"Yes, I heard her." Nan's eyes dropped. "I was wicked to turn the rope
for her."

In the end Nan told her mother the whole story, to which Mrs. Bobbsey
listened very gravely.

"It was certainly wrong, Nan," she said. "After this I hope my little
girl will try to do better."

"I shall try," answered Nan.

It was long after the dinner hour before the excitement died away. Then
it was learned that Grace was resting quietly in an easy chair and the
doctor had ordered that she be kept quiet for several days. She was very
much frightened and had told her parents that she would never jump rope
again.

The time was the fall of the year, and that Saturday evening there was a
feeling of snow in the air stronger than before.

"Oh, if only it would snow!" came from Bert, several times. "I like
winter better than anything."

"I don't," answered Nan. "Think of the nice flowers we have in the
summer."

"You can't have much fun with flowers, Nan."

"Yes, you can. And think of the birds----"

"I like the summer," piped in Freddie, "cos then we go to the country
where the cows and the chickens are!"

"Yes, and gather the eggs," put in Flossie, who had gathered eggs many
times during the summer just past, while on a visit to their Uncle
Daniel Bobbsey's farm at Meadow Brook. All of the Bobbsey children
thought Meadow Brook the finest country place in all the world.

Bert's wish for snow was soon gratified. Sunday morning found it snowing
steadily, the soft flakes coming down silently and covering the ground
to the depth of several inches.

"Winter has come after all!" cried t