“We can’t help it. We’re Fairies! ’Sides I’m a King,” he said proudly, “and ought to be different from the rest.” The fresh air and sunshine were making him feel very fine indeed.
Some girls and boys called to Margaret just then from a neighbor’s garden and she ran hastily away to join them.
Sir Bodkin and the other Needle Fairies slipped down into the green grass for a frolic. Pretty soon Margaret’s mother came out of the house. She saw the dress and work-basket lying on the garden seat.
“How nicely she mended her dress!” she said. “I’ll take it in for her,” and gathered it and the work-basket in her arms and carried them all into the house. The little Fairies were frightened to see their house taken away. Together they huddled around the garden seat wondering how in the world they would get back again into the big house.
“The dew will be very bad for us!” said the King in distress.
Margaret came running back when she heard the supper gong. Her bright eyes, luckily, spied them in the grass. Stooping, she picked them up one by one and carried them into the house in her hand. She laid them down on a table in the hall and went in to her supper.
Sir Bodkin was very much worried. He walked up and down and up and down the table-top.
“I know we’ll be forgotten here and we may be lost on the floor!” he said over and over to himself. He heard his little mistress after supper go out in the kitchen to press her dress.