Margaret soon had the sides drawn and ready. Then she turned a tiny hem and basted it down to the place where the threads were drawn. Fine Stitcher was harnessed with number 80 white cotton thread. She held the hem at the top over her left forefinger. Stitcher came up through it and out at the right hand corner ready to start. He left a trail of thread under the hem to fasten it. Then he sang: “I start at right corner where threads are drawn And with my little toe, Pick up a tiny bunch of them, Slip underneath towards you. Back over I go and step towards you Beneath the bunch again, But this time stick my little toe Up through the edge of hem.” “There!” cried Sir Bodkin, “you’ve made your first hemstitch. Keep the bunches of threads the same size as you go from right to left and they’ll look even when finished.” Margaret and Stitcher went very carefully along one side to the other corner. “You have to be careful when you pick up the threads in the tiny spaces at the corners where the cloth is double. Whip the outside edges of the hems together at the corners so they won’t fray out when washed,” said Sir Bodkin and waited for this to be done and the thread fastened. [Illustration] “Oh,” said Margaret, “that takes care to make it look nice. And you have to keep your hands very clean or your work gets dirty.” “Well, My Lady, we can’t have any gains without pains, you know. Take your time and be sure to get the bunches of threads even and all sewing threads fastened well. Then this fine white linen handkerchief hemstitched by hand will be a present fit for a queen,” Sir Bodkin replied. “And that will be my Mother!” said Margaret proudly. Sir Bodkin nodded approval of this. “Suppose you lay this one away for to-day and start the next one. Then you won’t get so tired. You have plenty of time to finish the three before Christmas,” said he. [Illustration: Hem rolling] “I’ll run and wash my hands again to be sure they’re clean,” said Margaret. “Wait a minute. Wet a clean little sponge or cloth to moisten your fingers when you roll the hem in this handkerchief,” cried the King to her before she got out of sight. When she came back Margaret picked up the square of linen. Sir Bodkin told her to trim the corners off round with her scissors. “Roll the edge of the linen between your left thumb and forefinger towards you until the raw edge is out of sight. Moisten your fingers a tiny bit and don’t get the hem too big and clumsy,” cautioned Sir Bodkin. In a few minutes Margaret learned the knack of hem rolling. “It’s kind of fun, isn’t it?” she said. “Yes, and that one looks good for a first attempt,” said the King. Margaret looked pleased. Then she folded her work away in the basket. [Illustration] “Good-bye, dear,” she said to her friend, “I must run and do my errands now. You’ll see me to-morrow.”