“Yes, I know that,” said Margaret, “for Mother is always putting tucks in my clothes then taking them out, I grow so fast.” “Then we use them for trimming, as in this apron. There are wide tucks and narrow tucks and pin tucks. Pin tucks go in babies’ bonnets and dresses. Sometimes we hold a little cord in the crease and sew along it. These corded tucks are very pretty for sheer materials,” he said. [Illustration: Tucks basted ready for stitching] “And what kinds are they?” asked Margaret. “Oh, those fine enough to see through, like lawn and swiss and organdie,” answered Sir Bodkin. “This begins to look pretty. When Mother stitches these tucks on the machine and the bastings are pulled out, then I’m going to gather the top and sew it on a band,” said Margaret. “That’s fun!” cried Sir Bodkin. “I just love to put on bands.” “We’ll do that another day. I must run out now and do my errands for Mother,” Margaret said folding her work and jumping up from her little chair. “Good-bye, everybody, and be good,” she laughed running out of the room with the folded apron in her hand. “Step, step, step away, Always jolly and always gay. While my steps may not last, you see, How would things look if it wasn’t for me!” sang Baster, dancing and whirling around the table-top. “He hates himself,” cried some of the other One-Eyed Fairies from the pincushion. Then Baster went on singing: “Laugh, smile, dance away, Enjoy yourself, is what I say. Do your work, then dance for joy, Is the motto I give to each girl and boy!” Sir Bodkin stood watching and laughing at the antics of his happy-go-lucky subject as he frolicked around the table-top teasing this one, pulling that one’s thread out of his eye. “Now, that’s enough, sir, for to-day,” said Sir Bodkin laughing and holding his sides. “Enough’s enough!” [Illustration] CHAPTER XVIII FINISHING THE GIFT Next day after school Margaret ran up to her room carrying the little lawn apron to be finished. “Sir Bodkin, I’m here. Just see how nice these tucks are sewed in by machine. And look! Mother put a cunning pocket on the right hand side for Grandma to tuck her handkerchief in,” she said. [Illustration] Sir Bodkin stood up quickly from the table-top where he had been resting since yesterday. “Yes, My Lady, it looks very neat indeed. Of course I’m old fashioned and prefer hand-sewing to machine-sewing but I know there is so much to do these days that time can be saved by using the machine,” he answered. “Oh, I’m glad you think these tucks look well, ’cause I stitched ’em myself. Mother let me try,” Margaret said proudly. “I must say you kept it straight,” Sir Bodkin remarked. “Now, how about the band for that apron to-day?”