CHAPTER XXV TO KNIT A STITCH
“GOODNESS, Billy, you made me jump!” exclaimed Mary Frances, running downstairs to meet him.
“Sorry,” said Billy. “I couldn’t find you down here and guessed that you’d be in the sewing room. What keeps you there so long?”
“Oh, I told you, Billy—I am practicing knitting!” Mary Frances replied.
“Well, it must be lots of fun,” Billy said. “It certainly keeps you quiet enough. Come on, and have a game of tennis.”
Mary Frances went to find her hat and jacket.
“When I know how, I shall make myself a sweater,” she thought. “I should like to make one for mother first though—a pink one trimmed with gray.”
“Come on, Mary Frances,” called Billy, “aren’t you ready?”
“Coming,” cried Mary Frances, running out the door.
In about an hour and a half she came back to the room. “Oh, I have been so worried!” she exclaimed. “Dear Knitting and Crocheting People, I forgot entirely to give Mary Marie her bottle.”
“I gave her her pacifier,” said Crow Shay.
“Oh, what a story!” cried Knit.
“Oh, what a story!” cried Knack.
“I am glad that he didn’t,” said Mary Frances. “I do not often let her have if for fear it will spoil the shape of her pretty mouth. I must run and give her her bottle now.”
“I thought the little Miss was joking,” Crow Shay said as soon as she had gone. “I never heard of a baby taking a bottle if she was old enough to go to school, did you?”
“Oh, keep still, Crow Shay,” whispered the Yarn Baby. “You know all about it. You know that Mary Marie is only——”
Just then Mary Frances came back.
“Mary Marie was sound asleep,” she said, “so I didn’t disturb her. Now I’ll work hard to learn the next lesson,” and she repeated the little verse,
“Fairy Fairly Flew,
Please come, for I need you;”
and the fairy appeared.
“I’ve been waiting to be called,” she said settling quickly in the doll’s rocker, “for you have such an important lesson to learn. Quickly set up fifteen stitches on one knitting needle.”
“Which method shall I use?” thought Mary Frances, picking up Knack. “I believe I will use the first one I learned,” she decided, and soon had the fifteen stitches ready. She broke off the short end of yarn which was hanging from the needle.
“Now,” said Fairly Flew, “now, you are ready to learn how—
