“Mother always wanted me to learn how to mend my stockings and I never would. Now she’ll be so pleased when I show this one to her mended instead of torn. Mothers have a lot of unpleasant things to look at sometimes, don’t they?” she asked the tiny King, who was walking up and down the table-top in a very kingly manner. “Indeed they do, My Lady,” he replied, “but I don’t think your mother will have as many now as she had before you met us.” [Illustration: “Hold the stocking stretched on your hand”] “That’s so. I mean to ask her to let me try to darn one of her stockings and one of Father’s socks, soon. But I am afraid it will be a long time before I want to try one of Brother’s. He does get the worst holes in his that I ever saw!” she said shaking her head. “Boys are that way and have been ever since I can remember. But just make up your mind some day to try one of his and I am sure you’ll find it easier than you expected.” Sir Bodkin smiled wisely at his little mistress. He knew boys, but he also knew that Margaret was a very brave little girl who wouldn’t let a big hole in a stocking frighten her. “Thank you, Sir Bodkin. I won’t forget what you say. I’ll run off now and show Mother how smart I’ve been,” she said as she limped out of the room. In a second Sir Bodkin heard her running along the hall just as usual. “Her knee is mended, too,” he said smiling to himself. Then he took a good look around to see if everything in the work-basket was in order. “It’s time we all had an emery plunge,” he was saying to himself as he slipped quietly into the basket. [Illustration] CHAPTER VII THE DOLL’S BLANKET [Illustration] One day in early spring Margaret was making up her doll’s bed with its clean white sheets and pillow-slips. “Dear child, it seems to me you are not warm enough this weather. You should have a warm blanket to sleep under. I’ll ask Mother for something to make one,” she said. Smiling fondly at her child, Margaret went to see what her mother might have in her piece-box that could be used to make a tiny blanket. Now Margaret’s mother was a very wonderful woman. She never turned her little girl away empty-handed when she came asking for something to make her play more interesting. As it happened, there was in her piece-box a piece of lovely white flannel just large enough for a doll’s blanket. She gave it to Margaret to use. Skipping happily away the small mother came back to her own room and showed it to her doll-child. [Illustration] “This will make you a pretty blanket,” she said. Then she turned to her work-basket and called, “Sir Bodkin! Please bring out the One-Eyed Fairies!” [Illustration] “Yes! Yes! My Lady!” he answered sliding quickly out of the basket. “You now know all of us; which shall it be to-day?” All the other shining Fairies were following him. They danced and pranced out of the needle-book very happy to be called.