noon
Lizzie 's gift was a flat black pin-cushion , with `` Lizzie , with love from Lydia , '' embroidered crazily on it in red . Florence Dombey showed no emotion over her gift , a string of red beads that had a curious resemblance to asparagus seed-pods , but she wore them gracefully and stared round-eyed at all the festivities . Lydia and Patience each wore pinned to her dress a cotton handkerchief , Lizzie 's gift . John Levine appeared at noon , laden like a pack horse . This was his great opportunity during the year to do things for the Dudley children and he took full advantage of the moment . Books for Lydia , little toys for the baby , a pipe for Amos , a woolen dress pattern for Lizzie , a blue sailor suit for Lydia , a fur hood for Patience . John 's thin , sallow face glowed , his black eyes gleamed as he watched the children unwrap the packages .