And after that the sparrows began. And as soon as the sparrows began, the others left off: for they knew it was no good to go on against the sparrows; for the sparrows go on for ever. Then Baby got up, and went to the window. And the sun was just up and staring white through the black of the trees: for it was about Christmas by now. And the sky shone like a sword. And great white ice-bergs with shining tops sailed by behind the Mountain on the border of That Country. And old Methuselah, his ears hoary with frost, was trying for some more sleep under the thorn. And on the eave above the window a starling, all purple and green and gold in the sun, was dressing. And as he dressed he was making all the noises no other bird can make. For the starling is like a lot more, he never knows quite what he's going to say himself till he's said it, only he knows it's never been said before, and never will be again. Then the sun rose over the wall of the back-yard, and struck the top of the boot-hole. And at once mannikin inside began to sing very merrily, "I hop in the boot-hole, As happy can be, As bold as a robin, As brisk as the sea, I chirp like a cricket, I buzz as a bee A-swing in the fox-glove, A-blow on the lea." And when Baby heard that she ran and shook Tiny, who was lying in bed with one eye out, and the blanket tight round, and she cried. "Get up, Lazy-bones! get up! get up!--Everybody's up and busy and merry long ago only you." And she began to dance about with her hair down, singing, "O, I say!--Shan't we just be happy here? happy here? happy here?" But Tiny only groaned, and got up, one leg at a time. And the first thing he did was to go to the window, and spy out at the Castle round the corner, with the frost on the roof. And the first thing he saw was the Commander-in-Chief stealing out of the back-door in his bedroom slippers. [Illustration: STEALING OUT IN HIS SLIPPERS] 24 And when Tiny saw that, he shivered, and came in, and didn't have much bath, for Baby had gone down; but took off his clothes, and put on his redcoat instead. And soon he forgot all about the Commander-in-Chief, and stood before the glass a long long time, and simplee loved it. Then he dragged himself away, and went downstairs, and did the lamp and the knife, which was always his little job. And when he had finished that, he walked to the parlour, rather proud because of Captain in that Army, rather cold because of sore thumb and no real sympathy, and rather shy because of his redcoat, and Baby inside waiting to tease. So he came to the door. And when Baby saw Tiny in his redcoat, very tall, and jolly little curls all over, she thought, "How _most_ beautiful!" Only she didn't say for fear of bad for Tiny, because she knew about the glass, for she had peeped. Instead she played with his medals, and tapped him under the chin, and said, "How _most_ booful!" which was much better for Tiny.