“I think it would be very pretty to mark this towel, which is for my Auntie’s birthday, with her initials,” replied Margaret. “They are the same as mine, ‘M. A.’ This book of patterns shows how many squares to use to make the letters.” “Yes,” said the King, “the letters will be large or small according to the number of squares used. Very good. Now, sir, watch your step and be sure to step over the canvas threads and not through them, or we can’t pull them out when the work is finished!” The Crewel One, who stood waiting, stepped to the wrong side of the towel and fastened the cotton with two or three tiny back steps where the first cross was to be made. Then he sang: “Step out at one corner, cross, step in another, Out again at the third, to the fourth one cross over. Now through to the wrong side; to start the next one, The top thread of each cross, the same way must run.” “There you are!” cried Sir Bodkin, “that’s the first cross-stitch. The others are just like it. Follow the pattern and make a cross-stitch where the pattern shows a square.” Margaret followed the pattern very carefully with her eye and guided the Crewel One with her fingers to make the cross-stitches in both letters. Jauntily they stepped along until the work was done and the “M. A.” embroidered. Then the thread was fastened securely. “Now we are through with the canvas. Cut it away from around the letters. Then pull out the threads of what is left very carefully from under the cross-stitches and your towel is trimmed. Take a warm iron and press the letters on the wrong side on something soft, and the crosses will stand out on the right side and look very pretty,” said Sir Bodkin. [Illustration: “Press the letters on the wrong side”] “Then I shall fold it in three lengthwise folds as Mother does, with the center on top to show the letters, and wrap it up in white tissue paper!” cried Margaret. “Thank you three so much. Auntie will be pleased with her birthday present, I know.” [Illustration: MA] “You’re very welcome, My Lady, so say I and so say they!” cried the King, very much pleased, too. After Margaret had run off to show her mother the pretty towel finished, Sir Bodkin said to his two subjects, “She is a pretty nice little girl. She’s always thinking up something to do for other people.” They both agreed with him and all three slipped into the work-basket to the needle-book and went to sleep with the other One-Eyed Fairies. CHAPTER XI A THREE-CORNERED TEAR [Illustration] “Dear me, it’s so lovely outdoors,” sighed Margaret, one day in May. She had torn her new dress on a nail when she was climbing over a fence. “Mother says it was very careless of me and I s’pose I can’t go out again until it’s mended!” She looked very unhappy indeed as she said this.