Mr. Peterkin wished he had taken, instead of a fir-tree, an
apple-tree he had seen in October, full of red fruit.

"But the leaves would have fallen off by this time," said Elizabeth
Eliza.

"And the apples, too," said Solomon John.

"It is odd I should have forgotten, that day I went in on purpose to
get the things," said Elizabeth Eliza, musingly. "But I went from
shop to shop, and didn't know exactly what to get. I saw a great
many gilt things for Christmas-trees; but I knew the little boys
were making the gilt apples; there were plenty of candles in the
shops, but I knew Solomon John was making the candles."

Mr. Peterkin thought it was quite natural.

Solomon John wondered if it were too late for them to go into
town now.

Elizabeth Eliza could not go in the next morning, for there was to
be a grand Christmas dinner, and Mr. Peterkin could not be
spared, and Solomon John was sure he and Agamemnon would
not know what to buy. Besides, they would want to try the candles
to-night.

Mr. Peterkin asked if the presents everybody had been preparing
would not answer. But Elizabeth Eliza knew they would be too
heavy.