cat, where her paws were held fast
in the varnish.

In a little while the varnish had softened, and Mr. Bobbsey could lift
Snoop up and hand her to his wife. Then he took up the board, and washed
from Snoop's paws what remained of the varnish. She was all right now,
and purred happily as Flossie and Freddie took turns holding her.

"But the floor is spoiled--or that part is where you poured the
turpentine," said Mrs. Bobbsey.

"The painter will varnish that part over when he comes in the morning,"
said Mr. Bobbsey. "Then we must keep Snoop out of the way until it
dries."

And this was done. The floor was gone over again with the varnish brush,
and the marks of Snoop's paws did not show. Nor did the cat again go
into the parlor until the floor was hard and dry.

"Mother," asked Nan one day, about a week after Snoop had been stuck
fast in the varnish, "may I have a little party?"

"A party, Nan?"

"Yes, just a few boys and girls from my class in school. The parlor
looks so nice now, with the new floor, that I'd like to give a party.
May I?"

"Well, yes, I guess so," answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "How many would you
invite?"

"About a dozen. We could have sandwiches, ice cream and cake. I could
bake a cake myself."

"Well, you might try. I have showed you how to make a simple cake, that
is not too rich for little stomachs. You might bake a sponge cake, and
put icing on top. Yes, I think you may have a party, Nan."

"Oh, thank you, Mother. Now I'll write the invitations."

"I'll help you," offered Flossie.

"I'm afraid, dear, you can't write quite well enough," said Nan with a
smile. "But you may seal the envelopes for me, and put on the postage
stamps."

"Oh, I like to do that!" cried Flossie. "The sticky stuff on the stamps
tastes so nice on your tongue."

"It is better to wet the envelope flaps and the sticky side of the
stamps with a damp cloth or a sponge than with your tongue," said Mother
Bobbsey. "I'll show you the way."

So when Nan had written out the invitations on some cards, she and
Flossie put them in envelopes. Then Mrs. Bobbsey gave them each a little
sponge, which they dampened in water, and with that they moistened the
sticky places, both of the stamps and the envelopes. And so the
invitations were made ready to mail.

"Have you invited any boys to the party?" asked Bert.

"Yes, some," answered Nan. "But only a few."

"Then I'll come," he said. "I don't like a party with just nothing bu