Sir Bodkin saw his little mistress hard at work and quietly crept up on the table beside her to find out what she was sewing. He was very curious and jealous of what she did without asking him. You see, when a Bodkin and his subjects come to live in any one’s work-basket they belong heart and soul to that person. Especially so if they have been bought from a store and given for a present. People sometimes become so fond of their One-Eyed Fairies, they use them for years and they become great pets. They miss certain ones very much when they become lost or broken.
“It’s because we’re made of such finely tempered steel,” Sir Bodkin once explained to Margaret.
“Now those are done!” at last exclaimed Margaret to herself holding up the tea-cloth stamped with a design of flowers. She had just finished outlining the leaves and stems in green embroidery cotton.
“What is it, My Lady?” asked Sir Bodkin unable to control his curiosity any longer.
“Oh, how do you do?” said Margaret to him. “Sh-h-h, don’t say a word. I am doing this for Mother as a surprise. She’s giving a tea-party soon and I want to work these flowers on this tea-cloth. Do you know how to make them pretty?”
“Yes, My Lady,” answered Sir Bodkin, “they can be done easily and effectively with lazy-daisies for petals and French knots for centers.”
“Those are funny names,” laughed Margaret, “but you know all about the stitches, so I’ll take your word for it. What colors do you think would be nice to work them in?”
“Everything is color nowadays. You could use pinks and blues with yellow centers,” replied the tiny King.