course, more intelligent-looking, and they were on a pink card instead
of a white one; also, they were in a shiny lacquer box, the lid of
which was watched over by gold dragons.

"They will do very nicely," said Avrillia. "Now a thimble--a really
good one, please, that is thoroughly finger-broken, and has a
tractable disposition and some sense. The one this little girl has now
is simply abominable, and wouldn't push a needle through cobweb--not
to mention the heavy textiles they are obliged to use in her country.
Now, some knotless thread, please," she continued, having decided upon
a thimble after much careful thought. "Oh, no--not that! I don't mean
the kind that won't take a knot at the end; what I want is the kind
that won't tangle and snarl, even if a child's fingers are tired.
There, that's it!" and she tucked a smiling little spool into Sara's
apron pocket.

"Now, Sara," she asked, "is there any other simple little thing you'd
like to have? They have self-washing hands and self-learning lessons,
and such things, but they're very expensive, and I know your mother
wouldn't want you to accept expensive presents," and she smiled at
Sara affectionately.

Sara wanted terribly to ask for a set of self-learning multiplication
tables, but she knew Avrillia was right, and that her mother wouldn't
like it. Besides, how could she ever get all that furniture home on
the boat?

So she assured Avrillia that she was more than satisfied--as, indeed,
being a dear child, she was. And then Avrillia nearly took her breath
away by saying, "Well, then, we'll go up and fit the dollies--just for