"How shall I manage to keep them at equal distances, mamma?"
"I think I should fold the length of netting into ten parts, and run a white thread to mark each separate piece. Now you will require three colors for the darning; what will you choose?"
"What do you think of sky-blue, with maize and scarlet? They would be very pretty, would they not?"
"Very; but then all the trimmings must be in sky-blue, and as you want something rather effective for candle-light, I would suggest that a rich crimson or scarlet would be a better predominant color. With it you might have green and gold, or green and blue."
"Green and blue form a mixture that I cannot fancy to be pretty, mamma. Do you like the effect of it?"
"Not much; but it is very fashionable. The French introduce it into everything, and call it préjugé vaincu, or, prejudice conquered."
"Well, I am afraid, mamma, that my prejudice is unconquerable; so if you please, we will have maize and green in preference. How am I to use these colors?"
"Do the upper part of the design in scarlet, the lower in green, and the spots up the centre, and between the designs, in maize. In darning, work half the design, from the centre, leaning towards the right hand, and the other half towards the left."
"Am I to use the same pattern for the bottom of the basket?"
"Not in its present form; but if you repeat the design, reversed, from the lower part, so as to leave the points for the ends, it will be very suitable. You may add a star or diamond, or something very simple, to fill the spaces at the sides. When all the darning is done, detach the card-board which forms the bottom, tack the wadding down on one side of it, and cover it on this side with the black satin and netting, and on the other with the black satin only. Now all the framework of the basket is to be entirely covered with the narrow sarsnet ribbon I have given you for the purpose, the short wires being covered, and the ends secured, before the handle, top, and bottom of the frame are done. Stretch the netting which forms the sides very carefully on. Sew it at the joint, and also at the edges of the net. Now quill the satin ribbon in the centre, into a full and handsome plait; trim the handle with it. Sew the pasteboard bottom in, and add the gimps round the top, while one only may be used for the lower part."