[Sidenote: Presents]
It had taken a long time to choose his presents, but at last they were
decided.
Isabel had made him a blue silk shaving tidy, with "Shaving" worked in
pink across it. The "h-a-v" of "Shaving" were rather smaller than the
other letters, because, after she had drawn a large "S," she was afraid
there would not be room for such big letters. Afterwards she found there
was plenty of room, so she did "i-n-g" bigger to make up for it.
After all, it really didn't matter unless you were _very_ particular;
and of course you wouldn't see that the stitches showed rather badly on
the inside unless you opened it. Besides, as grandpapa grew a beard, and
didn't shave at all, he wouldn't want to look inside.
Peter had bought a knife for him; being a boy, and therefore rather
helpless, he was not able to make him anything. He did begin to carve
grandpapa a wooden ship, although Isabel pointed out to him that
grandpapa would never sail it; but Peter thought he might like to have
it just to look at.
However, just at an important part the wood split; so after all it had
to be a knife, which of course is always useful.
These presents were kept very secret; not even mother was allowed to
know what they were.
Three o'clock seemed such a long time coming--you know how slow it _can_
be. But at half-past two nurse took them up to dress. Peter had a nice
white serge suit, and nurse had put out a clean starched muslin for
Isabel, but she (being rather a vain little girl) begged for her white
silk.
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