And after that he pretended to blub a bit outside the door to show how grieved he was; and then turned away. So poor mannikin found himself worse off instead of better, which is often the way, if you try too much. Only he soon got over it, and began to sing instead; for mannikin took nothing to heart very much. But the Commander-in-Chief shuffled away across the Common in his bedroom slippers, very busy and bad. 26 Then Tiny grumbled some out of a book. Only he didn't grumble it well: for he kept one eye on the book, and one eye on the window, to see if the road was looking through the blinds. But nobody was, only old Methuselah, who crossed the road, a foot at a time, and leaned his head over the gate. And when he heard what was going on inside, he closed his eyes, and bowed his head: for Methuselah was like a lot more, he wanted people to think he was a deal pi-er than he really was. Then, when that was done, and Phyllis and the Others had left the parlour, Tiny just dumped down and gobbled porridge without a word. So Baby sat behind the tea-thing and ate bread without butter, for she didn't feel hungry. And when Tiny looked at her, and pretended he hadn't, she looked back at him, quite kind and true. And when Tiny saw that, he was so ashamed that he went worse than ever, and gobbled till everything was all gone: so that he really had something to grumble about now; which he did gladly. Then Baby played music on the table behind the sugar-bowl; and she was rather white, and rather tired; and she said. "Very sorry, Tiny. Shall I ring for more?" So Tiny snapped, "Yes. No. What you like." And when he had said that, he wanted to say sorry so bad that he thought he would unless he left the room. So he got up and went out quick for fear. And he put on his cap and his cane, and went out of the front-door, and down the path joggle with his knees to show don't-care-damb, which was quite a lie, because he did care a lot. Then Baby came to the door, and peeped at his back; and water stood in Baby's eyes; and she said low, "I'll tidy up, and have everything square by the time you get back, Tiny." But Tiny just joggled, and pretended don't-care-damb some more. Then Baby peeped; and her handkerchief was at her mouth; and she said in a wee voice, "Back for tea, Tiny?" So Tiny answered, "Dunno," and joggled down the path. Then Baby gasped, "Hope you will, Tiny-boy!" And she shut the door and ran, because she was taken blubby bad. And when Tiny heard that, he could not bear it any more, for you can't if they keep on at it; and he thought, "You _are_ a darling! I _am_ a cad." And he stopped, and turned, and went back to the door as though he had his seven league boots on, to say sorry I'm a cad, which he truly was. But the door was shut. Then Tiny ran up and down on his feet, and cried at the key-hole, "Lemme in! lemme in! lemme in! O Baby! I _do_ love you! Truly sorry! lemme in!" But it was too late then.