Sir Bodkin hopped out of the basket. “Good for you, and very well done,” said he climbing upon the arm of Margaret’s chair. “Let me see the pictures to be embroidered.” She spread the tiny covers on her lap for him to look over. “They will be very pretty worked in outline-stitch in one color,” he told Margaret as he turned himself this way and that to get a good view from all sides. “I would like to do the design in pink, ’cause my bed is pink and my doll’s bed always stands over in that corner near mine,” replied Margaret. “Very good. You’ll need a fast worker. I’ll call out Race-Horse Embroiderer. Harness him with pink embroidery cotton and he’ll step quickly along and cover up those black lines in no time,” said the King. [Illustration] Race-Horse Embroiderer came sliding very quickly from the needle-book. He stood very still while Margaret threaded some coarse embroidery cotton in his eye. “That coarse cotton will work up fast and make the picture stand out better,” Sir Bodkin told his mistress. “Yes, you’re right. I just love pink for a color and so does my doll,” answered Margaret. “I’m partial to it myself,” replied the King. “We’ll make this a very pretty present. When the outlines are worked in pink you can blanket-stitch the edge of each cover in this pink cotton and the whole thing when finished will look charming.” Margaret seemed pleased and took the little cover in her left hand and Embroiderer in her right. He stepped on the stamped design where one of the lines began and sang: “To fasten the thread, I take a run Towards you on the line. Now I am ready to take the steps That make the picture fine. Always pointing to yourself With my little toe, On the line I take a step, Then away with a jump I go. Another step, another jump, A straight trail left behind. The black line now is covered up, The picture’s pink you’ll find.” [Illustration: Outline-stitch] “Be sure, sir, you always swing your thread down on the same side,” cautioned Sir Bodkin. “Yes,” said Margaret, “we’re doing that all right.” She was so fascinated with covering up the lines and making them pink with the stitches that before she knew it the bed-cover was done. “Doesn’t that look lovely!” she cried holding it up. “It does look very dainty and dollified,” said Sir Bodkin peering down from the chair [Illustration: “My doll will be glad on Christmas morning”] arm. “Can you finish the pillow-cover to-day, too?” [Illustration]