These are a set of ten damask linen napkins embroidered with the initials “M.L.” They were destined to be discarded, but I felt they deserved a new life with someone who would cherish and appreciate them once again. I believe — and am almost certain — that the embroidery was completed by a school-leaving pupil as part of an embroidery examination. Each napkin bears a slightly different design, simple and somewhat naïvely executed, yet full of charm and individuality. Whether the embroiderer passed the examination remains a mystery, and sadly one we will never know. The napkins have since been carefully washed, starched, and ironed, and they now look almost beautiful again — ready to grace a table and continue their story for many years to come.