“This is better,” said Sir Bodkin with a sigh of relief. “We can stay here until the work is done, for we don’t have to go back to the needle-book every time. We can wait outside until the piece of work is finished.” “I can put the pincushion in the work-basket when we’re through at night, so you’ll be in your own house,” said Margaret. “That will be delightful,” said Sir Bodkin; “thank you, My Lady. Shall we do the hem to-day?” [Illustration] “I think not to-day for I must go and study my lessons now. To-morrow we’ll finish the dress,” said his little mistress. “Very good,” replied Sir Bodkin. “Just fold your work up neatly and lay it in the work-basket on top of us.” “Thank you all so much,” said Margaret to the One-Eyed Fairies as she placed the pincushion in the work-basket and laid the doll’s dress, neatly folded, on top. The One-Eyed Fairies nestled down in the red tomato pincushion very comfortably and waited for to-morrow to come so they could show their little mistress how to hem the pretty dress she was making for her doll. CHAPTER IV DAINTY HEMMER [Illustration] Next day Margaret ran happily home from school. She put her books, hat and coat in the closet and then rushed up to her room to finish her doll’s dress. “Goody me, such dirty hands! I must go to the bathroom and give them a good scrubbing with soap and water before I touch my work,” she said importantly to Sir Bodkin, who sang: “Clean white fingers, Needles shining bright, Will help the sewing, To go along just right.” “Sir Bodkin,” she said to him, when her hands were clean and dainty again, “I hope you and the One-Eyes enjoyed your rest in the pincushion.” “Indeed we did, My Lady, thanks to you,” he replied as Margaret lifted the red tomato pincushion, in which they were sticking, out of the work-basket and placed it on her table. He then stepped on the table-top ready to direct the hemming of the doll’s dress. “All ready, My Lady?” he asked eager to begin. “Yes,” replied Margaret. “Before we begin, have you any pins, My Lady?” said Sir Bodkin. “Only a few in my pincushion on my bureau,” replied Margaret. “We better have plenty, because they will be needed from time to time as we do our work,” the tiny King told her. “Very well, I’ll ask Mother for some more,” said Margaret and went out of the room to her mother’s sewing-room. When she came back she had a whole paper of pins in her hand. [Illustration] “That’s the ticket,” said Sir Bodkin; “take some out and stick them in the red tomato with my boys and girls.” Then he directed as follows: