From "cherries" she came to "apples," a natural association of ideas.

Mrs.Stein burned with impatience.

Her mind would run on the travelling-bags.

Could aunty pack them alone?
Would not the most important things be left out, after all, and a great many useless ones put in?
That reminded her of the flute, and she hastened to ask whether Feklitus had his parents' permission to lend it.

This gave Mrs.Bickel the opening she had been wanting.