And a little woolly white dog came out after him in a great state, and stood on four legs, and barked till it shook. But Tiny only ran on like lead. So the little woolly white dog pretended he'd driven him off, and walked across the road and back very stiff on his toes, to try to take the cat in. But the cat just sat on the wall, and blinked instead. Then Tiny pounded down the hill with his heart in his heels. And the hedges on either side looked like crawly purple caterpillars with grey-green leper splotches where the privet grew; and a plump little wren flitted in and out before him as he ran, mocking; while the Pond on the Common beneath winked each time the wind blew, like a leering great eye. And Tiny loathed them all. So he ran across the little Bridge, and round the Wood, where the beeches flushed among the grey of the ashes, and across the Common among the gorse, till he came to Cosy Cottage. And the sun shone on it; and the sparrows chirped in the creepers; and mannikin sang in the boot-hole at the back; and Phyllis was at the door polishing the knocker; and even the Others were leaning out of upstairs, pretending with dusters, while they tried to carry on with the King, who was cleaning the Castle-window round the corner; while the Queen scowled from the wash-tub. And when Tiny saw all that, and remembered Baby singing so happy that morning, his heart stopped dead. And he stood with his hand on the gate, and just looked. Then the door burst open, and out rushed Baby in an apron, with a scream and a scurry, yelling, "O, Tiny! what _do_ you think?" But Tiny only answered quite dull and dead, "What?" So Baby cried, "The Commander-in-Chief's been to call!--And hee came disguised as a parson--only he forgot about his cocked hat, which he was wearing. So of course I found him out, and roared. And when he saw he was discovered, he looked rather silly at first. Then he cheered up, and said it was all a joke done to amuse me. And really he was so sweet and smiling--you can't think. He bowed up and down in the door, and said he'd come to ask if I was happy in my little home, for that was all he cared about; and there were quite tears in his eyes. And when I said I should just think I was, he seemed delighted--honestly. Wasn't that nice of him?" [Illustration: DISGUISED AS A PARSON] And she hopped on the path, her hand upon Tiny's arm, and her hair all splendid and babbled on,