And after that Tiny and Baby ran up and downstairs at the double. And when they got to the top and bottom, they turned and ran down and up again. And they got in Phyllis's way rather as she tidied up; but she didn't mind, only so long as they enjoyed themselves. Then they stood at opposite ends of the Cottage, and gave the Others contradictory orders in loud voices. But the Others didn't hear: for they had paddled out into the back-yard to find out what it was in the boot-hole screaming and scampering so. And of course it was mannikin, who, when he heard them, came to the crack, and whispered them to undo him, and he would tell them something secret. So they got the key from the nail, and undid him. Then mannikin came out into the kitchen, where he wasn't really allowed, and sat on the edge of the table, sucking his thumb. So the Others held each other, gasping, "My!" and asked him what the secret was. But mannikin only swung his legs and said he'd forgotten. Then he heard Phyllis coming and scurried back to his hole in a terrible fright, and locked himself in, and shoved the key under the door. And one of the Others came later and picked it up, to hang on the nail; only she forgot--and a good job too. 22 Then after tea Tiny stole out, and round the corner, and into the Castle by the back-door, to spy out the Commander-in-Chief, and the surprise he was getting ready for the Regiment. And he crept along the passage and shoved the green-baize door, and peeped into the hall. And there by the fire sat the King with his crown cocked over his eyes sound-asleep in the rocking-chair after the market; while the Queen churned in the dairy. And in the darkest corner, under a shaded candle, sat the Commander-in-Chief with his hump up and his head down and wrote a letter very secretly. And as Tiny looked, he sealed it with a black seal, and said with a snigger, "Because of Goliath." Then he rang for the Queen, and gave it her, saying, "Important--Private--Secret. For Cooey in the morning." [Illustration: THEN HE RANG FOR THE QUEEN] But Tiny crept home in the dark, with a little rainy wind in his face, and wondered. [Illustration: Book V headpiece] BOOK V.--TINY AND BABY QUARREL 23 Next morning Baby woke up very happy, because she was at home. And she lay and listened to the day getting up, which was rather a favourite thing of Baby's. And first the Policeman tramped by in boots. Then a cock at the farm crew a lot to say it was dawn, when it wasn't. And after that just as the dark began to grow dim, a thrush in the lilac under the window cleared its throat, and began to shout, "I'm first! I'm first! I'm first!" And that woke a robin in the yew-hedge which piped, "Cheek! Cheek! Cheek!" and began to laugh in its little way. Then a rook sailed out to work, groaning, "Aw! aw! aw!" which is rook for "Oh! oh! oh!" which is short for "Oh dear! oh dear! oh dear!" for the rook hates work and loves grumbling.