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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-07 01:20:57 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-07 01:20:57 -0800 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ce1612 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #54575 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54575) diff --git a/old/54575-8.txt b/old/54575-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 61b5bd5..0000000 --- a/old/54575-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4643 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Redcoat Captain, by Alfred Ollivant - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Redcoat Captain - A Story of That Country - -Author: Alfred Ollivant - -Illustrator: Graham Robertson - -Release Date: April 19, 2017 [EBook #54575] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REDCOAT CAPTAIN *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines - - - - - - - - -[Frontispiece: ON THE WAY TO THAT COUNTRY] - - - - -REDCOAT CAPTAIN - -A STORY OF - -THAT COUNTRY - - -BY - -ALFRED OLLIVANT - -AUTHOR OF "BOB, SON OF BATTLE," ETC. - - - -ILLUMINATED BY GRAHAM ROBERTSON - - - -New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY LONDON: JOHN MURRAY 1907 - -_All rights reserved_ - - - - -COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. - -Set up and electrotyped. Published September, 1907. - - - -Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., -U.S.A. - - - - -REDCOAT CAPTAIN - - - -[Illustration: Book I headpiece] - - - - -BOOK I.--TINY TAKES COSY COTTAGE - - -1 - -So, after waiting faithfully for days and days and days, they agreed -they could wait no longer. - -He was a Redcoat Captain in the Army of That Country: she was the -daughter of the merry lady who lived among rooks. - -His had jolly little curls all over, with blue eyes under: hers was -chestnut, with grey eyes like clouds in a lake. - -She was between ten and twenty: he was a little more. - -He was so tall that the Fellows called him Tiny: her name was Mabel, so -they called her Baby. - - - -2 - -So Tiny came to the Fort on the Hill where the sun used to set; and it -was noon. - -And the Fort was a round wall with a barrack-square inside. And -through a hole in the wall a great cannon of artillery peeped out over -the country to keep Them down: for They were always supposed to be -there, though nobody had ever seen Them. - -Then Tiny climbed in through the cannon-hole, and on to the -barrack-square, where nobody was now only the back-view of Goliath, the -elephant, whisking his tail in the stable, while the Boy, who saw to -him, slept among his feet. - -So Tiny walked across the square in the sun till he came to a door in -the dark of the wall. And on the door was painted in white letters - -O G R E - -which the Fellows said meant, - -Old General Roast End, - -but it really meant, - -Officers' Grub Royal Elephants, - -which was the name of the Regiment. - -And the Regiment was so named by order of the King because that pleased -old Goly, so that he trampled less at night, when the Fellows wanted to -sleep. - -Then Tiny knocked at the door and went in. - -And the room had crossed sugar-sticks on the wall, and a row of bottles -full of little black and white marbly balls on the mantel-piece, and -over them a great motto, - -_Every Bull's Eye has its billet._ - -And in one corner was a pile of painted india-rubber cannon-balls. And -there was a huge fire roaring, though it was summer. And before the -fire stood the General, with his hands behind him, sucking something -and warming himself. - -Then Tiny shut the door, and began, - -"I am Tiny; and I am going to marry Baby. How long will I stop in this -hole, because about taking a house to put Baby in?" - -So the General bent towards his boots; and his head shone; and his -boots shone; and he bulged over the fire; and he said, - -"I am Sir Goodall Grouse, and a Major-General. I had ought to be a -full General if I had me rights--only they cheat so." - -Then he bowed himself straight; and he was very red and tight; and he -shot his neck till the veins swelled, and he shouted, - -"And I don't care who knows it." - -So Tiny, who knew Generals, pretended sad, and shook his head, and -answered, - -"When we go out to war, Sir, we always say that if only Sir Goodall -came and did it, it wouldn't be a war at all, to call one, it would be -a walk-over." - -And when the General heard that, he sat down and said, - -"You are a very promisin young officer _indeed_!" And he made a bump -in his cheek with his tongue, and wrote upon the blotting-paper for ten -minutes most industriously, - -_Captain Tiny to be reccomended for promotion:_ - -Then he turned to Tiny and rubbed his hands and said, - -"And now what will you allow me for to do for you?" And the clerk was -so astonished that he poked in to see. - -So Tiny told for the second time. - -Then the General rolled the quid of toffee in his cheek very wisely, -and he wrinkled, and said, - -"Well. You will probly stop here for all time, and certainly for years -and years. And you may take that on the word of Sir Goodall Grouse, -who never told a lie, cause he couldn't think of one to tell." And he -blew out his chest so a button flew, and shouted, "And what's more, I -should ought to be a full General if I had me rights--and I don't care -who knows it!" And he thumped the blotting-paper till it shook. - -Then Tiny winked to himself and said inside, - -"Hang your rights, Old Roast End!" but outside he said, - -"Thank you, Sir. Now I feel a lot better." - -And he saluted and went out, meek as a mouse; but directly he got -outside he took to his legs and raced across the square, shouting and -singing because of Baby and the house where he would keep her for years -and years while he trained her how to be a soldier's wife. - - -And about next day Sir Goodall retired, because he said the Service -didn't leave him time enough to roast himself. - - -And that is about all about Sir Goodall for now. - - - -3 - -Then Tiny came upon his toes very merry to the place where the Fellows -fed between sleeps. - -And it was a great sort of shed under a thatch, with walls of whitewash -sploshed with blood to encourage them on. - -And when Tiny got there they were all feeding and complaining about A B -C and D, which you have to pass for promotion in That Army. - -For it appeared that the Commander-in-Chief at the Castle had just sent -over word by Cooey, the carrier-pigeon, to say that they must all learn -down to E now, or leave That Country. - -And _he_ said it was because that was what they did in Willie-Land; but -_they_ said it was because of spite. - -For it was well known that the Commander-in-Chief's great ambition was -a ride on Goliath. And the night before he had come and tried to climb -on by stealth while Goly slept. But old Goly woke up in the middle and -trod on his toe instead. - -So the Commander-in-Chief had limped back to the Castle with his hump -up. And because he had a curiously nasty nature, and bore malice a -lot, he now sent word by Cooey to say that they must choose between E -and exile. - -And it is usually considered the greatest misery that can happen to you -to be sent out of That Country. - -For That Country is the Land-where-you-never-grow-old--so long, that -is, as you are good and loving. - -Indeed, if you live truly, you grow younger all the time, although your -hair turns grey just the same as in Abroad. And when you are so young -and so happy that you can bear it no more, then you die. - -But directly you begin to go bad, you grow old. And then the right -place for you is Abroad, where all the common people live, and grow -horrider and horrider every day, and never die. - -So naturally everybody born in That Country wants to live there all the -time, except when they have to go away to Moonland for one month after -marriage: for that is one of the rules. - -But if you are not good and loving, then they turn you out, when they -find out about you, which they very often don't for a long time, -because they are so sweet and simple. And you are supposed to hate -nobody in That Country; but if you do, then you try to sort of cuckoo -him out by working under him with your wings. - -And that was what the Commander-in-Chief, sitting in the Castle-tower, -with his toe in a bandage, plotted in his own secret mind to do to the -Regiment, because of Goliath. - -For the Commander-in-Chief was a real villain, and already growing old. - - - -4 - -So all the Fellows were sitting round feeding, and abusing the -Commander-in-Chief. - -But the Junior Subaltern, who was rosy and plump, was saying nothing: -for he wasn't allowed an opinion. - -So he was eating most instead--as usual. - -Then Tiny sat down apart, and ate jam out of a spoon, and smiled. - -But the Junior Subaltern peeped from behind a pink fairy-book, which he -read with one hand, while he ate with the other, and when he saw Tiny's -smile, he said a bit bitterly, - -"I know. It's because it's strawberry. They keep _me_ on plum." - -But the one next him, who was long and yellow, held his cup with both -hands, and bubbled into it as he drank, and said, - -"No. It's because he thought old Roast End was going to tell him off a -treat. But Tiny tickled him, so he told off the other fellow who -hadn't done it. I wish I could tickle like Tiny. It all seems so damb -unfair," and he began to cry. - -But the one next him, who was big and brown, said nothing outside, but -inside he said, - -"No. It's because of Baby." And he knew, for he was to be best man, -and give Tiny away when the time came. - -Then a Captain without medals rose. And he was black but uncomely. -And he bowed up and down to the Mountain and said, - -"I am going to Where-George-is." - -But when the Junior Subaltern heard that, he peeped out again, and -cried, - -"Is that because of the Commander-in-Chief and E? You _are_ a lucky -dog. I would too if I could afford it." - -Then the black Captain looked at the Junior Subaltern; and there was a -great hush. And at last the black Captain shot his neck suddenly, and -spouted, - -"Might I be so good as to ask you not to speak till you're spoken to?" - -And all the Fellows said in a sort of chorus, - -"Might I be so good, etc.?" - -But the Junior Subaltern went back behind the fairy-book and ate a lot -more, and muttered. And when he had quite done both, he rose and went -to where the Boy was sliding down Goliath by the tail and told him off -a treat. - -[Illustration: THE BOY WAS SLIDING DOWN GOLIATH] - -But the Boy brought up at the bottom, bump, and said, - -"Why?" - -So the Junior Subaltern shot his neck as well as he could, which wasn't -very well, because he hadn't much experience yet, and he answered, - -"Because I've nobody to tell off only you, because I'm Junior. Damb!" - -So that showed the Junior Subaltern was learning soldier, which is to -shoot your neck and say damb in That Country. - - -But the black Captain stood where he was, very proud and plucky, -because he had done his duty, and it was a pleasure, too; and he said, - -"And now some more about George!" and he chucked his chest, although it -had no medals on it, and went on, - -"I am George's cousin; only George doesn't like me to talk about it. -So George is going to make a little war for me in Where-George-is, and -I am to go and get killed or a medal; and either way I will be worthier -to be George's cousin." - -And when they heard that they went on feeding and complaining as before. - -Then the black Captain, after a reproachful look, came towards Tiny. - -But Tiny rattled with his feet on the floor, and screamed. - -"Go way! go way! go way!--I don't want to talk about George or George's -cousin--much obliged all the same thank you no though. George can talk -about himself plenty without me, and so can his cousin. How d'you do? -Good-bye!" And he shoved back his chair. - -But the black Captain held him down very firmly by the legs, and said, - -"You never want to talk about anybody but yourself, seems to me." - -Then Tiny turned more Christian, and replied, - -"You see, I'm so much more interestiner than you are, old chap. Matter -of fact I don't want to talk about anybody; I just want to go to sleep, -and think about a friend of mine," which was Baby. - -Then the Captain shoved closer and whispered, because of the Fellows, - -"It is because of your friend that I began about going to -Where-George-is. For I have a friend of my own, to whom I am married. -And you know her well, because you used to come and talk secrets at tea -to her about your friend, when you didn't think she was going to be -your friend at all but the Commander-in-Chief's from the Castle. But -the King measured your legs to be half an inch the longest, so you won. -And I have reason to believe," said the black Captain very cautiously, -"that you used to cry together about it, you and my friend." - -Then Tiny said, - -"Oh go on, Pompey, go on!" but he blushed all over all the same. - -So the black Captain hid his face behind his fingers, and looked at -Tiny through them, for that is what you do when they blush, if you are -a gentleman, in That Country: for that is one of the rules. - -And when Tiny said after about a bit, - -"Better now, thank you," the black Captain took his hand away, and went -on, - -"And I live in Cosy Cottage with my friend. And it is on the edge of -the Common--you know!--where the gorse is, and the Pond, and the oldest -donkey in the world nodding off to sleep under a thorn. And just over -the way is the old yew with little Marwy's mother's grave close by. -And in front is the Fort on the Hill, all handy, so the Fellows can -wave to you when you sit in the garden in shirt-sleeves with Baby on -Sunday evenings in the summer. And round the corner is the Castle, -with the Commander-in-Chief at the window plotting mischief against -you, because of Baby, and against the Regiment, because of Goliath. -Only it don't matter to me one pin what he plots; in fact I rather like -it," said the black Captain, who was a selfish fellow, and really -rather like a common man from Abroad, "because I'm going away to -Where-George-is, my friend and me are. But we can't take Cosy Cottage, -so you shall have it." - -Then Tiny's eyes shone, and he said, - -"And may we _really_ have it for love?" - -Then the black Captain wetted his lips with the tip of his tongue, and -nodded, and whispered, - -"For love--and a leetle money, please." - -So Tiny gave him some out of his trouser-pocket. - -Then they shook hands so that all the Fellows thought it was a fight, -and ran up to help. - - -And after that the black Captain went away with his friend, arm in arm -over the Mountain to Where-George-is. - -[Illustration: COOEY! COOEY!] - -And there the band plays day and night, seven years without ceasing, - -_God save our gracious George._ - - -And George sits all day in his mail-cart under the palm, and bows his -head, and says, - -"A-a-men." - -Only the King isn't supposed to know about that, because it's his tune -really. - -And the black Captain became so very distinguished an officer that at -last he was allowed to pick the things off the floor when Georgie threw -them there in a pet, because the band sent in to ask if they might -change the tune. - - -And that is about all about the black Captain and George for now. - - - -5 - -But Tiny took a pencil, and wrote to Baby on scribbling paper, - -_Come quicks-you-can see cosy cottage I have bought a bargain to put -you in and don't bring mother unless you mustn't come without, because -of long walks so tirin for her._ - - -Then he ran down the Hill, and across the Bridge, and into the Wood, -and called, - -"Cooey! Cooey!" - -Then Cooey came from his fir, with splashing wings; and Tiny tied the -writing beneath his wing, and said, - -"Baby," and pointed. - -So Cooey flashed away through the wood: for Cooey takes all the quick -messages in That Country. - - -Then Tiny trotted back to the Fort, and took off his red coat, and put -on his sailor suit, and went for a ride on the Common on Goliath, with -the dear old Colonel, who thought nice of everybody, in the other -pannier. - - -But the Commander-in-Chief stood at the window in the Castle-tower, and -looked down darkly. - - - - -[Illustration: Book II headpiece] - - - - -BOOK II.--TINY MARRIES BABY - - -6 - -So Cooey sped with the writing to where Baby was. - -And Baby lived with her mother in the Hall under elms. - -And she was in the garden in gauntlets messing, when Cooey fluttered -down about her head. - -And when Baby heard him, she stood up, and held out her wrist, calling, - -"Something for me, Cooey?" And she pulled off her gauntlets, and took -the writing from under Cooey's wing, as he perched, and read it, while -Cooey sidled and fluttered, till he came to her shoulder. And there he -laid his bill against her cheek, and began to love her, very murmury. - -But Baby, when she had read the writing, skipped, and cried, - -"Three cheers!" and ran in to her mother, who sat with her back turned -in a room with great windows and a shiny floor, and wrote round, -chuckling. - -Then Baby poked in and cried, - -"Good-bye, mum. I am going to see Cosy Cottage that Tiny has taken to -keep me in. And we will be alone by ourselves together, Tiny and me, -till nightfall. Then p'r'aps I come home." - -But when Baby's mother, who was round and jolly, heard that, she went -thin all over, and she turned round from her writing, and cried, - -"Oh, Baby, _please_!" - -So they sat down and argued. - -And Baby, who always wanted to know, said, - -"Why?" - -Then Baby's mother answered with her foot down, - -"Because of mustn't be alone by yourselves together yet, you and Tiny!" - -But Baby, who _would_ argue, only said, very dogged, - -"Why?" - -So Baby's mother said twelve times, - -"Because of things." - -Then Baby turned in her toes, and inside she said, - -"Rot!" but outside she said nothing. - -And when Baby's mother, who was quite pale on account of it all, saw -that, she said, - -"In my young days," which was a very favourite saying of Baby's mother. - -But Baby only turned in her toes till her feet were almost straight -sideways, for she had heard _that_ before. - -So Baby's mother, when she saw that, said nothing, and just folded her -hands instead: for she knew what Baby's toes meant. - -But Baby, directly she saw her mother's hands, began to unturn her -toes, and she said, - -"Of course just as you like, Mother." - -For it is with girls like it is with horses: when you pull at them, -they pull at you, hut directly you let go, they come back to you. - -And that is pretty well the same with everybody. So long as you say -"Shan't," they say "Shall," but when you say nothing, and just sit and -look sad, then they come and kiss you. For we all know somehow though -we don't quite know how, that Will is one thing and Love is another; -and Will is strong, but Love is stronger; and you can often get your -way by Love when you can't by Will. - -Then when Baby's mother heard what Baby said, she began to go round -again, and sighed, - -"Oh, thank you, Baby." - -So Baby unturned her toes some more, and said, - -"Of course I shall like you to come with me, Mother--if it won't tire -you," which was quite a lie, but not one to count. - -So Baby's mother answered rather weepy, - -"Very sorry, Baby. I'm sure I don't want to be a spoil-sport. Only I -must consider things," and she got out her handkerchief. - -Then Baby turned her toes quite out, and she rose, and ran, and cried, - -"Darling old thing!" and hugged her up. - -So Baby's mother began to chuckle again; and she put on her bonnet and -Baby her boa; and they started down the lane together, arm in arm: for -everybody lives only a few miles off in That Country: so you never go -by train except to Moonland. - -And it is all country in That Country, only for the Town on the -Tumble-down Hill: for all the nice things happen in the country; and it -is mostly all nice in this story--except the Commander-in-Chief. - -7 - -And at the bottom of the lane there was Tiny riding backwards and -forwards on the swing-gate. - -But when he saw them he jumped down and ran and waved; and Baby waved -and ran. Only when they came where they met, they went shy suddenly, -and turned their backs instead. - -Then a jackdaw on the sign-post said, - -"Chuck! chuck! chuck!" - -And when Baby heard that, she turned her back still more, and blushed. -So Tiny who had seen out of his corner-eye, went behind his fingers, to -show he knew all about manners. - -Then Baby's mother plodded up with her skirts in her hands, and said, - -"Very sorry, Tiny. Only I must--because of things." - -But Tiny only went astonished and answered, - -"Oh, but we specially wanted you--didn't we, Baby?" which was quite a -lie. - -So Baby cheered up, and hopped, and cried, - -"Course we did." - -Then Baby's mother said, - -"Oh, you are dears about it." - -So they just loved her, because she was such a jolly good old mother. - -And after that they all took arms, and walked across the Common with -the oldest donkey in the world, nodding off to sleep under a thorn, -almost as old. - -And when Baby saw the donkey she ran, and patted him, and called to -Tiny, - -"Has he got a name?" - -So Tiny answered, - -"Yes; Methuselah." - -Then Baby skipped back, crying, - -"Is that _your_ name?" - -Then Tiny, after a bit of a struggle, for he did want to lie and get -the glory, told the truth rather grumpily, and said, - -"No--the Colonel's." - -For the Colonel is allowed to do all the christening in that Regiment: -for that is one of the rules. And Goliath, the elephant, was one of -his; and so was little Marwy, the regimental baa-lamb. - - -Then Tiny, and Baby, and Baby's mother came to the Village. - -And the Village was made up of Cosy Cottage, and the red pillar-box -opposite; and that is all: for the villages are just a nice size in -That Country. - -And Cosy Cottage looked delicious under creepers, with sparrows -chattering. And it was long, and low, and grey, and not unlike -Methuselah, with a rather broken-back look, and one crooked chimney for -ear. And there was one window behind and two before, with a porch -between, and roses sprawling over all. - -And in front was a little grass garden, with a lilac and a yew hedge -round, and a gate made of paling into the road; and at the back a tiny -yard and a boot-hole[1] like a box. - - -[1] A boot-hole is a little place where you clean boots. - - -And it belonged to the King, as all the houses do in That Country, -because that saves trouble; and it went with the Fort on the Hill. - -And when Baby saw that, she hopped, and whispered, - -"Oh, Mother!" because she loved it so. - -And baby's mother chuckled and said, - -"Yes, you _are_ a lucky child." - -But Tiny said nothing, and took all the glory instead, which was rather -a favourite thing of Tiny's, and quite a lie; for he'd done nothing for -it. - -All the same it was very curious that when Baby was with Tiny he told -the truth on the whole much more, and kept all his lies for the Fellows. - -And the more he was with her the more truth he told: so that it almost -looked as though, if he went on long enough, he would never tell a lie, -to call one, any more. And that is what they call Influence. - -And nobody knows quite what Influence is, but it's what women do. - -So you see it's rather jolly to be a woman, because if you're a man you -can't, though you think you can, because of conceit. - - -Then they led Baby's mother into the house. And after they had fed -her, they took her and put her on a little chair in a quiet cupboard by -herself, and locked her in; and she was to be good-and-go-to-sleep till -they came for her. - - -And that pleased Baby's mother so that she smiled. - - - -8 - -Then Baby yelled and ran upstairs; and Tiny yelled, and ran after her; -till they came to the topmost stair of all. And Baby put her head out -and cried, - -"I say! this is tip-top!" which was a very favourite saying of Baby's. - -And Tiny came up behind her and murmured, - -"This is tip-topper!" for lovers are lovers just the same in That -Country, only nicer. - -So Baby went with her arms, and squealed, - -"Tiny! Tinee!" - -Then she ran downstairs as hard as she could pelt; and Tiny ran after -her, as hard as he could pelt. - -And Baby's mother, who couldn't be good-and-go-to-sleep because of the -racket, woke up, and climbed out of the cupboard, and ran after Tiny as -hard as she could pelt. - -So they all ran after each other till they came to the bottom-most -stair of all. - -Then they all climbed on to chairs and sat around the front-window and -spied. - -And by the old yew there was the Colonel taking little Marwy to see her -mother's grave, which he did every evening, dear man. - -[Illustration: WHICH HE DID EVERY EVENING] - -And on the Hill there was the Junior Subaltern with a huge slice of -cake in his mouth scribbling E all over the blank of the Fort wall to -show he could do it; for the Junior Subaltern was like a lot more, he -wanted everybody to know he was cleverer than they were. Only when -they saw they kicked him instead, which was rather depressing for him -after all his trouble. - -And on the Common there was the Boy giving Goliath a real old -galumphing gallop round the Pond to take it out of him; only old Goly, -who was a bit of a rogue, took it out of the Boy instead; which was -rather a favourite thing of Goly's. - -Then they took their chairs and ran, and sat round the back-window, and -spied. - -And by craning out they could see the Castle round the corner. - -And there stood the Commander-in-Chief at the window, biting his -thumbs, and watching Goliath. - -And when he saw their heads, he shook his fist, and muttered. - -Then Baby's mother said, - -"Oh my dear!" and shuddered, and came in. - -And Baby cried, - -"Pig!" and laughed; still she came in too. - -But Tiny shouted, - -"Pooh! think I'm afraid of you!" and leaned his neck out all the -further, and cocked a snook back. - -But Baby pulled him in quick by the trousers, because of his career, -and hoped the Commander-in-Chief hadn't seen. - - -And after that Baby fussed off into the kitchen; and they fussed after -her, and sat on the dresser, and watched. - -And Baby opened a little black door where the chimney ended in a hole, -and looked in very cunning. - -And after about a bit she slammed the little black door, and made a -face with her nose, and said, - -"I don't think much of this thing," to show how sly she was. - -But Tiny sat on the dresser, with Baby's mother, and pointed his finger -at Baby, and said, - -"Don't believe you know one word about it, Baby." - -So Baby turned her nose up and her eyes down, and replied, - -"That's all _you_ know, Mr Tiny!" - -And she said to her mother, - -"I know a jolly lot, don't I, Mum?" - -And Baby's mother chuckled all over, and said pat, - -"Not _one_ word, Baby." - -Then Baby ran at her and cried, - -"Oh, Mother!" and hugged her; and Tiny hugged them both. - -And after that they all sat on the dresser, and held hands, and swung -legs, and sang, - -_Three Blind Mice_ - - - -9 - -So Tiny and Baby were married in the dear old Church on the Tumble-down -Hill in the Town, while the King in his crown rang the bell in the -belfry; which was always his little job. - -[Illustration: WHICH WAS ALWAYS HIS LITTLE JOB] - -And Tiny and Baby truly believed that it was the only wedding that had -ever been since the world began; only it wasn't though. - -And Tiny wore his blue suit; and Baby her clean white frock. - -And Tiny was rather excited and very shy; and Baby very excited and -rather shy. - -And everybody was there, only the Commander-in-Chief; and he sent Cooey -with a writing instead. - -And Baby's mother sat in the front pew on the left and cried; and -Tiny's mother in the front pew on the right and cried. But Tiny's -mother cried most, for she cried _all_ the time; but Baby's mother -smiled in between, and especially when Baby came up on the arm of the -Colonel, her great friend. - -And the Fellows lined the aisle with swords. - -And they didn't cry, because they had no tears: they looked silly -instead, but not sillier than the others, of whom there were lots, -besides ladies. - -And the Junior Subaltern looked silliest of all because he was so pink; -and all the time going pinker, because of the ladies. And he did want -to marry them all, because of his kind heart; but he knew he couldn't, -because you mayn't. - -And when he thought of that he went quite pale, so that they took him -out, and gave him a drop of lime-juice and water off a feather in the -porch, while the people crept out to see. - - -Then they all came out of Church. - -And outside the porch Cooey fluttered down from the tower with the -writing; which Tiny opened. - -And it was supposed to be written in blood, only red ink really: and it -ran, - -_I will pay u for your snuk. Cheek!_ - -_St. J._ - - -Then Tiny turned rather pale: for he knew the Commander-in-Chief never -forgot, and never forgave. - -But when Baby said, - -"What is it?" he answered, - -"Only nothing," which was rather a favourite saying of his, and quite a -lie; but not one to count. - - -Then they all walked back to the Hall under the elms; and there was a -squash. - -And everybody came, including the people, which they may in That -Country. - -And in one room were the presents hung on to a wedding-tree, with the -Boy over them to see you didn't take any, and Cooey strutting about the -floor at the Colonel's heels, very proud and puffed up; and in the next -Tiny and Baby stood in a row and shook hands with everybody, including -the Queen, good old soul, who wiped her hands on her apron first. - -And Baby smiled and said, - -"Thank you _so_ much," about ten thousand times. - -And Tiny grinned and said, - -"I'm sure we shall," about the same. - -Only when the Junior Subaltern's turn came, he could think of nothing -to say, so he looked foolish, instead. - -Then Baby gave him the nicest smile of all, and inside she said, - -"I will be a mother to this boy." - -But outside she said, - -"Thank you _so_ much." - -Then the Junior Subaltern's mouth opened out, and he answered, - -"What for?" - -So some of the Fellows came and took him away by the arms, though he -screamed and struggled a good lot--as usual. - - -And after that Tiny and Baby came out of doors. - -And the mothers stood on the steps in the sun, and waved, and cried, - -"Goobye! Gobblessu! Goobye!" - -And the people cheered, and shouted, - -"Pip! pip! pooray!" - -And the bells rang; and the trees blew; and Tiny walked away under the -elms, Baby on arm. - - - -10 - -But the Junior Subaltern burst open the corn-bin where they had put him -for a bit, and came back to the remains of the squash, his knickers -rather dusty and his hair rough. - -And because he thought it must be so very nice, he asked three girls -one after the other, and said, - -"Will you?" - -And they looked at him, and replied, - -"You're mad. No; I won't." - -So the Junior Subaltern leaned his chin on his collar, that had -thumb-marks all over it, and said, - -"Why?" - -Then the first, who was proper, answered, - -"Because I'm married already." - -And the second, who was sound, answered, "Because I'm your Aunt." - -And the third, who was neither, cocked her nose, and answered, - -"Because of beastly cheek." - -And when the Junior Subaltern heard that, he went very tired, and -walked home to his mother. - -And the Junior Subaltern's mother lived in a cottage under the sky, -with a wood at the bottom, where the thrushes sang. And all about you, -as you walked in the wood, was green moss and trunks of trees and -dappled sunshine; and all above you were leaves with the wind in them -like waves foaming; and beyond that, blue sky where a lark rippled. - -But the Junior Subaltern cared for none of that now, and just sat down -with his back to it all, and ate no dinner to call any for him, because -things were so hard. - -So his mother sent for the good old doctor, who came on his cob, and -leaned a trumpet against the Junior Subaltern's chest. - -Then the Junior Subaltern said faintly, - -"Are you there?" because he thought it was a telephone, like they have -in Abroad. - -But the doctor answered, - -"Say Ah!" - -So the Junior Subaltern said it, - -And the Doctor listened down the trumpet and said, - -"I hear a guilty conscience." - -Then the Junior Subaltern sent his mother out of the room quick to get -a second opinion. - -So his mother went to fetch the vet. - -Then the Junior Subaltern confessed in a whisper about the drop of -you-know off the feather in the porch, and said, - -"Only don't tell mother." - -Just then his mother tramped back in muddy boots and said she couldn't -find him. - -So the good old doctor washed his hands and said it didn't matter; and -he dried them before the fire, and went wise, and said, - -"Er--I think a little careful regulation of the diet will set things -straight. Er--I was just telling your son that I should only drink -milk and lots of water in it." - -Then the Junior Subaltern's mother took fire, and snapped, - -"That's all he does drink." - -But the Junior Subaltern climbed under the clothes. - -And when his mother saw that, she wept, and said, - -"Why?" - -So the Junior Subaltern answered from under the clothes, - -"Because I must try to get a little sleep now." - - -But the Commander-in-Chief sat with his hump in the Castle tower, and -planned more E-vil. - - - - -[Illustration: Book III headpiece] - - - - -BOOK III.--TINY AND BABY IN MOONLAND - - -11 - -Tiny came to the Station, Baby on arm. - -And there the train was waiting with a white rosette on the puff part. - -And they got in, and Tiny leaned out, and shook hands confidentially -with the nice old guard, who locked the door in return, though there -was nobody else to go, only a milk-can. - -For it is a private train that goes once a day loaded with honeymoon -couples only, by order of the King, who is very good and kind, although -he has to be so strict. - -Then Tiny said to the driver, - -"Moonland, please!" and came in, and shut all the windows without -asking Baby's leave, and turned up his collar, and sat down in the -cosiest corner, and after a good big yawn went to sleep: for that is -what you do if you are a man even in That Country. - -But Baby played with the window-strap in the corner furthest away, and -smiled. - - -And after that the train went till it could go no further, because of -no more land to go on. - -Then Tiny woke up in a great fuss: for Tiny was always either asleep or -in a terrible state; and he poked out and cried, - -"Good! here we are. Come along, I say! Come along. _Do_ come along, -Ma-bel." And he climbed down with the bag full of luggage, and Baby -after him with her cage of canary. - -And they stood together on the platform, and looked about them. - -And it was about morning by now, and the sky was a sort of grey blank, -and the platform quite bare only for a great label across it that said -in huge letters, - - MOONLAND - - -And Moonland is a great space with nothing in it only a green hill, a -brown moor, and in the middle a blue lake supposed to have a fish in it. - -And on the edge of the lake is a stodgy house made of mud and dirt, -whitewashed over, where they let lodgings; only nobody takes them. - -And when Baby saw that, she stood on one leg, and whistled, - -"I say! _do_ look," because she loved it so. - -But Tiny, who only really cared about his food, answered, - -"Yes, yes, my dear, I know, I know," and fussed off with the bag, and -climbed on to the box of the cab, because, he said, he was such friends -with the cabman, and began to whip up the horse, and tug at the reins, -shouting, - -"Gee-woa! Gee-woa!" for it was one of Tiny's things that he thought he -was very good at a horse. - -But the cabman, who was rusty and crusty in an old top-hat, said, - -"Leggo, will ye?" and went into Tiny's wind with his elbow to quiet him. - -So they drove across the moor, over the hill, down to the lake, till -they came to the house. - -And in the window hung a cardboard saying, - -_Lessons, Singing, and Boxing taught here:_ for it is a school as well -as a lodging; only no pupils come. - -And in the porch the landlady was sitting in curls, playing with her -thumbs rather dumpily. - -But when Tiny bustled down with the bag, yelling, - -"Lodgin' fer two, quick, please!" she cheered up, and ran round, and -cooked a little cake, and gave it them; only they couldn't eat it, -because of too tough. - -So they turned their backs, and had sandwiches out of the bag instead; -which was rather depressing for the landlady after all her trouble. - - - -12 - -And after that Tiny and Baby were alone by themselves together, because -they might be now; which is called honeymoon. - -[Illustration: ALONE BY THEMSELVES TOGETHER] - -And it was Autumn, and jolly. - -And Baby always said she liked Autumn best, because she did: for Baby -always had good reasons for everything. - -And the woods were golden, and the moors brown, and the sea grey on the -edge of everywhere. - -And every morning they went out arm in arm. And when they got outside, -Baby let go of Tiny, and bustled along at a great pace with her arms -swinging, crying, - -"I go one hundred miles to-day. How far d'you?" - -Then Tiny caught her up, and passed her, and panted, - -"Twice the same." - -So Baby said, - -"Then go. I sit and watch you," and she sat down plump in a puddle by -the edge of the lake. - -So Tiny came back, and sat beside her, and said in her ear, - -"Why d'you lie so, Baby?" - -But Baby only hugged her knees, and giggled, - -"Because I don't." - -And after that it poured; and they sat all day in a puddle in the rain, -by the edge of the lake, and simplee loved it. - -And when Baby felt the rain on her face, she cried, - -"Isn't rain jolly?--I like it better than anything only fine." - -But Tiny only aimed both eyes so they met at the end of his nose, where -a raindrop was, and he shot his tongue, and curled it up tight, and -took the drop off on the tip. - -And when Baby saw that, she threw back, and roared, and said, - -"Oh, Tiny! you are a little raskil! pomme-word you are!" - -But Tiny only waggled his shoulders, and bubbled his eyes, and did it -again to a new drop. - -And that is all they said and did, because that is all you've got to -say and do. - -Only when a pi-looking person squelched by in goloshers, they wound -round, and lifted up their faces, and screamed together, - - "Two ittle tots - On the spwee-wee-wee, - Out of the - Nurser-wee-wee, - Two and anover - Make thwee-wee-wee, - So come you and join you - With we, we, we." - - -But the pi person only stopped, and looked through her spectacles, and -said pretty severely, - -"I thank you--no!" - -And she tramped on under her umbrella, with her skirts hitched high. - - - -13 - -Then one day it stopped raining. So they set out one behind the other -very secretly to explore the moor. - -And they found great pools, and tiny fairy water-falls, and -water-slides shooting over green rocks. And Baby wanted to take her -clothes off and go in, but Tiny said he'd tell if she did. - -So in the end Baby went in with her clothes on, and loved it; and Baby -called that an accident, which was quite a lie. - -And after that they found the two loveliest mountain-ferns there are, -called the beech and the oak fern; at least Baby found the ferns, while -Tiny steamed on in front in a perspiration, calling, - -"Come on! come on! Else we shall never get there." - -For Tiny always wanted to get somewhere, he didn't know quite where, -only that it was just on in front. But when he got as far as in front, -he always found it was a little further, and so on etc. - -Then they climbed the hill. - -And when they got to the top there was a great wind there, and the sky -blown clear, with the sea flashing far away beneath, and white seagulls -floating and screaming between them and it. - -And Baby was rosy with wind, and her hair splendid in the sun, and -little tresses wild about her face, and she bowed and gleamed and -yelled, - -"I say, Tiny! Isn't it simplee tip-up-top?" - -But Tiny only bent, and held her up against the wind into the sun, and -looked, and looked. - - -Then they came down the hill, and home across the moor by the edge of -the lake. - -And it began to be night. And the wind went down, and the moon rose -up. And the moor was black as ink, and the moon white as silver, and -the sky shining like a diamond. - -And a large great ghost-owl swooped about them on wavy wings, as they -tipped along on their toes. - -And Baby held Tiny's little finger and whispered, - -"Oh, Tiny." - -And Tiny held Baby's, and whispered, - -"Oh, Baby." - - -So they crept into the house; and up the stairs in the dark; and to bed -by a star; and a little hushaby wind rocked them to sleep. - - - -14 - -But Baby and Tiny weren't really so idle as they made out; because all -the time Baby taught Tiny. - -And she taught Tiny jolly well, although only between ten and twenty. - -And _really_ Baby was years and years older than Tiny, though _truly_ -she was years and years younger. - -And Baby began Tiny from the very beginning and taught him up, because -that is best. - -And she taught him most of the time _without words_. - -And Tiny was pretty clever when he tried, which he honestly did. And -it was wonderful how quick he picked it up. - -And really Tiny had learnt it all before from his mother in the -nursery, only he thought he'd forgotten it. But when Baby began to -teach him, it all came back quick. So that made it easy for Baby to -teach, and for Tiny to learn. - -Then Baby, when she found how well grounded Tiny had been, sat in a -white frock, with chestnut hair, and wrote to Tiny's mother a -thank-you-for-my-nice-husband letter, which you do in That Country -after the first month, if you find him satisfactory. - -And Tiny's mother was so pleased when she got the letter that she cried. - - -And Tiny's mother lived by the willow near the bridge. And when the -wind blew the willow turned white. And Tiny's mother when she lay in -bed could just see the top branches black in the moon as they stirred -to and fro. And whenever she woke she could hear the wind in the -willow tree, like the rustle of angels; and at the back of the rustle -was the groaning of ghosts under the bridge. - -But the rustle of angels went on always and always; and the groaning of -ghosts only at times. - -And that is like things as they really are: for Love goes on for ever, -but Pain only at times--just enough to remind you. - - -So Baby taught Tiny. And at last she got him so far that he even -learnt to stand on the rug, with his hands behind him, and say, - -"Sorry," when he should, which was mostly always. - -So that showed a good come on: for Tiny was like a lot more, he never -said Sorry when he could say anything else. - -But Baby was in the wrong herself sometimes. - -And when she was in the wrong, Tiny was in the right. And that pleased -Tiny; but it made Baby mad. For Baby wanted to be right all the time -always herself, and nobody else; only she couldn't, because you can't: -for that's how things aren't. - -So she went under a cloud instead; and there was no more sun for Tiny -for that time. - -Then Tiny nursed Baby to win the sun back. And when he had nursed her -till he was about dead, she forgave him for being in the right, and -took him back; and the sun came out again. - -And after that Baby sat upon him very pleasantly, while they sang the -Sorry Song they had made, which goes, - - "When you've been naughty, when you've done wrong, - When you've been sulky instead of a song, - When you've been stubbin, and think you've been strong, - Then be a good girl and say Sorry-- - - _I'll be a good girl and say Sorry._ - - "When you have said something sounds like a swear, - When you have been in a jolly old tear, - When you've behaved like a beast of a bear, - Then be a good boy and say Sorry-- - - _I'll be a good boy and say Sorry._ - - "When we are sad and yet remain dry, - When we feel sort of we wish we could die, - Perhaps we'd be better, perhaps we could cry, - If we'd only be good and say Sorry-- - - _We'll be good boy-and-girl and say Sorry."_ - - -Then Tiny hugged Baby; and Baby squealed; and the landlady ran like a -lightning pudding, and looked in. - -And when she saw, that pleased the landlady, so that she smiled. - - - -15 - -So some time went by. - -Then one evening after tea, as Tiny lay flat in a fat chair with his -legs out, and slept aloud, which he always did till bedtime, when he -woke up very spry and wanted to lecture on his favourite subject, Baby -came in with a secret smile and the great picture alphabet-book she had -given him for wedding-present under her arm. - -But directly Tiny saw the book, he held tight to the chair with his -arms, and kicked towards Baby with both feet, and screamed, - -"I won't! I won't! I won't!" - -But Baby put the book on the table, and a little straight-up thin chair -by it, and called very bright and firm, - -"Now, Tiny." - -Then Tiny pretended asleep louder than ever, and said, - -"Wharisit? wharamarrer?" - -So Baby said, - -"To work up E for promotion." - -Then Tiny whimpered through his nose, - -"Tiny don't want. Tiny tired," which was quite a lie. - -But Baby only smiled and said, - -"Tiny must. Else I won't be married to Tiny." - -So Tiny climbed out of the fat chair, and lowered himself on the thin -one, saying rather tearfully, - -"I don't care. I don't think it's fair. I take you on my honey-moon -with me, and all you do in return is to make me sit up and swank." And -he slammed the book about a bit. - -But Baby paid no heed, because it's best not, when they're like that: -for when they see you take no notice, they soon get over it. - -So she just climbed into her chair instead and ate her bread and milk, -and watched Tiny over it, working away at E straight up at the table. - -And after about a bit Baby leaned over and took the book away, and said, - -"And now try." - -[Illustration: AND TOOK THE BOOK AWAY] - -So Tiny came out of his hands, and shut his eyes, and opened his mouth, -and said very slow, - - "E was an Elephant ever so Big - Danced on a Beer-barrel jig-a-jig-jig." - - -Then Baby hammered the table with her spoon, and cried, - -"All correct. Well done, Tiny-boy. Very well said indeed, indeed." - -But Tiny asked with his eye-brows, and prayed with his hands, - -"Enough for one night, Baby?" - -So Baby went back to her bread-and-milk, and said, - -"Very well, then. Some more to-morrow, though, because of the -Commander-in-Chief." - -But Tiny answered, - -"Good time now; bad time never," which was rather a favourite saying of -his. - -And he got up from the thin chair, and fainted away in the fat one, -murmuring, - - "Tiny, sleep a lirel longer, - Till the lirel limbs are stronger, - Sleep, my lirel one, sleep, my prery one, - Sleep." - - - -16 - -And about the middle of that very night, Cooey flew in at the window, -with a writing under his wing; for the windows have to be open all the -time in That Country: for that is one of the rules; and you have to -keep the rules everywhere always just the same--else you suffer; which -is Law. - -Then Tiny sat up in bed, and read the writing by the moon; while Cooey -perched on Baby's shoulder, as she slept, and crooned to her. - -And the writing ran in a great blob hand like a baby's, - - -_Come back at once. Cowud. Leaving it all to me to do. And I never -would have believed it of u. This is one for your snuk. There is -Goliuf to pay for yet._ - -_The Hon. St Jack-Assquire._ - -_P.S.--I am getting ready a nice supprize for u and the Redgment._ - - -Then Tiny shut his eyes, and folded his hands very piously, and said a -lot of things low to himself. - -And after that he scribbled on the back of the writing, - -"Charmed, I'm shaw," and gave it Cooey, who splashed out of the window -with it. - -And when the splashing of Cooey's wings had died away, Tiny got up, and -bent over Baby as she slept and whispered in her ear, - -"Good-bye, Baby. Now I go home." - -Then Baby woke up quick, and stood up on her elbows in bed, and said, - -"Why?" - -So Tiny answered, - -"Because I have had enough for now, thank-you," for he didn't want to -frighten Baby; and he sat on the edge of the bed, and got into his sock. - -And when that was done, he took up the bag full of luggage, and the -canary by the cage, for Baby had taught him how to carry both now, and -trotted downstairs with them. - -But Baby crept up to the landlady's door on tip-toe, so as not to -disturb her--for they had grown to love the landlady, because she was -so good and fat--and shoved a note of paper under the crack. - -And on it outside was, - - With love - from - Baby and Tiny. - - -And in it inside was a sixpenny, which was a penny more than they owed -her, so that she could retire on it if she liked. - -Which she did. - - - -17 - -Then Tiny and Baby went out of doors into the dusk. - -And one moist star was stuck over the top of the hill, which looked -like a black tent against a grey sheet: for the sun was going to get up -soon. - -And on the top of the hill under the star was a little madman waving -both arms, which he always did, when he thought he saw the sun, to tell -the people time to get up. - -Only sometimes he made a mistake, and it was the moon instead. - -Then the people all went back to bed, and were cross, and gave it the -little madman when he came down from the hill at midday for his bun. - - -So Tiny and Baby walked away over the moor in the white of the dawn, -arm in arm, back to That Country. - - - - -[Illustration: Book IV headpiece] - - - - -BOOK IV.--TINY AND BABY GO HOME - - -18 - -So Tiny and Baby came back to That Country, and staid with the mothers, -one hour with each mother: for that is one of the rules. - -And when they were gone, each mother sat down all day in the table in -the window in the sun, and wrote round: four sheets to everybody, four -hundred sheets in all. - -And Baby's mother chuckled, because she was so happy; and _she_ thumped -her envelope with her fist: but Tiny's mother cried, because she loved -that best; and she smoothed hers with the flat of her hand. - - - -19 - -Then Tiny went down the Tumbledown Hill to the Town, Baby on arm. - -And the Town is an old ancient street with the Church on one side, and -the Inn on the other, and the Policeman between; and that is all: for -it is only a country town, although the capital of That Country. - -And at the back of the Inn is the market with pens inside a wall. - -And there the people come every Thursday to sell their things. - -And when Tiny and Baby got there it was market-day. - -So all the people were trying to sell their things to each other. - -Only everybody wanted to sell, and nobody to buy; which is often the -way. - -So that made it rather difficult all round. - -But when Tiny and Baby came in they stopped arguing, and began to stare -instead. - - - -20 - -And the Queen was there trying to sell a white moo-calf, because she -said she wanted the money to buy her a bonnet. - -[Illustration: THE QUEEN WAS THERE] - -So everybody came round and pinched the Queen's calf, though nobody -bought it. - -And when Tiny saw that he went and pinched it too very shrewdly, saying, - -"Ha!" and "Hum!" with his hat a bit on one side: for Tiny didn't want -to buy the Queen's calf himself, but he liked the Queen to think he did. - -And the vet was there running up and down on a string a little rough, -round pony that pattered, trying to sell it, because he said he'd -outgrown it. - -And when Baby saw how rough and round the pony was, and how it -pattered, she clapped her hands and cried, - -"Oh, the duck!" and asked the vet if she might run it up and down on -the string a bit. - -And when the vet, who was rather hot and panty, said, - -"Suttinly, Miss," she ran it up and down till she could run no longer; -and after that she went into a corner out of the crowd with the vet, -and gasped, - -"How much?" - -So the vet whispered, - -"I'll leave it to you, Miss, because it's to a good ome." - -Then Baby turned her back, and gave him some out of her sixpenny purse. - -And she christened the pony Puck, and led him away by the string. - -And a little further on the Junior Subaltern's mother was trollying a -little go-cart about with the King in his crown in it, to try to sell -it, because she said her son didn't care for it any more. - -And the King, now he'd had his ride, said, nor did he, and got down, -and, after taking off his crown very courteously, bustled off to join -in pinching the Queen's calf; which was rather depressing for the -Junior Subaltern's mother after all her trouble. - -But Baby came up with Puck, and kissed her to comfort her; and after -that she bought the little go-cart out of her penny purse, which -comforted the old lady still more. - -Then Baby harnessed Puck to the go-cart, and tied him by his string to -the wall, while she ran and got Tiny away from the Queen's calf. - -And they went round the pens together, and chose out some things, and -some servants. - -And there were about four things, and three servants. - -And one servant said her name was Phyllis; and she was plump and brisk: -but the Others didn't seem to know what their names were; and they were -dressy and draggly. - -And really the Others didn't belong to That Country, but had got in by -mistake from Abroad, one Bank Holiday. - -And Baby only took them because they wanted a home: for you mayn't -sleep out in That Country except in the summer, when you mayn't sleep -in. - -And people only have one servant in That Country, except at the Castle, -where they have none: for there the Queen does it all. - -Then they shoved the things under the seat of the little cart; and Tiny -and Baby got up; and Baby cracked the whip; and Tiny tugged the reins; -and Puck started off for Cosy Cottage at a run-away patter; while -Phyllis walked and the Others trailed behind. - - -And when they got to the Common everything was exactly as they had left -it, with Methuselah just nodding off to sleep under the thorn; and by -the yew the Colonel standing with his shako off, and little Marwy on a -string, visiting her mother's grave. - -For it was about evening by now. - -And they could see the Fort on the Hill in the sunset, and some of the -Fellows playing pranky on the wall: while the Junior Subaltern was -hiding behind a buttress, gulping the sponge-cake they swab out the -great cannon with. - -And the rooks were cawing home in the dusk; and the starlings whirred -and chirred among the gorse; and old Goly rolled down the Hill from the -Fort with the letters, the Boy holding on to his tail, because he said -he would do brake. - - -And as they came to Cosy Cottage, the stars came out and shone, and the -sparrows chattered as they went to bed in the creepers. - -And when Baby saw that she trembled and whispered, - -"I say, Tiny!" because she loved it so. - - -But round the corner the Commander-in-Chief waited at the Castle-window. - -And when he saw them drive up he smiled. - - - -21 - -Then as they got down, all of a sudden a merry little voice from the -boot-hole began to sing, - - "I'm Master Mischeevous, - My conduct's so grievous, - They've bottled me tight - In a hole--O! - But I laugh--ha! ha! ha! - And I sing--tra-la-la! - For they never can bottle - My soul--O!" - - -Then Baby clutched Tiny's arm, and whispered, - -"Who?" - -But Tiny only put his finger to his lips, and led round to the back on -his toes. And there he unlocked the door of the boot-hole, and -whispered, - -"Look." - -So Baby peeped round Tiny's shoulder. - -And there was a dear little brown mannikin, only so high, with a winky -way with him, who scuttled about on bandy legs, and nibbled a nut. - -Then Baby whispered, - -"Why?" - -So Tiny answered, - -"By order of the King." - -And he told Baby how the mannikin really belonged to the King, who had -taken him away from home, to try to make a better mannikin of him, for -really he was so very naughty; and the King has to be very strict, -although he is so good and kind. - -And the King lent him Tiny (by the secret advice of the -Commander-in-Chief) to spit on his boots for him. And in return Tiny -was to keep him good and tight in the boot-hole, only when he let him -out for a little run in the back-yard at dark; which he did now. - -And after he had done him up again, he went and hung the key on the -nail in the kitchen, where it lived. - - -Then Baby and Phyllis went down on their knees in the parlour and undid -the things. - -And after they had undone them, they arranged them round the wall in a -row, while Tiny sat in an easy chair, and made remarks, which was the -best he could do. - -So after about a bit Baby said, - -"Now _you_ do some," and she plumped down. - -Then Tiny stood on a chair in the parlour, and put his thumb against -the wall, and hammered it; while Phyllis stood below with the picture; -and Baby said from the easy chair, - -"That's capital." - -Only it didn't take Tiny quite that way: for he got off the chair and -walked about the room with his knees up, and corked his mouth with his -thumb, and so on etc. - -Only when he saw Baby took no notice, he soon got over it; which is -often the way. - - -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. - -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. - -Then Tiny went sulky-shy and pulled away. - -And when Baby saw that she left it, and went back to the window to -watch a little figure creeping across the Common towards the Cottage. - -But directly her back was turned, Tiny bent and looked at himself some -more in the shiny tea-thing; and that pleased Tiny, so that he smiled. -And the more he looked the more he was pleased. And the more he was -pleased the more he smiled. And the more he smiled the more he thought -how _very_ jolly, and _what_ teeth! - -Then Baby turned. And when she saw Tiny staring she went up and down -and roared, and said, - -"O my dear boy!" - -But Tiny turned his back on the tea-thing; and he was cross, because he -was found-out. - -Then he thought of a little lie, and cheered up, and told it; and it -was, - -"I was looking at the crest." - -But Baby said, - -"The crest is the other side, Tiny," which was rather depressing for -Tiny after all his trouble. - -So he went crosser than ever, because he was found-out twice now. - -And he took off the bit of plaister that he had allowed Baby to put on -his thumb last night, and threw it down, and trod on it, to show he -would be master in his own house. - -But Baby teased some more and said, - -"Poor Tiny then! it was a shame, it was! He shall worship himself, he -shall." And she said that because Tiny had told a little lie, and she -was teaching him. And Baby didn't often teach by tease, for she didn't -believe in it; but she did this time because Tiny had lied a little. - -So Tiny nibbled his nails, because he knew that would annoy Baby; but -he said nothing, because there was nothing to say. - -Then Baby went back to the window, and said inside, - -"Poor old Tiny! If I was Tiny and like so," which was very tall and -little curls all over, "I know I'd be the very same only worse." Only -Baby really was much nicer herself; only she didn't think so much about -it, because of a girl and too sensible; and Tiny thought about nothing -much else, because of a man and so silly. But Baby taught him so that -he began to have time to think little bits about other things too; so -that less time went before the glass; only it was rather hard for Tiny -at first. - -And when Baby remembered that, she went up to Tiny, and patted his -shoulder, and said, - -"There, old boy!" - -But Tiny went back at her with both elbows to show he wouldn't be good. - -And it was very wrong indeed of Tiny; and he knew that quite well. And -the more he knew it the more ashamed he was. And the more ashamed he -was the more he wouldn't own up. And the more he wouldn't the more he -wanted to. So it went in a sort of circle, as it always does. - -And it was like trying to climb a hill by running down it. And really -a better way is to stick in your heels, and come up jerk, and turn, and -plod. - -Then Baby rang the bell to change the subject. - - - -25 - -And when the bell went Phyllis collected the Others, and stood them by -the door, while she ran to get mannikin out of the boot-hole: for he -might come too if he liked. - -But she found the key wasn't on the nail. So she ran to the Others in -rather a state, and asked them, - -Then one of the Others fussed about in her pocket, and found it, saying, - -"Well I never!--Now however did it get there?" - -So Phyllis answered, pretty sharp, - -"It got there because you put it there," and she ran off with the key. - -But the Others stayed behind, and agreed secretly to dislike Phyllis. - -[Illustration: BUT THE OTHERS AGREED TO DISLIKE PHYLLIS] - -Then Phyllis came to the boot-hole, and unlocked it. - -And the boot-hole was a dear little place, very dark and dewy, with -bricks for the floor, and a glass-hole at the top with wire over it, so -he couldn't get out that way. - -And it was furnished all round the walls with blacking bottles, and -across the middle with a knife-board done up in red powder by the -King's command, to make it comfie for him. - -Then Phyllis tried to collect mannikin; only he wouldn't be collected. - -So Phyllis said, - -"Why?" - -But mannikin only sat on his hands on the knife-board, with his back -very round, and said, - -"Becob I won't," which wasn't a bit like mannikin, for though he was so -mischievous, he was very merry too mostly always. - -Then Phyllis answered quite kindly, - -"Then don't, my dear. I only thought it would make a little run for -you." - -But mannikin only said quite snappy, - -"Goodness sake, go 'way." - -So she went; locking the door behind her, to keep him good and tight. - - -And the real truth was that about a minute back the Commander-in-Chief -had crept into the back-yard in his slippers, and whispered mannikin -through the crack to tell him where the key was, and he would let him -out to escape. For the Commander-in-Chief knew that would get Tiny -into an awful row with the King. - -So mannikin got in a fearful state, and ran up and down the door, and -told the Commander-in-Chief about the key on the nail in the kitchen, -and to get it _quick_! goodness sake _quick_! - -Then the Commander-in-Chief crept to the back-door, disguised as a -milk-man, and peeped into the kitchen. And he found the nail, but no -key on it: for the key was in the pocket of one of the Others all the -time--and a good job, too. - -So when the Commander-in-Chief saw he was disappointed of spiting Tiny -that way, he ran back to the crack, and spat, and swore most terribly, -while poor little mannikin cuddled away in the corner out of range. - -And the Commander-in-Chief said he must report mannikin to the King for -trying to escape, because it was his duty: for the Commander-in-Chief -is head of the Policeman as well as of the Army in That Country. - -And he went on about how he would never have believed it, _never_; and -how disappointed he was; and how he had hoped, and so on, etc. - -And now, he said, however much it pained him, he must tell the King -that mannikin only grew worse and worse, and make His Majesty promise -to keep him tight in the boot-hole all his life for ever. - -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. - -So Tiny stood outside the door and wished he hadn't. And that is what -Adam spent his time doing outside the Gates of Eden. And it is what -most of us spend a lot of time doing when it's too late. And it very -often isn't till you stand outside and wish you hadn't, that you know -how jolly it was inside, before you had. - -Then Tiny turned away down the steps no more joggle now; and he was so -sorry he blew his nose. - -And Baby heard his nose go from her room above, and she knew, and -thought, - -"You dear old goose, you!" which was a very favourite thought of -Baby's, and like Baby to think it just then. - -And she tipped on her toes in the middle of the room, and saw Tiny -going through the gate blowing his nose to take the water out of his -eyes. And when she saw that, she waved to him, only he couldn't see -her, and she didn't want him to, for after all she was teaching Tiny, -and he had been about as bad as a man can be, which is pretty bad. - -Then Baby picked up her skirts, and did some steps before the -looking-glass. - -And she looked pretty tip-top; only there was nobody to see her only -herself. - -So she swung round, and stopped before the glass, and bobbed to -herself, and said, - -"You're pretty jolly, Miss." - -Then she remembered Tiny and the tea-thing, and she roared, and said, - -"You're far worse than Tiny, my dear girl!" And she gave a twirl and a -skip and kicked her hand with her foot; and was as free and happy as a -lark because she knew she had won. - -And Baby always won over Tiny, because she always won over herself. -And if you can't win over yourself, you can't expect to win over other -people. - -And a woman can always win over a man, so long as the man is decently -good, and so long as she goes by the Big Rule. For the Big Rule is the -same in That Country as in all others. - -And the Big Rule is, - -_Love is Power._ - - - -27 - -Then Tiny walked across the Common. - -And the road gleamed before him in the sun, so that it was like walking -on a silver river; for the frost was oozing out of the ground, though -all under the gorse-bushes was white still. And the ivy on the beeches -in the Wood at the foot of the Fort-hill shone till it dazzled, while -the beeches themselves were a cloud of purple. - -And when Tiny got into the shadow of the Wood the road was hard again, -and rang to his feet; and all the little pools were feathered over with -ice; and a chaffinch sat on a bare bough, and pinked. - -And all that was lovely. Only Tiny didn't see any of it: for he was so -sad inside that everything was dark to him. - -But when he had gone by, the Commander-in-Chief, who had been hiding -behind a beech-trunk, came out, and stood in the road, with his hands -on his knees, and laughed _most_ horridly. - - - - -[Illustration: Book VI headpiece] - - - - -BOOK VI.--THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAYS FOR GOLIATH - - -28 - -Then Tiny climbed up the Hill to the Fort. - -And there the Fellows were taking down the wire netting, which they -always put round the wall at dark, in case They should come on by -night: for They were like a lot more, They were always supposed to be -going to do a heap of things They never did. - -Then Tiny shook hands with the brown Captain, and kicked the yellow -one, and crawled through the wall by the cannon-hole, and out on to the -barrack-square. - -And the barrack-square was a sort of blank desert with cubicles all -round; and the Junior Subaltern was making up the beds inside, which -was always his little job: for the Junior Subaltern has to do all the -things that nobody else will do in that Regiment. - -But directly he saw Tiny, he shut up work, and came across the square, -very silly and sheepish. - -And the Junior Subaltern walked with his toes rather turned in. And -his knickers were patched, and his stockings darned: for his mother was -a very careful woman. And his collar had slipped up the back of his -neck, so that there was a great gap: for his back-button was off, as -usual, although they always put him under arrest for it whenever they -remembered. But what the Junior Subaltern always said was, - -"It's mother--not me." - - -Then when he got quite close to Tiny, he looked at his toes, and said -in a very little whisper, - -"Truly sorry, Tiny." - -Then Tiny frowned and answered, - -"I should just think you were. Certainly you ought to be. And now -tell me, what is it you are sorry for?" - -So the Junior Subaltern twiddled his toes over each other, and answered -very low, - -"For you know." - -Then Tiny said very sternly, - -"Yes, I know--only I've forgotten." - -So the Junior Subaltern whispered, - -"At your wedding." - -Then Tiny remembered about the drop of lime-juice off a feather in the -porch. And he wagged his head very sorrowfully and said, - -"O dear! O dear! O dear!" And he walked up and down for a long long -time, with his hands behind him, and his chin on his chest, groaning, -and so on etc. - -Then at last he stopped, and rolled one eye at the Junior Subaltern, -and said, - -"I forgive you on condition I may lecture you for as long as I like. -D'you agree?" - -So the Junior Subaltern answered, - -"I should like to think it over first, please," for he knew what a -lecture from Tiny meant. - -So he turned his back, and dug at a weed with his toe, while he thought -it over. - -Then after about a bit he muttered pretty tearfully, - -"Well, I agree, because there's no other way. Only goodness sake get -it over quick." - -Then Tiny took him tight by the arm, and walked him up and down, and up -and down, and gave him the longest lecture that ever was all about -nothing, and simplee loved it. - -And the Junior Subaltern blew his nose upside down without a -handkerchief, which you do when you want the tears to go inside and not -out, and said every quarter of an hour, - -"I say! isn't that bout enough?" - -But Tiny only answered, - -"No, thank-you," and went on. - -So the Junior Subaltern said rather sulkily, - -"Well, it's a good long go anyway." - -Then when Tiny really could not think of any more, he made the Junior -Subaltern learn by heart the Sorry Song he and Baby had written in -Moonland; and after that he made him stand on the Fort-wall and sing -it; which he did--not very nicely. - -And when that was finished, Tiny said, - -"That'll do for the present, thank-you." - -So the Junior Subaltern scrambled off the wall, saying to himself out -loud, - -"Jolly good job too," and ran off to find the Boy. - - - -29 - -So Tiny came to the whitewash shed, where the Fellows were now, eating -more and complaining louder than ever. - -Then when Tiny had counted them, he said, - -"But where's the Colonel?" - -So the brown Captain answered, - -"In bed--bad with shock." - -And all the Fellows said in a sort of a chorus, - -"Bed--bad with shock." - -And some said it was one thing; and some said it was another; and a -good lot said it was neither. But they all agreed that Cooey had come -from the Castle in the dawn with a writing, and had fluttered up to the -Colonel, who was helping the Boy soap Goliath; and that after reading -the writing the Colonel had taken to his bed without a word. - -Then Tiny, who loved the Colonel, because he was so red and round and -thought nice of everybody, ran up the ladder to the loft: for the -Colonel always lives above the shed in that Army to be handy. - -And when Tiny had undone the trap-door, and peeped through, there lay -the dear old Colonel in bed in the dark corner under the cobweb, quite -quite bald. - -And his knees were cocked up, and his arms round them, and his little -nose laid on his knees skew-wise. - -And he was saying to himself in a weak voice, - -"I am the Colonel. I love evewybody, and evewybody loves me. And -evewything's always as nice as nice can be in our dear Countwy. Only -I've had a bit of a shock--that's all." - -Then Tiny climbed out on to the floor, and came towards the corner on -his toes. - -And when the Colonel saw him coming, he let his knees down, and went -back on the pillow, and said rather faintly, - -"Ah, my dear dear boy!--how are you?--how's Baby?" for next to animals, -the Colonel loved Baby best in all the world. - -Then Tiny shook hands and said, - -"I'm awfully sorry to hear of this, Sir." And he pulled a truss of -straw up to the bed and sat on it, and said very gently, - -"Would you care for me to tell you about me and Baby and Moonland, -Sir?--and the landlady, and the lake, and the fish there was supposed -to be there, and that?" - -For Tiny began to understand a little about illness now: for Baby -taught him. Only he thought he understood a lot more than he did, -which was rather a favourite thing of Tiny's. - -But the Colonel shut his eyes, and said, "Thank-you, my dear boy, -thank-you. Some day I want to hear _all_ about it--not just now -though. Twuth is I've had wather a shock. So've you, my poor boy. -So've we all. Only p'w'aps it's worse for you and my little Marwy than -for the others." - -And he opened his eyes a bit, and said, "Have you got into Cosy Cottage -yet, you and Baby?" - -So Tiny cheered up and answered, "Yes, Sir. We settled in last night, -as jolly as can be. Baby sings all the time she's so happy." - -Then the Colonel nodded to and fro, murmuring, - -"Ah, my poor boy! my poor Baby!--bad, bad, bad." - -Then he wiped his eyes, and picked up a blue writing that was lying on -the bed, and handed it Tiny, saying, - -"It's all in there, my poor boy--all in there. Wead it yourself. I -wouldn't have it otherwise for the world. Still it's wather a -shock--that's all: especially for you and my little Marwy." - -Then Tiny took the writing to the dusty sunbeam that lit the loft -through a crack in the thatch. - -And the writing was in a great blob hand that Tiny knew well; and it -went, - - -_Move to-day, u and the Redgement, and any more u like, to another Fort -if u can find one. Why? Because I order you--I am_ - - The Right Honorary St Jack-Assquire, - Own blud brudder to George, - Commander-in-Chief at the Castle now, - And hope to be Royal King one day. - -_P.S.--I send u a midjut of me in my khaki with what Willie give me on -my right turn. I send it u free, because to show I've got no grudge -against u.... Shew it round. It shud encurudge recruutin. Send me -some reports on this soon as u know._ - - -Then as Tiny read it through for the second time, the Colonel said from -the bed, - -"Wather wude--ain't it'?" And he sniffed a bit. "But there! dear old -St Jacky! I can't help loving the chap--he is so very stwaight." - -All the same his mouth began to go, and he went on rather gaspy, - -"I don't mind for myself. It's my little Marwy. Her mother's buried -here. I think it will bweak her h-h-heart." And one tear went. "And -it means a move for you too, poor fellow. Cosy Cottage goes with the -Fort, you know." - -And he dabbed and went on, - -"I wonder what it all means." - -Then Tiny, who was rather white, answered, - -"It means spite, Sir," and he told the Colonel about the -Commander-in-Chief's great ambition, and his attempt on Goliath by -night, and his toe, and so on etc.: for they had not told the Colonel -before, because they always kept from him anything that would give him -pain. - -And when he heard that, he said, - -"I'm disappointed in St Jack--vewy disappointed. I thought he was a -gweat man," for he always took everybody at their own opinion of -themselves, which was very sweet and simple of him. - -But Tiny tore the writing into little bits, and put them on the fire; -so that it was like hell for the bits. - -And he said to himself out loud, - -"Debbel-debbel-damb-damb," which he knew quite well he shouldn't. - -Then he ran across the floor pitter-pat; and down the ladder to the -bottom, bump; and across the square patter-pit; screaming, - -"I don't care! I will say!--Debbel-debbel-damb-damb." - - - -30 - -So Tiny ran out of the Fort to tell Baby they must move out of Cosy -Cottage at once, quickly this minute. - -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, - -"So of course I asked him in, and showed him over, and all my -improvements and that. And he rubbed his hands and chuckled, and said -how cosy and comfie, and hoped I should live to enjoy it as long as I -liked. And after that he asked how mannikin was getting on, and if he -might see him, and said that was really why he came, and the reason of -his disguise. So I took him myself. And he gave him quite a nice -little talking to on being good and not spiteful and that; and said if -he didn't try to escape perhaps the King would let him out some day. -But mannikin behaved shockingly and cuddled away in the corner, -nibbling his nut, and giggled till I was really quite ashamed." - -And when Baby remembered that, and the Commander-in-Chief standing in -the door of the boot-hole in his parson's clothes and cocked hat -talking pi, she laughed like anything. - -But Tiny just said nothing. - -So Baby babbled on, - -"And after that he shook hands, and said he could feel happy about me -now--Wasn't it nice of him? And he took off his cocked hat, and went -down the road, whistling. So you see he's quite a reformed character." -And she laid her hand on Tiny's arm, and twinkled up at him, and said -slowly, - -"I--almost--wish----" - -Then she looked in her pocket, and cried, - -"But O! I forgot. I was to give this writing to Captain Tiny with his -_dear_ love. So you see, Tiny, he can forgive." - -But Tiny said nothing, and took the writing. - -And it was in pencil on some greasy paper that had folded a dead fish: -for St Jack was good at insults if he was good at nothing else. - -And the writing ran, - -_I paid u one for your snuk. This pays u for your share in Goliuf. -And I will pay u one more yet because I love u so._ - -_How?_ - -_Ha!_ - -_SAINT JACK._ - -_P.S.--I have got orders from the King to burn down Cosy Cottage before -night, because I told him it had been lived in by swines, who had had -swine-fever. So clear out at once or sooner._ - - - -31 - -Then Tiny wound round Baby, and walked her up and down in the road -under the yew-hedge, where nobody could see, only Methuselah, who -didn't matter, and told her all about it very tenderly. - -And when Baby heard that, she went quite pale, and leaned on Tiny, so -that he wound round very tight indeed. - -But all she said was, - -"Pooh! move to another Fort!--what's it matter?--means a change of -house--that's all." - -Only when she got back to the garden, and saw her little home so cosy -under creepers, and the two windows in front so neat and nice, with -tiny white curtains with waists that she'd put up herself that morning, -and the one behind, with nothing yet, but soon would have, and -everybody so busy and happy and good, she did blink a bit. - -And when Tiny saw that, he said in her ear, - -"You poor old duck, you!" - -But Baby just hopped and cried, - -"Pah!--I hate this little dog-hole. Not enough room to swing a cat in. -Thankful to be shut of it." - -All the same she let go Tiny's arm and ran quickly. And when she got -into her dear little parlour that she'd arranged so cosy and stuffy and -huggy-warm and tight up to the top with things, and Tiny's big chair -one side the hearth where he was to have learned up E in the evenings, -and her little one on the other side where she was to have heard him -say it, she locked the door and sat down and began. - -Then Tiny came up outside. - -And when he heard what was going on inside, he tried hard to get in. - -But Baby wouldn't let him. - -So Tiny whispered with his mouth, close to the crack, - -"O, Baby, d'you forgive for this morning?" - -Then Baby came to the door, and undid a bit, and shoved her little -finger through. - -So Tiny took it, and said, all sobby, - -"Best and booflest!--Gobbless. Gobbless. Gobbless. Amen. Amen. -Amen. No more now. See you again some day. Bye. Goobye." - -And he ran out. - - - -32 - -Then as the clock struck twelve the Colonel marched out of the Fort, -with little Marwy, the regimental baa-lamb, on a string, and his sword -drawn, saying, - -"Left-right! left-right!" - -And behind him came the Fellows saying in a sort of chorus, - -"Left-right! left-right!" - -And behind the Fellows came old Goly and the Boy, drawing the great -cannon: which was really what Goly was for, only they used him for -rides instead. - - -And as they passed the Wood, the Commander-in-Chief sat on a gate, with -his cocked hat on the back of his head and said to himself out loud, - -"And if they don't find a Fort then that proves they're no soldiers. -So out of the Country they go for shams. And if they do, then I come -and plough the lot in E. So guess I've got um either way." - -And he threw his legs about and laughed. - -But the Colonel walked on without a word: for he was grieved about the -Commander-in-Chief. - -Then Tiny came by. - -And when the Commander-in-Chief saw him, he pointed his finger, and -laughed till he had to wipe his eyes, rocking to and fro, and crying, - -"O dear! O dear! O dear!--Souse me, won't you?--It does make me laff -so--you and Baby all settled in so cosy and comfie in your little home, -and now turned out, and got to find a new house before night or leave -the Country. E! E! E! Master Tiny! E! E! E!" - -But Tiny marched on quite brave and steady: for he was true to Baby, -and what she had taught him; which was Love. - -Then St Jack laughed so that at last he toppled off the gate backwards -on to his cocked hat, and bashed it. - -But he pulled himself together, and scrambled on his knees, and pelted -stones at Goliath's back-view, which he couldn't help hitting, and -yelled, - -"Fat beast! I'll have my ride yet, you'll see." - -But Goly did nothing, only went with a whisky tail: for old Goly knew -about discipline. Only he stored it up in his memory for the future -all the same. - - -Then the Regiment marched on across the Common, only stopping to pat -Methuselah under the thorn for the last time. - -[Illustration: THEN THE REGIMENT MARCHED ON] - -But as they were passing by the old yew, little Marwy baaed, and tugged -away towards her mother's grave; where the clover grew. - -Then the Colonel stooped, swallowing his throat. And he picked her up -in his arms, and marched on without a word. - -And they went down a rutty lane that seemed to have no turning, until -by good luck they came to a Fort in a Hole at the bottom. - - -And when the Colonel saw that, he said, - -"What about in here?" for he knew it didn't matter where they went, so -long as they went somewhere. For the Commander-in-Chief was like a lot -more, he had only one idea, which was to give trouble. - -So the Colonel walked across the drawbridge with little Marwy in his -arms, and banged with his sword-hilt. - -And when nobody came, he peeped in. - -And it was all empty inside, only for a lot of weeds, and an old -speckled seagull with a dagger-beak, limping up and down the -barrack-square. - -And when the Colonel saw the gull, his eyes shone, and he said, - -"This'll do. Come on," and he put down little Marwy, and trotted in; -and the Fellows followed with Goliath and the great cannon rumbling -over the draw-bridge behind. - -Then the Fellows set the cannon up with its nose over the wall; for it -was a low wall; and the Fort was in a Hole. So when they fired the -cannon off to see if it was all all right, the ball only hit the -mud-bank that ran round, and bounded back and took the yellow one's -wind rather; which cheered Tiny up a bit. - -But, as the big brown captain said, when he saw the cannon wouldn't -shoot over the bank, it didn't really matter much: for it was the noise -that kept Them down, supposing They were there. - -And while the Fellows rubbed the yellow one, the Colonel ran and made -friends with the gull. - -But Tiny went apart, and wrote a writing on his cuff, and sent it by -Cooey to Baby. - -And the writing ran, - -_Found a Fort in a Hole come quicks-you-can by Puck and get a house -near by to put things in.--TINY._ - - - -33 - -And when Baby got the writing, she led out Puck from the shed, and put -him in the little cart, while Phyllis held the shafts, and mannikin -screamed a lot of orders through the crack of the boot-hole: for -mannikin was like Tiny, and wanted everybody to think he was horsey. - -But Baby and Phyllis paid no heed, and just did up the band instead, -while Puck tried to bite them, which was a very favourite thing of -Puck's. - -Then they put the things under the seat, and Baby got in, with mannikin -and the Junior Subaltern on the back-seat: for the Colonel had left the -Junior Subaltern behind to sweep up; which was always his little job. - -Then Baby took the reins, and tugged, and Puck went off at a run-away -patter; while Phyllis walked, and the Others trailed behind on high -heels. - - -And it was Winter by now. And Baby always said she liked Winter best, -for the same reason as Autumn. - -And the roads were good with frost; and Puck's feet rang as he -pattered; and the robins sat about and sang; and there were red berries -on the holly, and apples to chew, so Baby chewed them as she drove. - -Only there were no houses near the Hole to be found, which made it -rather difficult for Baby to find one. But Baby wouldn't be beat, -because she didn't believe in it. - -So she drove round and round the rim of the Hole all day looking. - -And when ever they came to the corner of the road there was the -Commander-in-Chief sitting on a mud-heap, reading up out of a great -book. - -And each time they came round he jumped up, and took off his cocked hat -very courteously, saying, - -"And have you found a house yet, Mrs. Tiny?" - -And each time Baby smiled back and answered, - -"Almost nearly quite, thank-you." - -Then the Commander-in-Chief cooed, - -"_So_ glad," and went back to his book with a little snigger. - -But Baby flicked up Puck and drove on. - - -Then towards evening she came to a white house with windows under an -elm with rooks. - -And when Baby heard the rooks, one tear went, for it made her think of -her home in the Hall several miles off. - -And when the Junior Subaltern saw Baby's tear go, his tear went too: -for his heart was pretty juicy still. - -So Baby pulled up Puck, while mannikin ran to his head to show he knew -all about it. - -Then Baby looked over the gate, and said, rather trembly, - -"Why not this?" - -So the Junior Subaltern glanced over his shoulder, and whispered, - -"Cause you can't," and pointed to a great notice-board in the garden -that said in huge letters, - -GO AWAY. - - -But Baby cheered up and cocked her nose, and said to show him, - -"Can't I, Boy? Can," and she whipped up Puck, and nearly ran over -mannikin, and went up the drive under the elms in the dusk. - -But the Junior Subaltern did what the notice-board told him, and jumped -off, and ran away down to the Fort in the Hole, as hard as his little -legs would carry him. - -And there they spanked him for being out after dark. - - -But Baby drew up at the white house, and ran up the steps, and peeped -into the drawing-room, where tea was, and smiled in, and said, - -"May we have your house, please, Tiny and me?" - -Then the old lady put down the teapot, and said very graciously, - -"Why should you, my dear?" - -So Baby thought for a long time with her nose in the door, and said at -last, - -"Only because I like its looks." - -Then the old lady, who was a very beautiful character, and great on -giving up things, said very smilingly, - -"Then there's no more to be said." - -And she got up and said to her daughter, - -"Come, my dear." - -So they went out, while Baby held the door for them. - -And when they got outside they remembered they were relations of the -King's. So they tramped across to the Castle, and stayed there. - - - -34 - -And when they were quite gone, Baby went in, and bagged a postage-stamp -out of their box, and wrote on the back of it in large great letters, - - LET - by - BABY, - -and stuck it in the window to show everybody: for when Baby had done a -thing, she liked everybody to know about it. - -Then she tore out to Phyllis and the Others who were coming up the -drive, crying, - -"O don't I manage well!" for Baby really thought there was nobody in -the whole world managed like she did. - -Only when she got outside she saw the Commander-in-Chief sitting on the -lawn in the moon, reading up out of the great book. - -So she steadied herself and walked across to him. - -But the Commander-in-Chief stayed deep in his book, and waved away with -his hand, saying in a squeaky voice, - -"'Scuse me, won't you!--Truth is I have to examine pore Captain Tiny -and the others in E about to-morrow. Only hope they'll pass--that's -all; because if they don't they'll have to leave the country." - -But Baby stood before him in the moon and said, very grave and sad, - -"You haven't been very loving, have you, Jacky?" - -Then the Commander-in-Chief read on all the harder. - -But Baby said, very low and quiet, - -"Have you, Jacky?" - -Then the Commander-in-Chief shut the book snap, and got up quick, and -walked away with his shoulders rather high. - - - - -[Illustration: Book VII headpiece] - - - - -BOOK VII.--GOLIATH PAYS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF - - -35 - -So they moved into the white house. - -And it was in a garden with a grass-walk. - -And there was a lawn under an elm with rooks, and a drive. - -And at the bottom of the drive was a cottage among currant-bushes. And -there a little old woman lived behind a lattice and crooned all day, - - "Little Old - Lollypop - Lived in a - Stuffy Shop, - Watching the - Crickets Hop-pop, - Hop-pop." - - -So Baby loved it all better even than Cosy Cottage. - -And when, she and Phyllis had arranged the things round the wall, she -sat down and wrote to the Commander-in-Chief, - -_DEAR JACKY,--Will you come and have tea with me? Your loving,--BABY,_ - -to show she forgave him quite and quite. - -But St Jack wrote back, very short and simple, - -_No. I wun't,_ - -to show he wouldn't be forgiven: for he was a very straight little -fellow when it suited him. - -And St Jack wouldn't go, for he knew very well that if he did he would -repent, because of Baby; and he preferred bad. - -And besides he was kept on duty all day at the Castle just now, handing -tea-cakes to the visitors, which he was rather good at; for St Jack's -manners, when he liked, were very remarkable. - - -So That Country had peace and quiet for some time: for the visitors -settled to stay at the Castle perhaps for ever, because of the -tea-cakes. - - - -36 - -Then St Valentine's Day came with the crocuses. - -And on that day all the birds are married in That Country. - -And after that the blackbirds join with the thrushes, and sing in the -bare trees very rich and jolly: for the blackbirds mayn't sing till -they're married, because that is one of the rules; but when they do -begin they sing more songs and sing them better than the thrushes, -which shout and whistle more. - -And when the blackbirds begin the robins rather leave off: for the -robins are like a lot more, they want to have it all to themselves all -the time; only they just can't. - -So they sulk instead. - - -Then Spring came, and jolly began. And Baby always said she liked -Spring best, because of as before. - -And the sky became a song, and the earth a garden. And the robins went -into the woods; and the swallows came out of the ponds; and the larks -ran up the sky; and everybody was glad. - -And the sap rose everywhere, and rather got into mannikin's head; and -he became so dreadfully excited that at last Baby took Tiny down to see -him, because she was afraid his poor little brain was going. - -So they came to the hole, and looked in. - -And there was mannikin standing on the knife-board, and plugging the -blacking-bottles on to the bricks. - -And when Tiny said - -"Why?" - -Mannikin sucked his thumb and answered, - -"Becob I like to see the ink splosh so." - -Then Tiny, who loved lecturing better than anything else in the world, -took the blacking-bottles away from him, and told him he was only -making it worse for himself, and the badder he behaved the longer he'd -be there, and how the King was very strict, although he was so good and -kind. - -But Mannikin didn't seem to mind, and strutted up and down the -boot-hole, with his hands in his pockets, singing, - - "I'm the cock of the boot-hole! - I'm the cock of the boot-hole! - See me! - See me! - I'm the cock of the boot-hole!" - - - -37 - -And after that May and June came. - -And there were tad-poles in the ponds, and lilacs with purple plumes, -and chestnuts with white ones, and cuckoos calling and little -flop-birds that tried to fly, and tumbled on the lawn instead. And -everything was jolly all around. - -And Tiny played cricket in the Fort in the Hole, while Baby sat on the -wall with the Fellows, and watched him, and afterwards wrote round, - - -_Tiny played four balls, and hit one. The next bowled him, and the -Junior Subaltern umpired him out. So that wasn't so bad--for us, was -it!_ - - -And every day when the Regiment went out to War, after the first -pellet, the Colonel fell out, because he said he'd be a casualty now, -and let the other Fellows have a go, which Tiny always took to mean him. - -And the Colonel ran away bent up double behind the wild cherry-hedge -till he came where Baby was waiting him under the laburnum at the -little gate into her garden. - -And when she had let him in, they ran hand in hand to the elm, where -there was a great bowl of milk and a cabbage-leaf of strawberries ready. - -Then the dear old Colonel took off his shako, and was quite quite bald. -And he sat on a little stool among the elm-roots, and drank the milk, -and ate the strawberries, while Baby leaned up against the elm with her -feet straight before her, and read him a story of a naughty -pussy-kitten out of a great picture-book. - -And that pleased the Colonel so that he lifted himself on his hands and -swung to and fro, chuckling. - - -And after that Baby had a grey kitten of her own, which the Colonel -gave her; and she played with it all the time. - -And every day she took the kitten on her shoulder, and went down the -drive under the trees in the dappled sunshine to meet Tiny when he came -home from the Fort, which he usually did about an hour after he'd -started for it. For work tired Tiny very easily so that he had to be -careful not to overdo it. - -And Baby and Tiny walked home arm in arm, when they thought nobody was -looking, though everybody was, especially mannikin behind the bars of -the boot-hole at one end of the drive, and little old Lollypop through -the lattice at the other end. - -And Baby hugged Tiny's arm, and Tiny hugged Baby's. And Tiny looked -down, and Baby looked up. - -And Baby said, - -"Now me!" and hopped. - -And Tiny said, - -"Now me!" and skipped. - -Then both said, - -"Now bofe!" and jumped. - -And Baby smiled, and Tiny grinned, and neither spoke. And sometimes -tears came because of nobody knew why, and sometimes roars because of -so jolly. And half the time they were so wise you wouldn't believe, -and half the time so silly you can't think, and whole the time so happy -I couldn't tell you. - - - -38 - -But with Summer coming, the Commander-in-Chief began to stir again. - -For the Queen at the Castle came with her hands on her hips and said -she could do no more tea-cakes just now, and they must ave mustard and -cress instead. - -[Illustration: SHE COULD DO NO MORE TEA CAKES] - -Then the King cocked his crown, and asked if he might be so good as to -inquire her reasons. - -So the Queen mopped and answered, - -"Because of too warm." - -But the old lady, when she heard that, got up, and said to her daughter -rather bitterly, for too many tea-cakes had soured her nature, - -"_Then_ I think it's time for us to be going." And they went out with -their heads very high, and camped on the Common instead; which you may -as soon as the grass is dry. - -But the King was really rather glad: for he was a bit bored. - -And the Commander-in-Chief was glad too; for he was free to do his bad -best once more. - - -And that very afternoon, as the Colonel and Tiny were taking their -daily ride on Goliath--the Colonel with the sea-gull in his arms to -give it a swim in the Pond,--the Commander-in-Chief, disguised as a -nigger-boy, leaped out of the Wood, and tried to storm Goly by the tail. - -But Goly just turned his trunk, and gave the Commander-in-Chief a good -old clout instead, which sent him sprawling. - -Then the Colonel, who was sitting towards the head, said, - -"What is it?" - -So Tiny, who was sitting towards the tail, answered, very loud, - -"Only a dirty little black boy, Sir, whom Goly spanked for tweaking his -tail." But Tiny really knew quite well, because the -Commander-in-Chief's hump stuck up in the air, as he lay flat-face in -the mud. - -And when the Commander-in-Chief heard what Tiny said, tie raised his -face, with his nose all muddy, and screamed, - -"I'll tell the King! I'll tell the King! I'll tell the King!" and he -buried his face in the road again, and simplee kicked. - -But Tiny just cried back anyhow, - -"Dummind if you do," for he knew he was all right: for if when you are -Commander-in-Chief you disguise as a nigger-boy, you mustn't mind if -you do get spanked. - -Besides Tiny knew that St Jack had been growing so old of late, that -even the good King had begun to notice it. - -And Tiny knew _that_ because the Queen who was a bit of a blab, honest -soul, had told him in secret that morning, when he went to the Castle -for the washing; which was always his little job. - -For the Queen does all the washing in That Country. - - -A few minutes later as Baby came panting up the lane with Tiny's boat, -which he was going to sail on the Pond against the Colonel's gull, she -found the Commander-in-Chief sitting in the middle of the path, -fiddling his nose about between his fingers, and blubbing rather. - -And when she saw how muddy his nose was, and how he fiddled it, she ran -up with her eyes round-wide, crying, - -"O, you poor little thing!--What _have_ they been doing to you?--Let me -wipe your nose for you." - -Then the Commander-in-Chief answered very brave, as he leaned back on -his hands, with his nose up for Baby to do, - -"Why, I was comin up the lane, when all of a sudden--pop! bang! They -set on me--ten hundud times ten hundud of um. But I beat um off--and I -killed um all." And he bubbled his eyes and whispered--"There was some -true live blood." - -Then Baby whistled as she did his nose with her handkerchief, and said, - -"Strikes me, you are the bravest in all the world--only Tiny." - -But when the Commander-in-Chief heard that, he slapped Baby's hand -away, and scrambled to his feet, and bowed up and down with a sort of a -smile, saying, - -"Thank-_ku_," and went away down the lane with his hump up high: for it -only rose when he was in a temper. - - - -39 - -But St Jack was not the only one who was growing old in That Country -about now. - -For the Others, who had never been young, were aging very rapidly, -because of Phyllis, who scolded them when they didn't work, and cuffed -them when they did. - -So one evening when Phyllis had run down to little old Lollypop for -some fruit for supper (for you have pretty well all fruit in the summer -in That Country) the Others came and stood in a row before Baby on the -lawn, and said, - -"Please, 'M," and the rest, like they do in Abroad; and let go a tear -they had got ready. - -So when Phyllis ran back up the drive, Baby peeped through the golden -bush and called, - -"Phyllis." - -Then Phyllis came, with the great basket of cherries on her head. - -And Baby stood by the golden bush, and pulled a leaf to pieces, and -said, very grave and sad, - -"Is it true?" - -So Phyllis cocked her nose, and answered, - -"Some is, Miss; most ain't," which is usually the way with stories from -folk in Abroad. - -Then Baby turned her face away, and said, - -"You are very straight and true, Phyllis. So I love you. Only I must -sack you all the same, because you mustn't pinch," for that is one of -the rules. - -Then Phyllis nearly cried, and said, - -"Very well, Miss. Only why can't the Others go back to Abroad where -they belong?" - -And when Baby heard that, she went to the back-door, and peeped. - -And there were the Others trying on huge flower-hats before the glass, -and saying there was only one puffect gentleman in That Country, and he -was the Commander-in-Chief. - -So Baby said very gently, - -"My dears, don't you think you'd be happier back in Abroad, where you -belong?" - -Then the Others turned up their noses, and drooped down their mouths, -and said, - -"Thank-ye for nothin--We was just hon the go." - -And they swept out arm-in-arm, and flounced back to Abroad, where they -belonged; and a good job too. - -But Phyllis stayed with Baby for ever and ever. - - - -40 - -Then about next morning the Commander-in-Chief came to the Fort in the -Hole, and knocked. - -And he was wearing a cap and gown over his khaki-coat, so people might -take him for a scholar; and under his arm was the great E-book. - -And when the Junior Subaltern came to the gate, and asked him what he -wanted, he dropped his eyes, and answered very piously, "I have come to -examine you all in E,--and especially my deah Captain Tiny." - -So the Junior Subaltern let him in, because he knew he could do it all -right. - -Then the Commander-in-Chief came in, walking with his shoulders rather -round, and his knees rather knocky, because that was how he thought you -did if you were a scholar. - -But when he got to the square, there was the King in his crown walking -up and down arm in arm with the Colonel and Tiny. - -And they were laughing and chattering all together at once; and the -King was telling about his visitors, and how they had gone at last; and -the Colonel was talking about the sea-gull, and how he had christened -him Moses; and Tiny was telling about mannikin, and what a good little -mannikin he was growing under Baby, who had him out of his hole every -day to pick daisies, and taught him. - -But when they saw the Commander-in-Chief slouching across the square, -with the E-book under his arm, they all stopped. - -Then the King stepped forward, and took off his crown very courteously, -and said, - -"Ah, St Jack! I see why you've come. Well. I'll tell you. I have -just examined these gentlemen for you. And I know no one will be so -glad as you to hear that they have all passed, and especially your deah -Captain Tiny, as nobody ever passed before. So now you can go back to -the Castle whence you came. Thank-you very much all the same. How -d'you do?--Good-bye." - -Then the Commander-in-Chief, when he heard that, bowed up and down with -a sort of a smile. - -And after that he slouched back across the square to the gate: for -there was nothing else to do. - -But Tiny ran before him in a great bustle, saying, - -"Let me, Sir!" and held the gate for him, for nobody could be more -charming than Tiny when he liked, which was mostly always never. - -And as the Commander-in-Chief went through, he said most sweetly, - -"_So_ sorry you've had all your trouble for nothing, Sir." - -But the Commander-in-Chief ran away, snorting; and when he got outside -he took off his moustaches and whacked his hand with them; which he -always did in a passion. - - -And that evening he sulked so after tea, that the King got up in a -rage, and after pouring the dominoes over his head, shouted, - -"Look here! I'm sick o you. You grow older and horrider every day. -Go to Abroad!" And he marched to the door. - -Then St Jack sat very tight in his chair, and said, - -"What ye mean?" - -So the King threw his crown into the corner, and roared, - -"The sack--that's what I mean!" and he held the door open. - -Then Jacky went out in a terrible rage, the King's toe behind him. - - - -41 - -And after that, Summer came. - -And Baby always said she liked Summer best, because of you know why. - -And she lived in the garden all day in a flap-hat and gauntlets, and -messed, and loved it. - -And the Junior Subaltern lived there with her in a coat of many colours -and a white hat, and white shoes, and a little sash round his waist, -and ate things. - - -And he loved Baby in a pink and proper way. And Baby loved him to love -her, and taught him, so that he became almost like a little man. - -And the Junior Subaltern was easier to teach than Tiny, because of -younger and squashier. But though he learned quickest, he forgot -quickest too--which is often the way. So it really came about to about -the same in the end. - -But when the Junior Subaltern was there, Tiny walked by himself at the -other end of the garden with his back rather turned. - -And because he was full of unkindness he too began to grow old. - -And he became more and more like a common man from Abroad for the time -being, and less and less like a native of That Country. - - -Then one day when Baby saw Tiny alone by himself like so, she put her -finger to her lip, and said to herself out loud, - -"I wonder why?" - -Then the Junior Subaltern whispered, - -"Because of about my umpiring him out at cricket, I spect." - -So Baby nodded and said, - -"Probly praps. Go and make it up. I turn my back." And she stooped -with her kitten on her shoulder and gardened a flower. - -Then the Junior Subaltern went. - -But Tiny, when he saw him coming, only turned his back more than ever, -and walked away, very proud and pokery. - -Only when he got round the hollyhocks, where Baby couldn't see, all of -a sudden he stopped and bumped backwards into the Junior Subaltern. -And when Tiny felt the bump, he whispered skew-wise out of the corner -of his mouth, very fierce, - -"What ye mean by it?" - -So the Junior Subaltern answered, - -"By what?" - -Then Tiny whispered fiercer than ever, - -"Don't answer me, Sir! or I'll put you under arrest or something--you -ugh!" and he pretended sick over the flower-bed. - -But when the Junior Subaltern heard about you ugh! which is pretty well -the worst you can say in That Country, and saw what Tiny was pretending -over the flower-bed, he turned pale under the pink, and came up close, -and whispered, - -"May I be so good as to ask you to splain yourself, Sir?" - -Then Tiny answered very short, - -"No, ye mayn't," which was a very favourite saying of his. - -Then the Junior Subaltern trembled, and answered rather hubbly-bubbly, - -"I shan't love _you_ any more, Captain Tiny." - -But Tiny just smacked the heads off Baby's flowers, and answered, - -"Don't then. Duncare." - -So the Junior Subaltern bowed up and down to Tiny's back, and strutted -away, all puffed up like a little pouty pigeon, never to return till -next day. - -But when Baby looked up from gardening the flower, and saw the bristles -at the back of the Junior Subaltern's head as he marched away, she ran -to Tiny, and dug his ribs with the trowel, and said, - -"What you been doing to my nice boy, pig?" - -Then Tiny bent and gardened a weed, and grumbled, - -"Only nothin." - -But Baby dug him some more, and said, - -"O you have!--look at the look of the back of his neck." - -So Tiny came up from the weed rather red and sulky, and said, - -"Only been teachin the boy manners--that's all." - -Then Baby said, - -"Well, I wish you'd leave teaching him to me," and she took Tiny's arm, -and walked him up and down the grass-walk, with the dial at one end, -and the herb-border on either side, all sweet in the evening, and -taught him till he came good and nice and like you ought to be, if you -are to live in That Country. - - -And next morning on his way down to the Fort, Tiny tapped at little old -Lollypop's lattice, and said, - -"Good-morning, kind Lollypop. Some red currants, please." - -Then Lollypop came out in a sun-bonnet; and her face was all wrinkles -and redness like an old crab-apple; and she picked some currants, and -did them up in a bag, and wiped her hands on her apron, and gave them -to Tiny, saying, - -"There, young gentleman!" - -And Tiny gave her his penny pocket-money Baby had given him before he -went out, for it was Saturday; and ran on down to the Fort with the bag. - -And when he got there he shared the currants with the Junior Subaltern -on parade, when the Colonel had his back turned, which he had mostly -always. - - -And after that Tiny and the Junior Subaltern became better friends than -ever till next time, which you do in that Army. - - - -42 - -Meanwhile Jacky had gone down to the market, and taken off his -Commander-in-Chief's clothes in public there, and sold them to the -Junior Subaltern's mother; who laid them away in a drawer for her son, -ready for Commander-in-Chief in days to come. - -And after that, Jacky swore by little Marwy, who was supposed to be -dying, that he would have his ride on Goliath, or leave That Country. - -Then he went into hiding in the Wood, and sent round a message by Cooey -to say he wasn't there. - -But that afternoon as the Boy rode by with the Colonel and the gull on -the way to the Pond, he saw Jacky squatting in a hole he'd dug in the -ground. - -And Jacky was rolling a bit of paper between his fingers, and spying -over his shoulder, to see if he was being seen. For he knew very well -that what he was doing was dead against the rules of That Country. But -he was going from bad to worst so fast that he cared for nothing very -much now. - -Indeed he was said to have said that, next to a ride, his great wish -was to be like a man from Abroad. - - -Then the Boy, now he knew where Jacky was, lay awake all night with -Goly, planning a booby-trap. And old Goly entered into it with all his -might: for he loved the Boy, because they had jokes together; and hated -Jacky, because of fat beast. - -So next day they started out of the Fort together, the Boy riding with -his red parasol up to attract attention. - -And they went past the Wood, where they could see Jacky quite plainly, -hiding up an elder bush, disguised as a cannibal. And he was holding -something between his lips. And when he saw them he took it out of his -mouth, and held it up in his fingers, and puffed: for he was pretty -well dead to all shame now. - -But they paid no heed, and strolled on instead. - -Then when they got to the Pond they stopped. - -And Goly went to sleep with one eye wide, and his back to the Wood. - -And he stood with his trunk a tiny bit _retroussé_, and his tail the -least leetle bit out towards the Wood to tempt Jacky. - -And Jacky was tempted. - -For after about a bit out he crawled in his disguise, and crept up on -his hands and knees, and swarmed up Goly by the tail, and threw the Boy -down after not much of a tussle; while Goly just stood still and -chuckled. - -And when Jacky had done dancing and screaming, - -"There! There! I told you I would! I told you I would! ha! ha! ha! -Who's won now? Who's won now?" he sat down across Goly for his ride. - -And he dug his heels in, and bobbed up and down, to pretend he was -rising in stirrups, and went with his arms like he'd seen men on -horse-back, and cried in a bass-voice, - -"Gee up, fat beast! gee up!" and slapped with his hands. - -So Goly winked one eyelid, and went for a little bit of a canter round -the Pond. - -Then Jacky, who wasn't much of a horseman at the best of times, -sprawled on Goly's back, gasping, - -"I'm having my ride! I'm having my ride. O, I say!--Isn't it j-j-just -lubly?" which was quite a lie, for he hated it, because of the bumpety -bump. - -So he was just going to slither off when Goly shyed with a skip and a -squeal, and landed plump in the Pond. - -And when the waves had gone down a bit, all you could see was the tip -of Goly's trunk, and the top of his back showing above water like a -little black island with a shipwrecked cannibal on it, screaming for -help. - -But there was no help to be had: for the Boy, as soon as he could walk -for laughing, tottered back to the Fort, to tell the Fellows! - -So the Fellows all came across the Common arm in arm to see. Only the -Colonel didn't come, because of too kind. Besides he was sitting up -with little Marwy, who was supposed to be dying of a broken heart, -because of her mother's grave. - -And when the Fellows saw Jacky stranded on Goly's back, they just sat -down together round the Pond in a ring, and roared. - -And Tiny tossed to and fro, and wiped the tears away, and said, - -"Sense me, won't you!--It does make me laff so--you so cosy and comfie -out there, Royal King of your own little island, and likely to stay -there, for ever so far as I can see. E! E! E! Master Jacky. E! E! -E!" - -And all the Fellows tossed to and fro, and said in a sort of chorus, - -"E! E! E! Master Jacky. E! E! E!" - -So they just sat round all that afternoon and evening, and tumbled up -against each other with laughing. - -But about dusk, Tiny stood up, and said he'd been asked to say a few -words. - -So they stopped laughing; and there was silence. And Tiny soaped his -hands, and lectured, and simplee loved it. - -And he said pretty well what Baby had often said to him, only altered a -bit, and went on about how Jacky's conduct had grieved him; and how -wrong it was to be spiteful and bear malice; and how it not only hurt -other people, but it hurt yourself most, because it soured your nature. -And if Jacky couldn't be kind and loving then he had better leave That -Country. And if he would neither be good, nor go, then they must put -him out, for they had found him out now. - -And after that he lifted his hand and forgave Jacky on behalf of -himself and Baby, and the Regiment, and said he would now say goodnight. - -So he bowed up and down, and the Fellows rose, and bowed up and down. -Then they all went back across the Common in the dusk arm in arm. - -And Jacky was left alone on his island. - -But about midnight Goliath knelt down suddenly. - -Then Jacky would have been drowned, but that he was washed ashore in -the surgings that arose. - -[Illustration: SWAGGERED OFF TO ABROAD] - -And after that Goliath rose and waded out; and the Boy, who was waiting -on the bank, dried him with his handkerchief, and got on; and they went -back to the Fort at a good round trot. - - -But Jacky, when he had changed out of his cannibal clothes, swaggered -off to Abroad, in a new suit, smoking a cigarette. - - - - -[Illustration: Book VIII headpiece] - - - - -BOOK VIII.--A SURPRISE-PRESENT FOR BABY - - -43 - -Then about next day the good old doctor rode over from the Castle very -mysteriously, and asked to see Baby. - -And when he had shut the door, and drawn his chair up very close, he -told her in a whisper there was a Surprise-present coming for her from -the King at the Castle; only she wasn't to tell any one, because it was -a secret. - -Then Baby opened her eyes, and whispered, - -"Mayn't I know?" - -But the good old doctor chuckled, - -"Certainly not, my dear. You may guess--if you can," and he got up to -go. - -Then Baby got up too, and asked, - -"When may I know?" - -So the doctor answered, - -"About to-morrow," and went out, chuckling. - -But Baby stayed behind in the window, and guessed and guessed. - -Then all of a sudden her heart leaped up; and she blushed and trembled -so that she had to sit down. - - - -44 - -So all the rest of the day she sat under the elm, very busy, making -secret little clothes, that nobody was supposed to know anything about. - -But of course mannikin must leave his daisies, and come and poke and -pry and bother with questions, until at last Baby got up and took him -by his little hand, and led him back to his hole, saying, - -"You're a very naughty little man indeed. And I'm very cross with -you--very cross." - -But mannikin only swaggered along at her side, nodding his head very -wisely, and saying, - -"I know--I know," which was a very favourite saying of mannikin's. - -But Baby answered very short, - -"I'm sure you don't," and locked him in good and tight for the rest of -the day. - - -And that evening when Tiny came back from the Fort, Baby hid the little -clothes away, and walked about on his arm, talking poetry-talk in the -twilight among the roses; and she didn't say one word about the secret. - -But Tiny saw there was something up all the same. And when he went to -tidy up the boot-hole for the night, mannikin came to him in tears, and -begged him to get Baby to forgive him, and to say he promised not to -mention one word about the little clothes. - -And when Tiny heard about the little clothes, he thought, - -"_Now_ I know!" and went pale all over with excitement. - -For at that time every year, the good King sends a Surprise-present to -the best married girl of That Country: for that is one of the rules. - -And the Surprise-present is always the same, and so jolly you can't -think. - -So every nice married girl wants to win it; only you can't unless you -have been truly good and loving. - -And Tiny knew Baby was best by far; and he believed the King knew it -too. - -For as he was leaving the Fort that afternoon, he had seen the King -whispering in the Colonel's ear behind the water-butt. - -And when the Colonel heard, he hopped up high, crying, - -"Dear old Baby!" - -And the Colonel was Baby's great friend. - - - -45 - -But Tiny didn't say one word to Baby all the same, but just gave her -mannikin's message instead. - -Then Baby cried, - -"O poor little chap!--I _clean_ forgot him," and she ran to the -boot-hole. - -And when she got there she heard a tiny little noise inside. - -So she undid and peeped. - -And there was mannikin sobbing in a heap in the corner. - -Then Baby cried, - -"Why?" - -But mannikin only sobbed, - -"Becob you're cross." - -So Baby ran to him, and said, - -"Dear little mannikin!--It's nothing--only you mustn't bother with -questions just now about things you can't understand." - -And she sat down, and took him on her lap, and comforted him. - -And mannikin leaned his head on her shoulder, and said, very sniffy, - -"Lub me," for he was a sentimental little thing. - -And he told Baby about his home in a cottage in the Forest far away, -where he used to live with his old mother, and little lame sister, and -the tortoise-shell cat, till the King came and took him. - -And when he told about that, he began to cry again. - -Then Baby jigged him a bit, and said, - -"Now I'll tell you a secret the Queen told me last time she came round -with the butter.--The King is going to let you out soon now, because at -all events you _try_ to be good. There!" - -And when mannikin heard that, he sniffed and said, - -"Gobblessim." - -And after that Baby tied an empty reel to a thread, and gave it him. - -And he quite cheered up, and bobbed the reel, and twinkled his eyes, -and said he a little fisherman, trying to catch a Surprise-present for -being so truly good and loving. - - - -46 - -Next morning, as Tiny entered the Fort, all the Fellows came rushing -out from the shed, shouting, - -"Well done, Baby!--Good luck to you both!" for it usually leaks out who -has won the Surprise-present for the year, before it is stuck up on the -Castle-door. - -Then Tiny stopped and said, - -"But you don't _know_." - -So all the Fellows crowded round, and they answered, - -"No, we don't _know_. But the Queen got talking to the Junior -Subaltern when he went to the Castle for his glass of milk this -morning. So we next door to know." - -Just then the dear old Colonel came up with Moses on his shoulder, and -little Marwy, who had quite recovered from her broken heart, trotting -behind. - -And he stopped and patted Tiny on the back, saying, - -"Ah, my dear boy!--I believe I have to congratulate you." - -Then Tiny blushed and answered, - -"Well, Sir, we've heard nothing from the King as yet. Still--we hope." - -So the Colonel nodded very wisely and said, - -"Well, we shall see what we shall see." - -And he passed on to Sunday-school: for the Colonel always attended -himself, and tried to get the Fellows to come too; only they always had -sore throats or something, and couldn't. - - -Then Tiny ran home, quite sure now. - - - -47 - -And when he got there he found a white paper pinned on to the door, -saying, - - -_I have gone to my room to wait. Don't come._ - - -So Tiny waited down below all day. - -But towards evening, he crept up, and peeped. - -And there was Baby waiting by the window, nursing her pussy-kitten. - -And as she nursed, she sang, - - "Hushaby, - Hushaby, - Here at twilight, - Waiting, I, - Sweet-contented, - Know not why-- - Hushaby, - Hushaby." - - -Then Tiny put his finger to his lips, and stole away without a word. - -But Baby waited at the window, looking East. - - - -48 - -Then at dusk the good old doctor came from the Castle with a basket on -his arm. - -And the basket was full of lovely little Stars of Bethlehem, which -flower about then in That Country. - -And on the basket was a label written in the King's hand, - - _Baby - from - The King - because - She Is - so truly - Good and Loving._ - - -Then the old doctor went up the stairs in the dusk very quietly. - -And he knocked at Baby's door and entered, the little Stars of -Bethlehem shining white about him, as he went. - - - -49 - -Then after about a bit he came downstairs smiling, the basket empty -now, only for the bulrushes that had lined it. - -And he came out to where Tiny was holding his white cob, and said, - -"Ha, my boy!--what d'you think I've brought for you?" - -Then Tiny trembled and said, - -"What, Sir?" - -So the good old doctor answered, - -"Go to Baby's room; and you'll see." And he climbed on to his cob, and -jogged away, chuckling. - - -And the kitten walked after him down the drive with its tail up tight. - - - -50 - -Then Tiny came to Baby's door and knocked. - -But there came no answer. - -So he went in. - -And within all was still and twilight. - -[Illustration: WITHIN ALL WAS STILL AND TWILIGHT] - -And the only light came from the Stars of Bethlehem strewn about the -floor. - -And in the middle of these kneeled Baby, rocking to and fro with -something in her arms. - -And when Tiny came in, she looked up; and he could see her eyes shining -in the dusk. - -Then Tiny came to her upon his toes, and kneeled beside her. - -And he laid his lips to her ear, and whispered, "Mother." - - -Then they kissed each other and It. - - - -AMEN - - - -[Illustration: Chapter VIII Tailpiece] - - - - -ON THE STORY THAT GOES ON FOR EVER - -So this story ends the same as all other stories that ever were -written, and that is happily. - -And really there is only one Story, and it is the best Story in the -world; but it is not finished yet, and never will be. - -And this Story grows better and better all the time, which is how we -know it from the written stories that we read. - -But it is told in bits, so that unless we're sort of in the secret, we -may mistake it for a lot of little stories, all separate, and all -telling against each other. - -Yet all the little bits fit in together at the end most perfectly; and -not one word is wasted, although it seems as if there would be -thousands; to say nothing of bad spellings, and erasures, and great -blots of ink and tears. - -And it is the same end always, and always a happy end. - -For no story really ends sadly for the very good reason that it can't. - -For Love is Love, and in the end end of all Love must win. - - -So after we have finished our bit of the Story, and our friends have -read it, and scribbled on the blank space at the bottom, - - THE END: - HE WAS A SINNER-- - - -And after they have whispered about us in public, and the ladies have -gone behind their handkerchieves, and said, - -"We must hope for the best, and expect the worst," and the men have -yawned and said, - -"Ah, well--De mortuis nil nisi bonum," which means--"He was the Devil's -darling from his youth up, and I always told you so." - -We need not mind so very much; for it may be that we have done better -than we thought; and it is certain that while the world knows nothing -of our aim, of our failure it knows more than all. - -Moreover let us remember to our comfort that after that dead - -END, - -which seems to wind us up so blankly, there is always a - -BEYOND. - - -And the strange thing about that Beyond is that it is really no Beyond -at all: it is There all the time; but we can hardly see it for the -rather odd reason that we are too close. - -And this Beyond that is always There is the real Story, if we only knew -it. - -What we read is only foot-notes at the bottom of the page to explain -the real Story. - -But because our eyes are so close to the page, and because the page is -so very large, we often only see the foot-notes, which are most -interesting of themselves. - -Then sometimes we deny that the page is there, saying the foot-notes -are all, which is rather foolish: for what is the good of Notes on -Nothing? - - -And a man who buries his nose in the Notes, and tries to read the -writing by smelling it, is a sinner; and _he_ usually knows a lot about -nothing. - -And a man who holds his eyes close to the page, and pries into the -Notes, is a scientist; and _he_ usually knows a lot about the Notes, -and nothing about the Story, which the Notes are on. - -And a man who stands back a bit, and says he can read the whole thing, -Notes and all, and explain it easily, is a Philosopher; and _he_ -usually knows a little about both Notes and Story. - -And a man who stands still further back, and looks at the Story very -quietly, and tells truly all he sees, without trying to explain it, is -a Poet; and he usually knows a lot about both Notes and Story. - -And this Beyond that is always There is always the same, and is always -a Love-story. - -And we are characters in this Love-story, and walk for ever through its -pages. - -But if we walk apart by ourselves, rather proud and puffed up, saying -that it isn't a real Story, and that we don't belong to it, and will -take no part, then we lose all the interest. - -For that comes from joining in, and feeling that we are characters in -the Story, and must help it along by helping the other characters. - -While if we enter in, then we very soon find out that it is the best -Story in the world, and that if we will, we can be little heroes, and -play our part, and win in the end quite splendidly. - -_Then_ it becomes exciting. - -And once we have joined in, we find oddly enough that as we grow older -we grow younger, until at length we become as little children, happy -all the time, our work our play, our life a Song of Innocence, not -unlike the natives of That Country. - - - - * * * * * - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Redcoat Captain, by Alfred Ollivant - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REDCOAT CAPTAIN *** - -***** This file should be named 54575-8.txt or 54575-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/7/54575/ - -Produced by Al Haines -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Redcoat Captain - A Story of That Country - -Author: Alfred Ollivant - -Illustrator: Graham Robertson - -Release Date: April 19, 2017 [EBook #54575] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REDCOAT CAPTAIN *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-front"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="ON THE WAY TO THAT COUNTRY" /> -<br /> -ON THE WAY TO THAT COUNTRY -</p> - -<h1> -<br /><br /> -REDCOAT CAPTAIN -</h1> - -<p class="t3b"> -A STORY OF -<br /> -THAT COUNTRY -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -BY -<br /> -ALFRED OLLIVANT -</p> - -<p class="t4"> -AUTHOR OF "BOB, SON OF BATTLE," ETC. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -ILLUMINATED BY GRAHAM ROBERTSON -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -New York -THE MACMILLAN COMPANY -LONDON: JOHN MURRAY -1907 -</p> - -<p class="t4"> -<i>All rights reserved</i> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> -COPYRIGHT, 1907, -BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. -</p> - -<p class="t4"> -Set up and electrotyped. Published September, 1907. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t4"> -Norwood Press -J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. -Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t2"> -REDCOAT CAPTAIN -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-001"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-001.jpg" alt="Book I headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book I headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> - -<h3> -BOOK I.—TINY TAKES COSY COTTAGE -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -1 -</p> - -<p> -So, after waiting faithfully for days and -days and days, they agreed they could wait -no longer. -</p> - -<p> -He was a Redcoat Captain in the Army -of That Country: she was the daughter of -the merry lady who lived among rooks. -</p> - -<p> -His had jolly little curls all over, with -blue eyes under: hers was chestnut, with -grey eyes like clouds in a lake. -</p> - -<p> -She was between ten and twenty: he was -a little more. -</p> - -<p> -He was so tall that the Fellows called -him Tiny: her name was Mabel, so they -called her Baby. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -2 -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny came to the Fort on the Hill -where the sun used to set; and it was noon. -</p> - -<p> -And the Fort was a round wall with -a barrack-square inside. And through a -hole in the wall a great cannon of artillery -peeped out over the country to keep Them -down: for They were always supposed to -be there, though nobody had ever seen -Them. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny climbed in through the -cannon-hole, and on to the barrack-square, -where nobody was now only the back-view -of Goliath, the elephant, whisking his tail -in the stable, while the Boy, who saw to -him, slept among his feet. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny walked across the square in the -sun till he came to a door in the dark of the -wall. And on the door was painted in white -letters -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -O G R E -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -which the Fellows said meant, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -Old General Roast End, -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -but it really meant, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -Officers' Grub Royal Elephants, -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -which was the name of the Regiment. -</p> - -<p> -And the Regiment was so named by -order of the King because that pleased old -Goly, so that he trampled less at night, -when the Fellows wanted to sleep. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny knocked at the door and went -in. -</p> - -<p> -And the room had crossed sugar-sticks -on the wall, and a row of bottles full of -little black and white marbly balls on the -mantel-piece, and over them a great motto, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<i>Every Bull's Eye has its billet.</i> -</p> - -<p> -And in one corner was a pile of painted -india-rubber cannon-balls. And there was -a huge fire roaring, though it was summer. -And before the fire stood the General, with -his hands behind him, sucking something -and warming himself. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny shut the door, and began, -</p> - -<p> -"I am Tiny; and I am going to marry -Baby. How long will I stop in this hole, -because about taking a house to put Baby -in?" -</p> - -<p> -So the General bent towards his boots; -and his head shone; and his boots shone; -and he bulged over the fire; and he said, -</p> - -<p> -"I am Sir Goodall Grouse, and a Major-General. -I had ought to be a full General -if I had me rights—only they cheat so." -</p> - -<p> -Then he bowed himself straight; and he -was very red and tight; and he shot his -neck till the veins swelled, and he shouted, -</p> - -<p> -"And I don't care who knows it." -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny, who knew Generals, pretended -sad, and shook his head, and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"When we go out to war, Sir, we always -say that if only Sir Goodall came and did it, -it wouldn't be a war at all, to call one, it -would be a walk-over." -</p> - -<p> -And when the General heard that, he -sat down and said, -</p> - -<p> -"You are a very promisin young officer -<i>indeed</i>!" And he made a bump in his -cheek with his tongue, and wrote upon -the blotting-paper for ten minutes most -industriously, -</p> - -<p> -<i>Captain Tiny to be reccomended for promotion:</i> -</p> - -<p> -Then he turned to Tiny and rubbed his -hands and said, -</p> - -<p> -"And now what will you allow me for -to do for you?" And the clerk was so -astonished that he poked in to see. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny told for the second time. -</p> - -<p> -Then the General rolled the quid of toffee -in his cheek very wisely, and he wrinkled, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Well. You will probly stop here for -all time, and certainly for years and years. -And you may take that on the word of -Sir Goodall Grouse, who never told a lie, -cause he couldn't think of one to tell." And -he blew out his chest so a button flew, and -shouted, "And what's more, I should ought -to be a full General if I had me rights—and -I don't care who knows it!" And he -thumped the blotting-paper till it shook. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny winked to himself and said -inside, -</p> - -<p> -"Hang your rights, Old Roast End!" -but outside he said, -</p> - -<p> -"Thank you, Sir. Now I feel a lot -better." -</p> - -<p> -And he saluted and went out, meek as a -mouse; but directly he got outside he took -to his legs and raced across the square, -shouting and singing because of Baby and the -house where he would keep her for years -and years while he trained her how to be a -soldier's wife. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And about next day Sir Goodall retired, -because he said the Service didn't leave him -time enough to roast himself. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that is about all about Sir Goodall -for now. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -3 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny came upon his toes very merry -to the place where the Fellows fed between -sleeps. -</p> - -<p> -And it was a great sort of shed under -a thatch, with walls of whitewash sploshed -with blood to encourage them on. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny got there they were all -feeding and complaining about A B C and -D, which you have to pass for promotion in -That Army. -</p> - -<p> -For it appeared that the Commander-in-Chief -at the Castle had just sent over -word by Cooey, the carrier-pigeon, to say -that they must all learn down to E now, or -leave That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And <i>he</i> said it was because that was what -they did in Willie-Land; but <i>they</i> said it was -because of spite. -</p> - -<p> -For it was well known that the -Commander-in-Chief's great ambition was a ride -on Goliath. And the night before he had -come and tried to climb on by stealth while -Goly slept. But old Goly woke up in the -middle and trod on his toe instead. -</p> - -<p> -So the Commander-in-Chief had limped -back to the Castle with his hump up. And -because he had a curiously nasty nature, -and bore malice a lot, he now sent word by -Cooey to say that they must choose between -E and exile. -</p> - -<p> -And it is usually considered the greatest -misery that can happen to you to be sent -out of That Country. -</p> - -<p> -For That Country is the -Land-where-you-never-grow-old—so long, that is, as you -are good and loving. -</p> - -<p> -Indeed, if you live truly, you grow younger -all the time, although your hair turns grey -just the same as in Abroad. And when -you are so young and so happy that you -can bear it no more, then you die. -</p> - -<p> -But directly you begin to go bad, you -grow old. And then the right place for you -is Abroad, where all the common people live, -and grow horrider and horrider every day, -and never die. -</p> - -<p> -So naturally everybody born in That -Country wants to live there all the time, -except when they have to go away to Moonland -for one month after marriage: for that -is one of the rules. -</p> - -<p> -But if you are not good and loving, then -they turn you out, when they find out about -you, which they very often don't for a long -time, because they are so sweet and simple. -And you are supposed to hate nobody in -That Country; but if you do, then you try -to sort of cuckoo him out by working under -him with your wings. -</p> - -<p> -And that was what the Commander-in-Chief, -sitting in the Castle-tower, with his -toe in a bandage, plotted in his own secret -mind to do to the Regiment, because of -Goliath. -</p> - -<p> -For the Commander-in-Chief was a real -villain, and already growing old. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -4 -</p> - -<p> -So all the Fellows were sitting round -feeding, and abusing the Commander-in-Chief. -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern, who was rosy -and plump, was saying nothing: for he -wasn't allowed an opinion. -</p> - -<p> -So he was eating most instead—as usual. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny sat down apart, and ate jam -out of a spoon, and smiled. -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern peeped from -behind a pink fairy-book, which he read -with one hand, while he ate with the other, -and when he saw Tiny's smile, he said a -bit bitterly, -</p> - -<p> -"I know. It's because it's strawberry. -They keep <i>me</i> on plum." -</p> - -<p> -But the one next him, who was long -and yellow, held his cup with both hands, -and bubbled into it as he drank, and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"No. It's because he thought old Roast -End was going to tell him off a treat. But -Tiny tickled him, so he told off the other -fellow who hadn't done it. I wish I could -tickle like Tiny. It all seems so damb -unfair," and he began to cry. -</p> - -<p> -But the one next him, who was big and -brown, said nothing outside, but inside he -said, -</p> - -<p> -"No. It's because of Baby." And he -knew, for he was to be best man, and give -Tiny away when the time came. -</p> - -<p> -Then a Captain without medals rose. -And he was black but uncomely. And he -bowed up and down to the Mountain and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"I am going to Where-George-is." -</p> - -<p> -But when the Junior Subaltern heard -that, he peeped out again, and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Is that because of the Commander-in-Chief -and E? You <i>are</i> a lucky dog. I -would too if I could afford it." -</p> - -<p> -Then the black Captain looked at the -Junior Subaltern; and there was a great -hush. And at last the black Captain shot -his neck suddenly, and spouted, -</p> - -<p> -"Might I be so good as to ask you not -to speak till you're spoken to?" -</p> - -<p> -And all the Fellows said in a sort of -chorus, -</p> - -<p> -"Might I be so good, etc.?" -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern went back -behind the fairy-book and ate a lot more, -and muttered. And when he had quite -done both, he rose and went to where the -Boy was sliding down Goliath by the tail -and told him off a treat. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-012"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-012.jpg" alt="THE BOY WAS SLIDING DOWN GOLIATH" /> -<br /> -THE BOY WAS SLIDING DOWN GOLIATH -</p> - -<p> -But the Boy brought up at the bottom, -bump, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern shot his neck -as well as he could, which wasn't very well, -because he hadn't much experience yet, and -he answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because I've nobody to tell off only you, -because I'm Junior. Damb!" -</p> - -<p> -So that showed the Junior Subaltern was -learning soldier, which is to shoot your -neck and say damb in That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But the black Captain stood where he -was, very proud and plucky, because he -had done his duty, and it was a pleasure, -too; and he said, -</p> - -<p> -"And now some more about George!" -and he chucked his chest, although it had -no medals on it, and went on, -</p> - -<p> -"I am George's cousin; only George -doesn't like me to talk about it. So George -is going to make a little war for me in -Where-George-is, and I am to go and get -killed or a medal; and either way I will be -worthier to be George's cousin." -</p> - -<p> -And when they heard that they went on -feeding and complaining as before. -</p> - -<p> -Then the black Captain, after a reproachful -look, came towards Tiny. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny rattled with his feet on the -floor, and screamed. -</p> - -<p> -"Go way! go way! go way!—I don't -want to talk about George or George's -cousin—much obliged all the same thank -you no though. George can talk about -himself plenty without me, and so can his -cousin. How d'you do? Good-bye!" And -he shoved back his chair. -</p> - -<p> -But the black Captain held him down -very firmly by the legs, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"You never want to talk about anybody -but yourself, seems to me." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny turned more Christian, and -replied, -</p> - -<p> -"You see, I'm so much more interestiner -than you are, old chap. Matter of fact -I don't want to talk about anybody; I just -want to go to sleep, and think about a -friend of mine," which was Baby. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Captain shoved closer and -whispered, because of the Fellows, -</p> - -<p> -"It is because of your friend that I began -about going to Where-George-is. For I have -a friend of my own, to whom I am married. -And you know her well, because you used -to come and talk secrets at tea to her about -your friend, when you didn't think she was -going to be your friend at all but the -Commander-in-Chief's from the Castle. But the -King measured your legs to be half an inch -the longest, so you won. And I have reason -to believe," said the black Captain very -cautiously, "that you used to cry together -about it, you and my friend." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny said, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh go on, Pompey, go on!" but he -blushed all over all the same. -</p> - -<p> -So the black Captain hid his face behind -his fingers, and looked at Tiny through -them, for that is what you do when they -blush, if you are a gentleman, in That -Country: for that is one of the rules. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny said after about a bit, -</p> - -<p> -"Better now, thank you," the black -Captain took his hand away, and went on, -</p> - -<p> -"And I live in Cosy Cottage with my -friend. And it is on the edge of the -Common—you know!—where the gorse is, and -the Pond, and the oldest donkey in the -world nodding off to sleep under a thorn. -And just over the way is the old yew with -little Marwy's mother's grave close by. And -in front is the Fort on the Hill, all handy, -so the Fellows can wave to you when you sit -in the garden in shirt-sleeves with Baby on -Sunday evenings in the summer. And round -the corner is the Castle, with the -Commander-in-Chief at the window plotting -mischief against you, because of Baby, and -against the Regiment, because of Goliath. -Only it don't matter to me one pin what he -plots; in fact I rather like it," said the black -Captain, who was a selfish fellow, and really -rather like a common man from Abroad, -"because I'm going away to Where-George-is, -my friend and me are. But we can't -take Cosy Cottage, so you shall have it." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny's eyes shone, and he said, -</p> - -<p> -"And may we <i>really</i> have it for love?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the black Captain wetted his lips -with the tip of his tongue, and nodded, and -whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"For love—and a leetle money, please." -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny gave him some out of his trouser-pocket. -</p> - -<p> -Then they shook hands so that all the -Fellows thought it was a fight, and ran up -to help. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that the black Captain went -away with his friend, arm in arm over the -Mountain to Where-George-is. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-018"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-018.jpg" alt="COOEY! COOEY!" /> -<br /> -COOEY! COOEY! -</p> - -<p> -And there the band plays day and night, -seven years without ceasing, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<i>God save our gracious George.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And George sits all day in his mail-cart -under the palm, and bows his head, and -says, -</p> - -<p> -"A-a-men." -</p> - -<p> -Only the King isn't supposed to know -about that, because it's his tune really. -</p> - -<p> -And the black Captain became so very -distinguished an officer that at last he was -allowed to pick the things off the floor when -Georgie threw them there in a pet, because -the band sent in to ask if they might change -the tune. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that is about all about the black -Captain and George for now. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -5 -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny took a pencil, and wrote to Baby -on scribbling paper, -</p> - -<p> -<i>Come quicks-you-can see cosy cottage I have -bought a bargain to put you in and don't bring -mother unless you mustn't come without, because -of long walks so tirin for her.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then he ran down the Hill, and across the -Bridge, and into the Wood, and called, -</p> - -<p> -"Cooey! Cooey!" -</p> - -<p> -Then Cooey came from his fir, with splashing -wings; and Tiny tied the writing beneath -his wing, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Baby," and pointed. -</p> - -<p> -So Cooey flashed away through the wood: -for Cooey takes all the quick messages in -That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny trotted back to the Fort, and -took off his red coat, and put on his sailor -suit, and went for a ride on the Common -on Goliath, with the dear old Colonel, who -thought nice of everybody, in the other -pannier. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But the Commander-in-Chief stood at the -window in the Castle-tower, and looked down -darkly. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-023"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-023.jpg" alt="Book II headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book II headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK II.—TINY MARRIES BABY -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -6 -</p> - -<p> -So Cooey sped with the writing to where -Baby was. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby lived with her mother in the -Hall under elms. -</p> - -<p> -And she was in the garden in gauntlets -messing, when Cooey fluttered down about -her head. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby heard him, she stood up, -and held out her wrist, calling, -</p> - -<p> -"Something for me, Cooey?" And she -pulled off her gauntlets, and took the writing -from under Cooey's wing, as he perched, and -read it, while Cooey sidled and fluttered, till -he came to her shoulder. And there he laid -his bill against her cheek, and began to love -her, very murmury. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby, when she had read the writing, -skipped, and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Three cheers!" and ran in to her mother, -who sat with her back turned in a room with -great windows and a shiny floor, and wrote -round, chuckling. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby poked in and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Good-bye, mum. I am going to see Cosy -Cottage that Tiny has taken to keep me in. -And we will be alone by ourselves together, -Tiny and me, till nightfall. Then p'r'aps I -come home." -</p> - -<p> -But when Baby's mother, who was round -and jolly, heard that, she went thin all over, -and she turned round from her writing, and -cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Baby, <i>please</i>!" -</p> - -<p> -So they sat down and argued. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby, who always wanted to know, -said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby's mother answered with her -foot down, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of mustn't be alone by -yourselves together yet, you and Tiny!" -</p> - -<p> -But Baby, who <i>would</i> argue, only said, -very dogged, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -So Baby's mother said twelve times, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of things." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby turned in her toes, and inside -she said, -</p> - -<p> -"Rot!" but outside she said nothing. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby's mother, who was quite -pale on account of it all, saw that, she said, -</p> - -<p> -"In my young days," which was a very -favourite saying of Baby's mother. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby only turned in her toes till her -feet were almost straight sideways, for she -had heard <i>that</i> before. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby's mother, when she saw that, -said nothing, and just folded her hands -instead: for she knew what Baby's toes -meant. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby, directly she saw her mother's -hands, began to unturn her toes, and she -said, -</p> - -<p> -"Of course just as you like, Mother." -</p> - -<p> -For it is with girls like it is with horses: -when you pull at them, they pull at you, -hut directly you let go, they come back -to you. -</p> - -<p> -And that is pretty well the same with -everybody. So long as you say "Shan't," -they say "Shall," but when you say nothing, -and just sit and look sad, then they come -and kiss you. For we all know somehow -though we don't quite know how, that Will -is one thing and Love is another; and Will -is strong, but Love is stronger; and you -can often get your way by Love when you -can't by Will. -</p> - -<p> -Then when Baby's mother heard what -Baby said, she began to go round again, -and sighed, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, thank you, Baby." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby unturned her toes some more, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Of course I shall like you to come with -me, Mother—if it won't tire you," which -was quite a lie, but not one to count. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby's mother answered rather weepy, -</p> - -<p> -"Very sorry, Baby. I'm sure I don't -want to be a spoil-sport. Only I must -consider things," and she got out her -handkerchief. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby turned her toes quite out, -and she rose, and ran, and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Darling old thing!" and hugged her up. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby's mother began to chuckle again; -and she put on her bonnet and Baby her boa; -and they started down the lane together, arm -in arm: for everybody lives only a few miles -off in That Country: so you never go by -train except to Moonland. -</p> - -<p> -And it is all country in That Country, -only for the Town on the Tumble-down Hill: -for all the nice things happen in the country; -and it is mostly all nice in this story—except -the Commander-in-Chief. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -7 -</p> - -<p> -And at the bottom of the lane there was -Tiny riding backwards and forwards on the -swing-gate. -</p> - -<p> -But when he saw them he jumped down -and ran and waved; and Baby waved and -ran. Only when they came where they met, -they went shy suddenly, and turned their -backs instead. -</p> - -<p> -Then a jackdaw on the sign-post said, -</p> - -<p> -"Chuck! chuck! chuck!" -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby heard that, she turned -her back still more, and blushed. So Tiny -who had seen out of his corner-eye, went -behind his fingers, to show he knew all -about manners. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby's mother plodded up with her -skirts in her hands, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Very sorry, Tiny. Only I must—because -of things." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only went astonished and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, but we specially wanted you—didn't -we, Baby?" which was quite a lie. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby cheered up, and hopped, and -cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Course we did." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby's mother said, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, you are dears about it." -</p> - -<p> -So they just loved her, because she was -such a jolly good old mother. -</p> - -<p> -And after that they all took arms, and -walked across the Common with the oldest -donkey in the world, nodding off to sleep -under a thorn, almost as old. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw the donkey she ran, -and patted him, and called to Tiny, -</p> - -<p> -"Has he got a name?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Yes; Methuselah." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby skipped back, crying, -</p> - -<p> -"Is that <i>your</i> name?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny, after a bit of a struggle, for he -did want to lie and get the glory, told the -truth rather grumpily, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"No—the Colonel's." -</p> - -<p> -For the Colonel is allowed to do all the -christening in that Regiment: for that is one -of the rules. And Goliath, the elephant, was -one of his; and so was little Marwy, the -regimental baa-lamb. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny, and Baby, and Baby's mother -came to the Village. -</p> - -<p> -And the Village was made up of Cosy -Cottage, and the red pillar-box opposite; and -that is all: for the villages are just a nice size -in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And Cosy Cottage looked delicious under -creepers, with sparrows chattering. And it -was long, and low, and grey, and not unlike -Methuselah, with a rather broken-back look, -and one crooked chimney for ear. And there -was one window behind and two before, with -a porch between, and roses sprawling over -all. -</p> - -<p> -And in front was a little grass garden, -with a lilac and a yew hedge round, and a -gate made of paling into the road; and at -the back a tiny yard and a boot-hole[<a id="chap02fn1text"></a><a href="#chap02fn1">1</a>] like -a box. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="footnote"> -<a id="chap02fn1"></a> -[<a href="#chap02fn1text">1</a>] A boot-hole is a little place where you clean boots. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And it belonged to the King, as all the -houses do in That Country, because that -saves trouble; and it went with the Fort on -the Hill. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw that, she hopped, and -whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Mother!" because she loved it so. -</p> - -<p> -And baby's mother chuckled and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Yes, you <i>are</i> a lucky child." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny said nothing, and took all the -glory instead, which was rather a favourite -thing of Tiny's, and quite a lie; for he'd done -nothing for it. -</p> - -<p> -All the same it was very curious that when -Baby was with Tiny he told the truth on the -whole much more, and kept all his lies for the -Fellows. -</p> - -<p> -And the more he was with her the more -truth he told: so that it almost looked as -though, if he went on long enough, he would -never tell a lie, to call one, any more. And -that is what they call Influence. -</p> - -<p> -And nobody knows quite what Influence is, -but it's what women do. -</p> - -<p> -So you see it's rather jolly to be a -woman, because if you're a man you can't, -though you think you can, because of -conceit. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then they led Baby's mother into the -house. And after they had fed her, they -took her and put her on a little chair in a -quiet cupboard by herself, and locked her in; -and she was to be good-and-go-to-sleep till -they came for her. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that pleased Baby's mother so that -she smiled. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -8 -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby yelled and ran upstairs; and -Tiny yelled, and ran after her; till they came -to the topmost stair of all. And Baby put -her head out and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"I say! this is tip-top!" which was a very -favourite saying of Baby's. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny came up behind her and murmured, -</p> - -<p> -"This is tip-topper!" for lovers are lovers -just the same in That Country, only nicer. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby went with her arms, and squealed, -</p> - -<p> -"Tiny! Tinee!" -</p> - -<p> -Then she ran downstairs as hard as she -could pelt; and Tiny ran after her, as hard -as he could pelt. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby's mother, who couldn't be -good-and-go-to-sleep because of the racket, woke -up, and climbed out of the cupboard, and -ran after Tiny as hard as she could pelt. -</p> - -<p> -So they all ran after each other till they -came to the bottom-most stair of all. -</p> - -<p> -Then they all climbed on to chairs and -sat around the front-window and spied. -</p> - -<p> -And by the old yew there was the Colonel -taking little Marwy to see her mother's -grave, which he did every evening, dear -man. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-034"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-034.jpg" alt="WHICH HE DID EVERY EVENING" /> -<br /> -WHICH HE DID EVERY EVENING -</p> - -<p> -And on the Hill there was the Junior -Subaltern with a huge slice of cake in his -mouth scribbling E all over the blank of -the Fort wall to show he could do it; for -the Junior Subaltern was like a lot more, he -wanted everybody to know he was cleverer -than they were. Only when they saw they -kicked him instead, which was rather -depressing for him after all his trouble. -</p> - -<p> -And on the Common there was the Boy -giving Goliath a real old galumphing gallop -round the Pond to take it out of him; only -old Goly, who was a bit of a rogue, took -it out of the Boy instead; which was rather -a favourite thing of Goly's. -</p> - -<p> -Then they took their chairs and ran, and -sat round the back-window, and spied. -</p> - -<p> -And by craning out they could see the -Castle round the corner. -</p> - -<p> -And there stood the Commander-in-Chief -at the window, biting his thumbs, and -watching Goliath. -</p> - -<p> -And when he saw their heads, he shook -his fist, and muttered. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby's mother said, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh my dear!" and shuddered, and came in. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Pig!" and laughed; still she came in too. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny shouted, -</p> - -<p> -"Pooh! think I'm afraid of you!" and -leaned his neck out all the further, and -cocked a snook back. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby pulled him in quick by the -trousers, because of his career, and hoped -the Commander-in-Chief hadn't seen. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that Baby fussed off into the -kitchen; and they fussed after her, and -sat on the dresser, and watched. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby opened a little black door where -the chimney ended in a hole, and looked in -very cunning. -</p> - -<p> -And after about a bit she slammed the -little black door, and made a face with her -nose, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"I don't think much of this thing," to -show how sly she was. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny sat on the dresser, with Baby's -mother, and pointed his finger at Baby, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Don't believe you know one word about -it, Baby." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby turned her nose up and her eyes -down, and replied, -</p> - -<p> -"That's all <i>you</i> know, Mr Tiny!" -</p> - -<p> -And she said to her mother, -</p> - -<p> -"I know a jolly lot, don't I, Mum?" -</p> - -<p> -And Baby's mother chuckled all over, and -said pat, -</p> - -<p> -"Not <i>one</i> word, Baby." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby ran at her and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Mother!" and hugged her; and -Tiny hugged them both. -</p> - -<p> -And after that they all sat on the -dresser, and held hands, and swung legs, -and sang, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<i>Three Blind Mice</i><br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -9 -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny and Baby were married in the -dear old Church on the Tumble-down Hill -in the Town, while the King in his crown -rang the bell in the belfry; which was always -his little job. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-038"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-038.jpg" alt="WHICH WAS ALWAYS HIS LITTLE JOB" /> -<br /> -WHICH WAS ALWAYS HIS LITTLE JOB -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny and Baby truly believed that -it was the only wedding that had ever -been since the world began; only it wasn't -though. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny wore his blue suit; and Baby -her clean white frock. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny was rather excited and very -shy; and Baby very excited and rather shy. -</p> - -<p> -And everybody was there, only the -Commander-in-Chief; and he sent Cooey with a -writing instead. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby's mother sat in the front pew -on the left and cried; and Tiny's mother -in the front pew on the right and cried. -But Tiny's mother cried most, for she cried -<i>all</i> the time; but Baby's mother smiled in -between, and especially when Baby came -up on the arm of the Colonel, her great -friend. -</p> - -<p> -And the Fellows lined the aisle with -swords. -</p> - -<p> -And they didn't cry, because they had no -tears: they looked silly instead, but not sillier -than the others, of whom there were lots, -besides ladies. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern looked silliest -of all because he was so pink; and all the -time going pinker, because of the ladies. -And he did want to marry them all, because -of his kind heart; but he knew he couldn't, -because you mayn't. -</p> - -<p> -And when he thought of that he went -quite pale, so that they took him out, and -gave him a drop of lime-juice and water off a -feather in the porch, while the people crept -out to see. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then they all came out of Church. -</p> - -<p> -And outside the porch Cooey fluttered -down from the tower with the writing; which -Tiny opened. -</p> - -<p> -And it was supposed to be written in blood, -only red ink really: and it ran, -</p> - -<p> -<i>I will pay u for your snuk. Cheek!</i> -<br /> -<i>St. J.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny turned rather pale: for he knew -the Commander-in-Chief never forgot, and -never forgave. -</p> - -<p> -But when Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"What is it?" he answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Only nothing," which was rather a favourite -saying of his, and quite a lie; but not one -to count. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then they all walked back to the Hall -under the elms; and there was a squash. -</p> - -<p> -And everybody came, including the people, -which they may in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And in one room were the presents hung -on to a wedding-tree, with the Boy over them -to see you didn't take any, and Cooey -strutting about the floor at the Colonel's heels, -very proud and puffed up; and in the next -Tiny and Baby stood in a row and shook -hands with everybody, including the Queen, -good old soul, who wiped her hands on her -apron first. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby smiled and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Thank you <i>so</i> much," about ten thousand -times. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny grinned and said, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm sure we shall," about the same. -</p> - -<p> -Only when the Junior Subaltern's turn -came, he could think of nothing to say, so he -looked foolish, instead. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby gave him the nicest smile of -all, and inside she said, -</p> - -<p> -"I will be a mother to this boy." -</p> - -<p> -But outside she said, -</p> - -<p> -"Thank you <i>so</i> much." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern's mouth opened -out, and he answered, -</p> - -<p> -"What for?" -</p> - -<p> -So some of the Fellows came and took him -away by the arms, though he screamed and -struggled a good lot—as usual. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that Tiny and Baby came out of -doors. -</p> - -<p> -And the mothers stood on the steps in -the sun, and waved, and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Goobye! Gobblessu! Goobye!" -</p> - -<p> -And the people cheered, and shouted, -</p> - -<p> -"Pip! pip! pooray!" -</p> - -<p> -And the bells rang; and the trees blew; -and Tiny walked away under the elms, -Baby on arm. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -10 -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern burst open the -corn-bin where they had put him for a bit, -and came back to the remains of the squash, -his knickers rather dusty and his hair rough. -</p> - -<p> -And because he thought it must be so -very nice, he asked three girls one after the -other, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Will you?" -</p> - -<p> -And they looked at him, and replied, -</p> - -<p> -"You're mad. No; I won't." -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern leaned his chin -on his collar, that had thumb-marks all over -it, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the first, who was proper, answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because I'm married already." -</p> - -<p> -And the second, who was sound, answered, -"Because I'm your Aunt." -</p> - -<p> -And the third, who was neither, cocked -her nose, and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of beastly cheek." -</p> - -<p> -And when the Junior Subaltern heard -that, he went very tired, and walked home -to his mother. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern's mother lived -in a cottage under the sky, with a wood at -the bottom, where the thrushes sang. And -all about you, as you walked in the wood, -was green moss and trunks of trees and -dappled sunshine; and all above you were -leaves with the wind in them like waves -foaming; and beyond that, blue sky where -a lark rippled. -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern cared for none -of that now, and just sat down with his back -to it all, and ate no dinner to call any for -him, because things were so hard. -</p> - -<p> -So his mother sent for the good old doctor, -who came on his cob, and leaned a trumpet -against the Junior Subaltern's chest. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern said faintly, -</p> - -<p> -"Are you there?" because he thought it -was a telephone, like they have in Abroad. -</p> - -<p> -But the doctor answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Say Ah!" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern said it, -</p> - -<p> -And the Doctor listened down the trumpet -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"I hear a guilty conscience." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern sent his mother -out of the room quick to get a second opinion. -</p> - -<p> -So his mother went to fetch the vet. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern confessed in -a whisper about the drop of you-know off -the feather in the porch, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Only don't tell mother." -</p> - -<p> -Just then his mother tramped back in -muddy boots and said she couldn't find him. -</p> - -<p> -So the good old doctor washed his hands -and said it didn't matter; and he dried them -before the fire, and went wise, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Er—I think a little careful regulation -of the diet will set things straight. Er—I -was just telling your son that I should only -drink milk and lots of water in it." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern's mother took -fire, and snapped, -</p> - -<p> -"That's all he does drink." -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern climbed under -the clothes. -</p> - -<p> -And when his mother saw that, she wept, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern answered from -under the clothes, -</p> - -<p> -"Because I must try to get a little sleep -now." -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But the Commander-in-Chief sat with his -hump in the Castle tower, and planned more -E-vil. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-049"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-049.jpg" alt="Book III headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book III headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK III.—TINY AND BABY IN MOONLAND -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -11 -</p> - -<p> -Tiny came to the Station, Baby on arm. -</p> - -<p> -And there the train was waiting with a -white rosette on the puff part. -</p> - -<p> -And they got in, and Tiny leaned out, -and shook hands confidentially with the nice -old guard, who locked the door in return, -though there was nobody else to go, only a -milk-can. -</p> - -<p> -For it is a private train that goes once a -day loaded with honeymoon couples only, by -order of the King, who is very good and kind, -although he has to be so strict. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny said to the driver, -</p> - -<p> -"Moonland, please!" and came in, and -shut all the windows without asking Baby's -leave, and turned up his collar, and sat down -in the cosiest corner, and after a good big -yawn went to sleep: for that is what -you do if you are a man even in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby played with the window-strap -in the corner furthest away, and smiled. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that the train went till it could -go no further, because of no more land to -go on. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny woke up in a great fuss: for -Tiny was always either asleep or in a -terrible state; and he poked out and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Good! here we are. Come along, I say! -Come along. <i>Do</i> come along, Ma-bel." And -he climbed down with the bag full of -luggage, and Baby after him with her cage of -canary. -</p> - -<p> -And they stood together on the platform, -and looked about them. -</p> - -<p> -And it was about morning by now, and the -sky was a sort of grey blank, and the platform -quite bare only for a great label across it that -said in huge letters, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - MOONLAND<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And Moonland is a great space with -nothing in it only a green hill, a brown moor, -and in the middle a blue lake supposed to -have a fish in it. -</p> - -<p> -And on the edge of the lake is a stodgy -house made of mud and dirt, whitewashed -over, where they let lodgings; only nobody -takes them. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw that, she stood on one -leg, and whistled, -</p> - -<p> -"I say! <i>do</i> look," because she loved it so. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny, who only really cared about his -food, answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Yes, yes, my dear, I know, I know," and -fussed off with the bag, and climbed on -to the box of the cab, because, he said, he -was such friends with the cabman, and began -to whip up the horse, and tug at the reins, -shouting, -</p> - -<p> -"Gee-woa! Gee-woa!" for it was one of -Tiny's things that he thought he was very -good at a horse. -</p> - -<p> -But the cabman, who was rusty and crusty -in an old top-hat, said, -</p> - -<p> -"Leggo, will ye?" and went into Tiny's -wind with his elbow to quiet him. -</p> - -<p> -So they drove across the moor, over the -hill, down to the lake, till they came to the -house. -</p> - -<p> -And in the window hung a cardboard saying, -</p> - -<p> -<i>Lessons, Singing, and Boxing taught here:</i> -for it is a school as well as a lodging; only -no pupils come. -</p> - -<p> -And in the porch the landlady was sitting -in curls, playing with her thumbs rather -dumpily. -</p> - -<p> -But when Tiny bustled down with the bag, -yelling, -</p> - -<p> -"Lodgin' fer two, quick, please!" she -cheered up, and ran round, and cooked a little -cake, and gave it them; only they couldn't -eat it, because of too tough. -</p> - -<p> -So they turned their backs, and had -sandwiches out of the bag instead; which was -rather depressing for the landlady after all -her trouble. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -12 -</p> - -<p> -And after that Tiny and Baby were alone -by themselves together, because they might -be now; which is called honeymoon. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-054"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-054.jpg" alt="ALONE BY THEMSELVES TOGETHER" /> -<br /> -ALONE BY THEMSELVES TOGETHER -</p> - -<p> -And it was Autumn, and jolly. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby always said she liked Autumn -best, because she did: for Baby always had -good reasons for everything. -</p> - -<p> -And the woods were golden, and the moors -brown, and the sea grey on the edge of -everywhere. -</p> - -<p> -And every morning they went out arm -in arm. And when they got outside, Baby -let go of Tiny, and bustled along at a great -pace with her arms swinging, crying, -</p> - -<p> -"I go one hundred miles to-day. How -far d'you?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny caught her up, and passed her, -and panted, -</p> - -<p> -"Twice the same." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"Then go. I sit and watch you," and -she sat down plump in a puddle by the edge -of the lake. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny came back, and sat beside her, -and said in her ear, -</p> - -<p> -"Why d'you lie so, Baby?" -</p> - -<p> -But Baby only hugged her knees, and -giggled, -</p> - -<p> -"Because I don't." -</p> - -<p> -And after that it poured; and they sat -all day in a puddle in the rain, by the edge -of the lake, and simplee loved it. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby felt the rain on her face, -she cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Isn't rain jolly?—I like it better than -anything only fine." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only aimed both eyes so they -met at the end of his nose, where a -raindrop was, and he shot his tongue, and curled -it up tight, and took the drop off on the tip. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw that, she threw back, -and roared, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Tiny! you are a little raskil! pomme-word -you are!" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only waggled his shoulders, and -bubbled his eyes, and did it again to a new -drop. -</p> - -<p> -And that is all they said and did, because -that is all you've got to say and do. -</p> - -<p> -Only when a pi-looking person squelched -by in goloshers, they wound round, and -lifted up their faces, and screamed together, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "Two ittle tots<br /> - On the spwee-wee-wee,<br /> - Out of the<br /> - Nurser-wee-wee,<br /> - Two and anover<br /> - Make thwee-wee-wee,<br /> - So come you and join you<br /> - With we, we, we."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But the pi person only stopped, and -looked through her spectacles, and said -pretty severely, -</p> - -<p> -"I thank you—no!" -</p> - -<p> -And she tramped on under her umbrella, -with her skirts hitched high. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -13 -</p> - -<p> -Then one day it stopped raining. So they -set out one behind the other very secretly to -explore the moor. -</p> - -<p> -And they found great pools, and tiny fairy -water-falls, and water-slides shooting over -green rocks. And Baby wanted to take her -clothes off and go in, but Tiny said he'd tell -if she did. -</p> - -<p> -So in the end Baby went in with her -clothes on, and loved it; and Baby called -that an accident, which was quite a lie. -</p> - -<p> -And after that they found the two loveliest -mountain-ferns there are, called the beech -and the oak fern; at least Baby found the -ferns, while Tiny steamed on in front in a -perspiration, calling, -</p> - -<p> -"Come on! come on! Else we shall -never get there." -</p> - -<p> -For Tiny always wanted to get somewhere, -he didn't know quite where, only -that it was just on in front. But when -he got as far as in front, he always -found it was a little further, and so on etc. -</p> - -<p> -Then they climbed the hill. -</p> - -<p> -And when they got to the top there was -a great wind there, and the sky blown clear, -with the sea flashing far away beneath, and -white seagulls floating and screaming between -them and it. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby was rosy with wind, and her -hair splendid in the sun, and little tresses -wild about her face, and she bowed and -gleamed and yelled, -</p> - -<p> -"I say, Tiny! Isn't it simplee tip-up-top?" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only bent, and held her up -against the wind into the sun, and looked, -and looked. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then they came down the hill, and home -across the moor by the edge of the lake. -</p> - -<p> -And it began to be night. And the wind -went down, and the moon rose up. And -the moor was black as ink, and the moon -white as silver, and the sky shining like a -diamond. -</p> - -<p> -And a large great ghost-owl swooped about -them on wavy wings, as they tipped along -on their toes. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby held Tiny's little finger and -whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny held Baby's, and whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, Baby." -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So they crept into the house; and up the -stairs in the dark; and to bed by a star; -and a little hushaby wind rocked them to -sleep. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -14 -</p> - -<p> -But Baby and Tiny weren't really so idle -as they made out; because all the time Baby -taught Tiny. -</p> - -<p> -And she taught Tiny jolly well, although -only between ten and twenty. -</p> - -<p> -And <i>really</i> Baby was years and years -older than Tiny, though <i>truly</i> she was years -and years younger. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby began Tiny from the very -beginning and taught him up, because that -is best. -</p> - -<p> -And she taught him most of the time -<i>without words</i>. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny was pretty clever when he tried, -which he honestly did. And it was wonderful -how quick he picked it up. -</p> - -<p> -And really Tiny had learnt it all before -from his mother in the nursery, only he -thought he'd forgotten it. But when Baby -began to teach him, it all came back quick. -So that made it easy for Baby to teach, and -for Tiny to learn. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby, when she found how well -grounded Tiny had been, sat in a white -frock, with chestnut hair, and wrote to -Tiny's mother a thank-you-for-my-nice-husband -letter, which you do in That Country -after the first month, if you find him -satisfactory. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny's mother was so pleased when -she got the letter that she cried. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And Tiny's mother lived by the willow -near the bridge. And when the wind blew -the willow turned white. And Tiny's mother -when she lay in bed could just see the top -branches black in the moon as they stirred -to and fro. And whenever she woke she -could hear the wind in the willow tree, like -the rustle of angels; and at the back of the -rustle was the groaning of ghosts under the -bridge. -</p> - -<p> -But the rustle of angels went on always -and always; and the groaning of ghosts -only at times. -</p> - -<p> -And that is like things as they really are: -for Love goes on for ever, but Pain only at -times—just enough to remind you. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So Baby taught Tiny. And at last she got -him so far that he even learnt to stand on -the rug, with his hands behind him, and say, -</p> - -<p> -"Sorry," when he should, which was -mostly always. -</p> - -<p> -So that showed a good come on: for Tiny -was like a lot more, he never said Sorry -when he could say anything else. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby was in the wrong herself sometimes. -</p> - -<p> -And when she was in the wrong, Tiny -was in the right. And that pleased Tiny; -but it made Baby mad. For Baby wanted -to be right all the time always herself, and -nobody else; only she couldn't, because you -can't: for that's how things aren't. -</p> - -<p> -So she went under a cloud instead; and -there was no more sun for Tiny for that -time. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny nursed Baby to win the sun -back. And when he had nursed her till -he was about dead, she forgave him for -being in the right, and took him back; and -the sun came out again. -</p> - -<p> -And after that Baby sat upon him very -pleasantly, while they sang the Sorry Song -they had made, which goes, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "When you've been naughty, when you've done wrong,<br /> - When you've been sulky instead of a song,<br /> - When you've been stubbin, and think you've been strong,<br /> - Then be a good girl and say Sorry—<br /> -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - <i>I'll be a good girl and say Sorry.</i><br /> -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "When you have said something sounds like a swear,<br /> - When you have been in a jolly old tear,<br /> - When you've behaved like a beast of a bear,<br /> - Then be a good boy and say Sorry—<br /> -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - <i>I'll be a good boy and say Sorry.</i><br /> -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "When we are sad and yet remain dry,<br /> - When we feel sort of we wish we could die,<br /> - Perhaps we'd be better, perhaps we could cry,<br /> - If we'd only be good and say Sorry—<br /> -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - <i>We'll be good boy-and-girl and say Sorry."</i><br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny hugged Baby; and Baby -squealed; and the landlady ran like a -lightning pudding, and looked in. -</p> - -<p> -And when she saw, that pleased the landlady, -so that she smiled. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -15 -</p> - -<p> -So some time went by. -</p> - -<p> -Then one evening after tea, as Tiny lay flat -in a fat chair with his legs out, and slept -aloud, which he always did till bedtime, when -he woke up very spry and wanted to lecture -on his favourite subject, Baby came in with -a secret smile and the great picture alphabet-book -she had given him for wedding-present -under her arm. -</p> - -<p> -But directly Tiny saw the book, he held -tight to the chair with his arms, and kicked -towards Baby with both feet, and screamed, -</p> - -<p> -"I won't! I won't! I won't!" -</p> - -<p> -But Baby put the book on the table, and -a little straight-up thin chair by it, and called -very bright and firm, -</p> - -<p> -"Now, Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny pretended asleep louder than -ever, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Wharisit? wharamarrer?" -</p> - -<p> -So Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"To work up E for promotion." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny whimpered through his nose, -</p> - -<p> -"Tiny don't want. Tiny tired," which was -quite a lie. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby only smiled and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Tiny must. Else I won't be married to Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny climbed out of the fat chair, and -lowered himself on the thin one, saying rather -tearfully, -</p> - -<p> -"I don't care. I don't think it's fair. I -take you on my honey-moon with me, and -all you do in return is to make me sit up -and swank." And he slammed the book -about a bit. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby paid no heed, because it's best -not, when they're like that: for when they see -you take no notice, they soon get over it. -</p> - -<p> -So she just climbed into her chair instead -and ate her bread and milk, and watched Tiny -over it, working away at E straight up at the -table. -</p> - -<p> -And after about a bit Baby leaned over and -took the book away, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"And now try." -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-066"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-066.jpg" alt="AND TOOK THE BOOK AWAY" /> -<br /> -AND TOOK THE BOOK AWAY -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny came out of his hands, and shut -his eyes, and opened his mouth, and said very -slow, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "E was an Elephant ever so Big<br /> - Danced on a Beer-barrel jig-a-jig-jig."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Baby hammered the table with her -spoon, and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"All correct. Well done, Tiny-boy. Very -well said indeed, indeed." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny asked with his eye-brows, and -prayed with his hands, -</p> - -<p> -"Enough for one night, Baby?" -</p> - -<p> -So Baby went back to her bread-and-milk, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Very well, then. Some more to-morrow, -though, because of the Commander-in-Chief." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Good time now; bad time never," which -was rather a favourite saying of his. -</p> - -<p> -And he got up from the thin chair, and -fainted away in the fat one, murmuring, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "Tiny, sleep a lirel longer,<br /> - Till the lirel limbs are stronger,<br /> - Sleep, my lirel one, sleep, my prery one,<br /> - Sleep."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -16 -</p> - -<p> -And about the middle of that very night, -Cooey flew in at the window, with a writing -under his wing; for the windows have to be -open all the time in That Country: for that -is one of the rules; and you have to keep the -rules everywhere always just the same—else -you suffer; which is Law. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny sat up in bed, and read the -writing by the moon; while Cooey perched -on Baby's shoulder, as she slept, and crooned -to her. -</p> - -<p> -And the writing ran in a great blob hand -like a baby's, -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<i>Come back at once. Cowud. Leaving it all -to me to do. And I never would have believed -it of u. This is one for your snuk. There is -Goliuf to pay for yet.</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>The Hon. St Jack-Assquire.</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>P.S.—I am getting ready a nice supprize -for u and the Redgment.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny shut his eyes, and folded his -hands very piously, and said a lot of things -low to himself. -</p> - -<p> -And after that he scribbled on the back of -the writing, -</p> - -<p> -"Charmed, I'm shaw," and gave it Cooey, -who splashed out of the window with it. -</p> - -<p> -And when the splashing of Cooey's wings -had died away, Tiny got up, and bent over -Baby as she slept and whispered in her ear, -</p> - -<p> -"Good-bye, Baby. Now I go home." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby woke up quick, and stood up -on her elbows in bed, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because I have had enough for now, -thank-you," for he didn't want to frighten -Baby; and he sat on the edge of the bed, and -got into his sock. -</p> - -<p> -And when that was done, he took up the -bag full of luggage, and the canary by the -cage, for Baby had taught him how to carry -both now, and trotted downstairs with them. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby crept up to the landlady's door -on tip-toe, so as not to disturb her—for they -had grown to love the landlady, because she -was so good and fat—and shoved a note of -paper under the crack. -</p> - -<p> -And on it outside was, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - With love<br /> - from<br /> - Baby and Tiny.<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And in it inside was a sixpenny, which was -a penny more than they owed her, so that -she could retire on it if she liked. -</p> - -<p> -Which she did. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -17 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny and Baby went out of doors -into the dusk. -</p> - -<p> -And one moist star was stuck over the top -of the hill, which looked like a black tent -against a grey sheet: for the sun was going -to get up soon. -</p> - -<p> -And on the top of the hill under the star -was a little madman waving both arms, which -he always did, when he thought he saw the -sun, to tell the people time to get up. -</p> - -<p> -Only sometimes he made a mistake, and it -was the moon instead. -</p> - -<p> -Then the people all went back to bed, and -were cross, and gave it the little madman -when he came down from the hill at midday -for his bun. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So Tiny and Baby walked away over the -moor in the white of the dawn, arm in arm, -back to That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-073"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-073.jpg" alt="Book IV headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book IV headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK IV.—TINY AND BABY GO HOME -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -18 -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny and Baby came back to That -Country, and staid with the mothers, one -hour with each mother: for that is one of the -rules. -</p> - -<p> -And when they were gone, each mother -sat down all day in the table in the window -in the sun, and wrote round: four sheets -to everybody, four hundred sheets in all. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby's mother chuckled, because she -was so happy; and <i>she</i> thumped her envelope -with her fist: but Tiny's mother cried, -because she loved that best; and she -smoothed hers with the flat of her hand. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -19 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny went down the Tumbledown -Hill to the Town, Baby on arm. -</p> - -<p> -And the Town is an old ancient street -with the Church on one side, and the -Inn on the other, and the Policeman -between; and that is all: for it is only a -country town, although the capital of That -Country. -</p> - -<p> -And at the back of the Inn is the market -with pens inside a wall. -</p> - -<p> -And there the people come every Thursday -to sell their things. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny and Baby got there it was -market-day. -</p> - -<p> -So all the people were trying to sell their -things to each other. -</p> - -<p> -Only everybody wanted to sell, and -nobody to buy; which is often the way. -</p> - -<p> -So that made it rather difficult all round. -</p> - -<p> -But when Tiny and Baby came in they -stopped arguing, and began to stare instead. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -20 -</p> - -<p> -And the Queen was there trying to sell -a white moo-calf, because she said she -wanted the money to buy her a bonnet. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-074"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-074.jpg" alt="THE QUEEN WAS THERE" /> -<br /> -THE QUEEN WAS THERE -</p> - -<p> -So everybody came round and pinched -the Queen's calf, though nobody bought it. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny saw that he went and -pinched it too very shrewdly, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Ha!" and "Hum!" with his hat a bit -on one side: for Tiny didn't want to buy -the Queen's calf himself, but he liked the -Queen to think he did. -</p> - -<p> -And the vet was there running up and -down on a string a little rough, round pony -that pattered, trying to sell it, because he -said he'd outgrown it. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw how rough and -round the pony was, and how it pattered, she -clapped her hands and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Oh, the duck!" and asked the vet if -she might run it up and down on the string -a bit. -</p> - -<p> -And when the vet, who was rather hot -and panty, said, -</p> - -<p> -"Suttinly, Miss," she ran it up and down -till she could run no longer; and after that -she went into a corner out of the crowd -with the vet, and gasped, -</p> - -<p> -"How much?" -</p> - -<p> -So the vet whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"I'll leave it to you, Miss, because it's to -a good ome." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby turned her back, and gave -him some out of her sixpenny purse. -</p> - -<p> -And she christened the pony Puck, and led -him away by the string. -</p> - -<p> -And a little further on the Junior -Subaltern's mother was trollying a little -go-cart about with the King in his crown in -it, to try to sell it, because she said her son -didn't care for it any more. -</p> - -<p> -And the King, now he'd had his ride, -said, nor did he, and got down, and, after -taking off his crown very courteously, -bustled off to join in pinching the Queen's -calf; which was rather depressing for the -Junior Subaltern's mother after all her -trouble. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby came up with Puck, and -kissed her to comfort her; and after that -she bought the little go-cart out of her penny -purse, which comforted the old lady still -more. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby harnessed Puck to the go-cart, -and tied him by his string to the wall, -while she ran and got Tiny away from the -Queen's calf. -</p> - -<p> -And they went round the pens together, -and chose out some things, and some servants. -</p> - -<p> -And there were about four things, and three -servants. -</p> - -<p> -And one servant said her name was -Phyllis; and she was plump and brisk: but -the Others didn't seem to know what their -names were; and they were dressy and -draggly. -</p> - -<p> -And really the Others didn't belong to -That Country, but had got in by mistake -from Abroad, one Bank Holiday. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby only took them because they -wanted a home: for you mayn't sleep out in -That Country except in the summer, when -you mayn't sleep in. -</p> - -<p> -And people only have one servant in That -Country, except at the Castle, where they -have none: for there the Queen does it all. -</p> - -<p> -Then they shoved the things under the seat -of the little cart; and Tiny and Baby got up; -and Baby cracked the whip; and Tiny tugged -the reins; and Puck started off for Cosy -Cottage at a run-away patter; while Phyllis -walked and the Others trailed behind. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And when they got to the Common everything -was exactly as they had left it, with -Methuselah just nodding off to sleep under -the thorn; and by the yew the Colonel standing -with his shako off, and little Marwy on a -string, visiting her mother's grave. -</p> - -<p> -For it was about evening by now. -</p> - -<p> -And they could see the Fort on the Hill in -the sunset, and some of the Fellows playing -pranky on the wall: while the Junior Subaltern -was hiding behind a buttress, gulping -the sponge-cake they swab out the great -cannon with. -</p> - -<p> -And the rooks were cawing home in the -dusk; and the starlings whirred and chirred -among the gorse; and old Goly rolled down -the Hill from the Fort with the letters, the -Boy holding on to his tail, because he said he -would do brake. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And as they came to Cosy Cottage, the -stars came out and shone, and the sparrows -chattered as they went to bed in the creepers. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw that she trembled and -whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"I say, Tiny!" because she loved it so. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But round the corner the Commander-in-Chief -waited at the Castle-window. -</p> - -<p> -And when he saw them drive up he smiled. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -21 -</p> - -<p> -Then as they got down, all of a sudden a -merry little voice from the boot-hole began to -sing, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "I'm Master Mischeevous,<br /> - My conduct's so grievous,<br /> - They've bottled me tight<br /> - In a hole—O!<br /> - But I laugh—ha! ha! ha!<br /> - And I sing—tra-la-la!<br /> - For they never can bottle<br /> - My soul—O!"<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Baby clutched Tiny's arm, and -whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Who?" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only put his finger to his lips, -and led round to the back on his toes. And -there he unlocked the door of the boot-hole, -and whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Look." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby peeped round Tiny's shoulder. -</p> - -<p> -And there was a dear little brown mannikin, -only so high, with a winky way with -him, who scuttled about on bandy legs, and -nibbled a nut. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny answered, -</p> - -<p> -"By order of the King." -</p> - -<p> -And he told Baby how the mannikin -really belonged to the King, who had taken -him away from home, to try to make a -better mannikin of him, for really he was -so very naughty; and the King has to be -very strict, although he is so good and kind. -</p> - -<p> -And the King lent him Tiny (by the secret -advice of the Commander-in-Chief) to spit on -his boots for him. And in return Tiny was -to keep him good and tight in the boot-hole, -only when he let him out for a little -run in the back-yard at dark; which he did -now. -</p> - -<p> -And after he had done him up again, he -went and hung the key on the nail in the -kitchen, where it lived. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Baby and Phyllis went down on -their knees in the parlour and undid the -things. -</p> - -<p> -And after they had undone them, they -arranged them round the wall in a row, -while Tiny sat in an easy chair, and made -remarks, which was the best he could do. -</p> - -<p> -So after about a bit Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"Now <i>you</i> do some," and she plumped down. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny stood on a chair in the parlour, -and put his thumb against the wall, and -hammered it; while Phyllis stood below -with the picture; and Baby said from the -easy chair, -</p> - -<p> -"That's capital." -</p> - -<p> -Only it didn't take Tiny quite that way: -for he got off the chair and walked about -the room with his knees up, and corked -his mouth with his thumb, and so on etc. -</p> - -<p> -Only when he saw Baby took no notice, -he soon got over it; which is often the way. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that Tiny and Baby ran up and -downstairs at the double. -</p> - -<p> -And when they got to the top and bottom, -they turned and ran down and up again. -</p> - -<p> -And they got in Phyllis's way rather as -she tidied up; but she didn't mind, only so -long as they enjoyed themselves. -</p> - -<p> -Then they stood at opposite ends of the -Cottage, and gave the Others contradictory -orders in loud voices. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -So they got the key from the nail, and -undid him. -</p> - -<p> -Then mannikin came out into the kitchen, -where he wasn't really allowed, and sat -on the edge of the table, sucking his thumb. -</p> - -<p> -So the Others held each other, gasping, -</p> - -<p> -"My!" and asked him what the secret was. -</p> - -<p> -But mannikin only swung his legs and -said he'd forgotten. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And one of the Others came later and -picked it up, to hang on the nail; only she -forgot—and a good job too. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -22 -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And he crept along the passage and -shoved the green-baize door, and peeped -into the hall. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And as Tiny looked, he sealed it with a -black seal, and said with a snigger, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of Goliath." -</p> - -<p> -Then he rang for the Queen, and gave it -her, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Important—Private—Secret. For Cooey -in the morning." -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-086"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-086.jpg" alt="THEN HE RANG FOR THE QUEEN" /> -<br /> -THEN HE RANG FOR THE QUEEN -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But Tiny crept home in the dark, with -a little rainy wind in his face, and wondered. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-090"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-090.jpg" alt="Book V headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book V headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK V.—TINY AND BABY QUARREL -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -23 -</p> - -<p> -Next morning Baby woke up very happy, -because she was at home. -</p> - -<p> -And she lay and listened to the day -getting up, which was rather a favourite -thing of Baby's. -</p> - -<p> -And first the Policeman tramped by in -boots. -</p> - -<p> -Then a cock at the farm crew a lot to -say it was dawn, when it wasn't. -</p> - -<p> -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, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm first! I'm first! I'm first!" -</p> - -<p> -And that woke a robin in the yew-hedge -which piped, -</p> - -<p> -"Cheek! Cheek! Cheek!" and began to -laugh in its little way. -</p> - -<p> -Then a rook sailed out to work, groaning, -</p> - -<p> -"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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby got up, and went to the window. -</p> - -<p> -And the sun was just up and staring white -through the black of the trees: for it was -about Christmas by now. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "I hop in the boot-hole,<br /> - As happy can be,<br /> - As bold as a robin,<br /> - As brisk as the sea,<br /> - I chirp like a cricket,<br /> - I buzz as a bee<br /> - A-swing in the fox-glove,<br /> - A-blow on the lea."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -"Get up, Lazy-bones! get up! get -up!—Everybody's up and busy and merry long -ago only you." -</p> - -<p> -And she began to dance about with her -hair down, singing, -</p> - -<p> -"O, I say!—Shan't we just be happy -here? happy here? happy here?" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only groaned, and got up, one -leg at a time. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And the first thing he saw was the -Commander-in-Chief stealing out of the back-door -in his bedroom slippers. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-092"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-092.jpg" alt="STEALING OUT IN HIS SLIPPERS" /> -<br /> -STEALING OUT IN HIS SLIPPERS -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -24 -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And soon he forgot all about the -Commander-in-Chief, and stood before the glass a -long long time, and simplee loved it. -</p> - -<p> -Then he dragged himself away, and went -downstairs, and did the lamp and the knife, -which was always his little job. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -So he came to the door. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw Tiny in his redcoat, -very tall, and jolly little curls all over, she -thought, -</p> - -<p> -"How <i>most</i> beautiful!" Only she didn't -say for fear of bad for Tiny, because she knew -about the glass, for she had peeped. -</p> - -<p> -Instead she played with his medals, and -tapped him under the chin, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"How <i>most</i> booful!" which was much -better for Tiny. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny went sulky-shy and pulled away. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby saw that she left it, and -went back to the window to watch a little -figure creeping across the Common towards -the Cottage. -</p> - -<p> -But directly her back was turned, Tiny -bent and looked at himself some more in -the shiny tea-thing; and that pleased Tiny, -so that he smiled. And the more he looked -the more he was pleased. And the more he -was pleased the more he smiled. And the -more he smiled the more he thought how -<i>very</i> jolly, and <i>what</i> teeth! -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby turned. And when she saw -Tiny staring she went up and down and -roared, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"O my dear boy!" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny turned his back on the -tea-thing; and he was cross, because he was -found-out. -</p> - -<p> -Then he thought of a little lie, and -cheered up, and told it; and it was, -</p> - -<p> -"I was looking at the crest." -</p> - -<p> -But Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"The crest is the other side, Tiny," -which was rather depressing for Tiny after -all his trouble. -</p> - -<p> -So he went crosser than ever, because he -was found-out twice now. -</p> - -<p> -And he took off the bit of plaister that -he had allowed Baby to put on his thumb -last night, and threw it down, and trod on -it, to show he would be master in his own -house. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby teased some more and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Poor Tiny then! it was a shame, it -was! He shall worship himself, he shall." And -she said that because Tiny had told a -little lie, and she was teaching him. And -Baby didn't often teach by tease, for she -didn't believe in it; but she did this time -because Tiny had lied a little. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny nibbled his nails, because he -knew that would annoy Baby; but he said -nothing, because there was nothing to say. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby went back to the window, -and said inside, -</p> - -<p> -"Poor old Tiny! If I was Tiny and -like so," which was very tall and little -curls all over, "I know I'd be the very -same only worse." Only Baby really was -much nicer herself; only she didn't think -so much about it, because of a girl and too -sensible; and Tiny thought about nothing -much else, because of a man and so silly. -But Baby taught him so that he began to -have time to think little bits about other -things too; so that less time went before the -glass; only it was rather hard for Tiny at -first. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby remembered that, she -went up to Tiny, and patted his shoulder, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"There, old boy!" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny went back at her with both -elbows to show he wouldn't be good. -</p> - -<p> -And it was very wrong indeed of Tiny; -and he knew that quite well. And the more -he knew it the more ashamed he was. And -the more ashamed he was the more he -wouldn't own up. And the more he wouldn't -the more he wanted to. So it went in a sort -of circle, as it always does. -</p> - -<p> -And it was like trying to climb a hill by -running down it. And really a better way is -to stick in your heels, and come up jerk, -and turn, and plod. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby rang the bell to change the -subject. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -25 -</p> - -<p> -And when the bell went Phyllis collected -the Others, and stood them by the door, -while she ran to get mannikin out of the -boot-hole: for he might come too if he liked. -</p> - -<p> -But she found the key wasn't on the nail. -So she ran to the Others in rather a state, -and asked them, -</p> - -<p> -Then one of the Others fussed about in her -pocket, and found it, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Well I never!—Now however did it get -there?" -</p> - -<p> -So Phyllis answered, pretty sharp, -</p> - -<p> -"It got there because you put it there," and -she ran off with the key. -</p> - -<p> -But the Others stayed behind, and agreed -secretly to dislike Phyllis. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-100"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-100.jpg" alt="BUT THE OTHERS AGREED TO DISLIKE PHYLLIS" /> -<br /> -BUT THE OTHERS AGREED TO DISLIKE PHYLLIS -</p> - -<p> -Then Phyllis came to the boot-hole, and -unlocked it. -</p> - -<p> -And the boot-hole was a dear little place, -very dark and dewy, with bricks for the floor, -and a glass-hole at the top with wire over -it, so he couldn't get out that way. -</p> - -<p> -And it was furnished all round the walls -with blacking bottles, and across the middle -with a knife-board done up in red powder -by the King's command, to make it comfie -for him. -</p> - -<p> -Then Phyllis tried to collect mannikin; -only he wouldn't be collected. -</p> - -<p> -So Phyllis said, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -But mannikin only sat on his hands on -the knife-board, with his back very round, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Becob I won't," which wasn't a bit like -mannikin, for though he was so mischievous, -he was very merry too mostly always. -</p> - -<p> -Then Phyllis answered quite kindly, -</p> - -<p> -"Then don't, my dear. I only thought it -would make a little run for you." -</p> - -<p> -But mannikin only said quite snappy, -</p> - -<p> -"Goodness sake, go 'way." -</p> - -<p> -So she went; locking the door behind -her, to keep him good and tight. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And the real truth was that about a -minute back the Commander-in-Chief had -crept into the back-yard in his slippers, -and whispered mannikin through the crack -to tell him where the key was, and he -would let him out to escape. For the -Commander-in-Chief knew that would get -Tiny into an awful row with the King. -</p> - -<p> -So mannikin got in a fearful state, and ran -up and down the door, and told the -Commander-in-Chief about the key on the nail -in the kitchen, and to get it <i>quick</i>! goodness -sake <i>quick</i>! -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief crept to the -back-door, disguised as a milk-man, and -peeped into the kitchen. And he found the -nail, but no key on it: for the key was in the -pocket of one of the Others all the time—and -a good job, too. -</p> - -<p> -So when the Commander-in-Chief saw he -was disappointed of spiting Tiny that way, -he ran back to the crack, and spat, and -swore most terribly, while poor little mannikin -cuddled away in the corner out of range. -</p> - -<p> -And the Commander-in-Chief said he must -report mannikin to the King for trying to -escape, because it was his duty: for the -Commander-in-Chief is head of the Policeman as -well as of the Army in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And he went on about how he would never -have believed it, <i>never</i>; and how disappointed -he was; and how he had hoped, and so on, etc. -</p> - -<p> -And now, he said, however much it pained -him, he must tell the King that mannikin -only grew worse and worse, and make His -Majesty promise to keep him tight in the -boot-hole all his life for ever. -</p> - -<p> -And after that he pretended to blub a bit -outside the door to show how grieved he was; -and then turned away. -</p> - -<p> -So poor mannikin found himself worse off -instead of better, which is often the way, if -you try too much. -</p> - -<p> -Only he soon got over it, and began to -sing instead; for mannikin took nothing to -heart very much. -</p> - -<p> -But the Commander-in-Chief shuffled away -across the Common in his bedroom slippers, -very busy and bad. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -26 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny grumbled some out of a book. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then, when that was done, and Phyllis -and the Others had left the parlour, Tiny just -dumped down and gobbled porridge without -a word. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby played music on the table -behind the sugar-bowl; and she was rather -white, and rather tired; and she said. -</p> - -<p> -"Very sorry, Tiny. Shall I ring for more?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny snapped, -</p> - -<p> -"Yes. No. What you like." -</p> - -<p> -And when he had said that, he wanted to -say sorry so bad that he thought he would -unless he left the room. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby came to the door, and peeped -at his back; and water stood in Baby's eyes; -and she said low, -</p> - -<p> -"I'll tidy up, and have everything square -by the time you get back, Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny just joggled, and pretended -don't-care-damb some more. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby peeped; and her handkerchief -was at her mouth; and she said in a -wee voice, -</p> - -<p> -"Back for tea, Tiny?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Dunno," and joggled down the path. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby gasped, -</p> - -<p> -"Hope you will, Tiny-boy!" And she -shut the door and ran, because she was taken -blubby bad. -</p> - -<p> -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, -</p> - -<p> -"You <i>are</i> a darling! I <i>am</i> a cad." -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -But the door was shut. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny ran up and down on his feet, -and cried at the key-hole, -</p> - -<p> -"Lemme in! lemme in! lemme in! O -Baby! I <i>do</i> love you! Truly sorry! lemme -in!" -</p> - -<p> -But it was too late then. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny stood outside the door and -wished he hadn't. And that is what -Adam spent his time doing outside the -Gates of Eden. And it is what most of -us spend a lot of time doing when it's too -late. And it very often isn't till you -stand outside and wish you hadn't, that -you know how jolly it was inside, before -you had. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny turned away down the steps -no more joggle now; and he was so sorry -he blew his nose. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby heard his nose go from her -room above, and she knew, and thought, -</p> - -<p> -"You dear old goose, you!" which was a -very favourite thought of Baby's, and like -Baby to think it just then. -</p> - -<p> -And she tipped on her toes in the middle -of the room, and saw Tiny going through -the gate blowing his nose to take the water -out of his eyes. And when she saw that, -she waved to him, only he couldn't see -her, and she didn't want him to, for after -all she was teaching Tiny, and he had -been about as bad as a man can be, which is -pretty bad. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby picked up her skirts, and did -some steps before the looking-glass. -</p> - -<p> -And she looked pretty tip-top; only there -was nobody to see her only herself. -</p> - -<p> -So she swung round, and stopped before -the glass, and bobbed to herself, and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"You're pretty jolly, Miss." -</p> - -<p> -Then she remembered Tiny and the -tea-thing, and she roared, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"You're far worse than Tiny, my dear -girl!" And she gave a twirl and a skip and -kicked her hand with her foot; and was as -free and happy as a lark because she knew -she had won. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby always won over Tiny, because -she always won over herself. And if you -can't win over yourself, you can't expect to -win over other people. -</p> - -<p> -And a woman can always win over a man, -so long as the man is decently good, and -so long as she goes by the Big Rule. For -the Big Rule is the same in That Country as -in all others. -</p> - -<p> -And the Big Rule is, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<i>Love is Power.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -27 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny walked across the Common. -</p> - -<p> -And the road gleamed before him in the -sun, so that it was like walking on a silver -river; for the frost was oozing out of the -ground, though all under the gorse-bushes -was white still. And the ivy on the beeches -in the Wood at the foot of the Fort-hill shone -till it dazzled, while the beeches themselves -were a cloud of purple. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny got into the shadow of -the Wood the road was hard again, and rang -to his feet; and all the little pools were -feathered over with ice; and a chaffinch sat -on a bare bough, and pinked. -</p> - -<p> -And all that was lovely. Only Tiny didn't -see any of it: for he was so sad inside that -everything was dark to him. -</p> - -<p> -But when he had gone by, the -Commander-in-Chief, who had been hiding behind -a beech-trunk, came out, and stood in the -road, with his hands on his knees, and laughed -<i>most</i> horridly. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-113"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-113.jpg" alt="Book VI headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book VI headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK VI.—THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF PAYS FOR GOLIATH -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -28 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny climbed up the Hill to the Fort. -</p> - -<p> -And there the Fellows were taking down -the wire netting, which they always put round -the wall at dark, in case They should come on -by night: for They were like a lot more, They -were always supposed to be going to do a -heap of things They never did. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny shook hands with the brown -Captain, and kicked the yellow one, and -crawled through the wall by the cannon-hole, -and out on to the barrack-square. -</p> - -<p> -And the barrack-square was a sort of blank -desert with cubicles all round; and the Junior -Subaltern was making up the beds inside, -which was always his little job: for the Junior -Subaltern has to do all the things that nobody -else will do in that Regiment. -</p> - -<p> -But directly he saw Tiny, he shut up work, -and came across the square, very silly and -sheepish. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern walked with his -toes rather turned in. And his knickers were -patched, and his stockings darned: for his -mother was a very careful woman. And his -collar had slipped up the back of his neck, so -that there was a great gap: for his back-button -was off, as usual, although they always put -him under arrest for it whenever they -remembered. But what the Junior Subaltern always -said was, -</p> - -<p> -"It's mother—not me." -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then when he got quite close to Tiny, he -looked at his toes, and said in a very little -whisper, -</p> - -<p> -"Truly sorry, Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny frowned and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"I should just think you were. Certainly -you ought to be. And now tell me, what is -it you are sorry for?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern twiddled his toes -over each other, and answered very low, -</p> - -<p> -"For you know." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny said very sternly, -</p> - -<p> -"Yes, I know—only I've forgotten." -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"At your wedding." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny remembered about the drop of -lime-juice off a feather in the porch. And -he wagged his head very sorrowfully and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"O dear! O dear! O dear!" And he -walked up and down for a long long time, -with his hands behind him, and his chin on -his chest, groaning, and so on etc. -</p> - -<p> -Then at last he stopped, and rolled one eye -at the Junior Subaltern, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"I forgive you on condition I may lecture -you for as long as I like. D'you agree?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern answered, -</p> - -<p> -"I should like to think it over first, please," -for he knew what a lecture from Tiny meant. -</p> - -<p> -So he turned his back, and dug at a weed -with his toe, while he thought it over. -</p> - -<p> -Then after about a bit he muttered pretty -tearfully, -</p> - -<p> -"Well, I agree, because there's no other -way. Only goodness sake get it over quick." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny took him tight by the arm, and -walked him up and down, and up and down, -and gave him the longest lecture that ever -was all about nothing, and simplee loved it. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern blew his nose -upside down without a handkerchief, which -you do when you want the tears to go inside -and not out, and said every quarter of an hour, -</p> - -<p> -"I say! isn't that bout enough?" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only answered, -</p> - -<p> -"No, thank-you," and went on. -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern said rather -sulkily, -</p> - -<p> -"Well, it's a good long go anyway." -</p> - -<p> -Then when Tiny really could not think -of any more, he made the Junior Subaltern -learn by heart the Sorry Song he and Baby -had written in Moonland; and after that he -made him stand on the Fort-wall and sing it; -which he did—not very nicely. -</p> - -<p> -And when that was finished, Tiny said, -</p> - -<p> -"That'll do for the present, thank-you." -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern scrambled off the -wall, saying to himself out loud, -</p> - -<p> -"Jolly good job too," and ran off to find -the Boy. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -29 -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny came to the whitewash shed, where -the Fellows were now, eating more and -complaining louder than ever. -</p> - -<p> -Then when Tiny had counted them, he said, -</p> - -<p> -"But where's the Colonel?" -</p> - -<p> -So the brown Captain answered, -</p> - -<p> -"In bed—bad with shock." -</p> - -<p> -And all the Fellows said in a sort of a -chorus, -</p> - -<p> -"Bed—bad with shock." -</p> - -<p> -And some said it was one thing; and -some said it was another; and a good lot -said it was neither. But they all agreed -that Cooey had come from the Castle in the -dawn with a writing, and had fluttered up -to the Colonel, who was helping the Boy soap -Goliath; and that after reading the writing -the Colonel had taken to his bed without a -word. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny, who loved the Colonel, because -he was so red and round and thought -nice of everybody, ran up the ladder to the -loft: for the Colonel always lives above the -shed in that Army to be handy. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny had undone the trap-door, -and peeped through, there lay the dear -old Colonel in bed in the dark corner under -the cobweb, quite quite bald. -</p> - -<p> -And his knees were cocked up, and his arms -round them, and his little nose laid on his -knees skew-wise. -</p> - -<p> -And he was saying to himself in a weak -voice, -</p> - -<p> -"I am the Colonel. I love evewybody, -and evewybody loves me. And evewything's -always as nice as nice can be in our dear -Countwy. Only I've had a bit of a shock—that's all." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny climbed out on to the floor, -and came towards the corner on his toes. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Colonel saw him coming, he -let his knees down, and went back on the -pillow, and said rather faintly, -</p> - -<p> -"Ah, my dear dear boy!—how are you?—how's -Baby?" for next to animals, the -Colonel loved Baby best in all the world. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny shook hands and said, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm awfully sorry to hear of this, -Sir." And he pulled a truss of straw up -to the bed and sat on it, and said very -gently, -</p> - -<p> -"Would you care for me to tell you -about me and Baby and Moonland, Sir?—and -the landlady, and the lake, and the fish -there was supposed to be there, and that?" -</p> - -<p> -For Tiny began to understand a little -about illness now: for Baby taught him. -Only he thought he understood a lot more -than he did, which was rather a favourite -thing of Tiny's. -</p> - -<p> -But the Colonel shut his eyes, and said, -"Thank-you, my dear boy, thank-you. -Some day I want to hear <i>all</i> about it—not -just now though. Twuth is I've had -wather a shock. So've you, my poor boy. -So've we all. Only p'w'aps it's worse for -you and my little Marwy than for the -others." -</p> - -<p> -And he opened his eyes a bit, and said, -"Have you got into Cosy Cottage yet, -you and Baby?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny cheered up and answered, -"Yes, Sir. We settled in last night, -as jolly as can be. Baby sings all the -time she's so happy." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Colonel nodded to and fro, -murmuring, -</p> - -<p> -"Ah, my poor boy! my poor Baby!—bad, -bad, bad." -</p> - -<p> -Then he wiped his eyes, and picked up a -blue writing that was lying on the bed, and -handed it Tiny, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"It's all in there, my poor boy—all in -there. Wead it yourself. I wouldn't have it -otherwise for the world. Still it's wather a -shock—that's all: especially for you and my -little Marwy." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny took the writing to the dusty -sunbeam that lit the loft through a crack in -the thatch. -</p> - -<p> -And the writing was in a great blob hand -that Tiny knew well; and it went, -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<i>Move to-day, u and the Redgement, and any -more u like, to another Fort if u can find one. -Why? Because I order you—I am</i> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> - The Right Honorary St Jack-Assquire,<br /> - Own blud brudder to George,<br /> - Commander-in-Chief at the Castle now,<br /> - And hope to be Royal King one day.<br /> -</p> - -<p> -<i>P.S.—I send u a midjut of me in my -khaki with what Willie give me on my right -turn. I send it u free, because to show I've -got no grudge against u.... Shew it round. -It shud encurudge recruutin. Send me some -reports on this soon as u know.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then as Tiny read it through for the second -time, the Colonel said from the bed, -</p> - -<p> -"Wather wude—ain't it'?" And he sniffed -a bit. "But there! dear old St Jacky! I -can't help loving the chap—he is so very -stwaight." -</p> - -<p> -All the same his mouth began to go, and -he went on rather gaspy, -</p> - -<p> -"I don't mind for myself. It's my little -Marwy. Her mother's buried here. I think -it will bweak her h-h-heart." And one tear -went. "And it means a move for you too, -poor fellow. Cosy Cottage goes with the -Fort, you know." -</p> - -<p> -And he dabbed and went on, -</p> - -<p> -"I wonder what it all means." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny, who was rather white, answered, -</p> - -<p> -"It means spite, Sir," and he told the -Colonel about the Commander-in-Chief's great -ambition, and his attempt on Goliath by night, -and his toe, and so on etc.: for they had not -told the Colonel before, because they always -kept from him anything that would give him -pain. -</p> - -<p> -And when he heard that, he said, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm disappointed in St Jack—vewy -disappointed. I thought he was a gweat man," -for he always took everybody at their own -opinion of themselves, which was very sweet -and simple of him. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny tore the writing into little bits, -and put them on the fire; so that it was -like hell for the bits. -</p> - -<p> -And he said to himself out loud, -</p> - -<p> -"Debbel-debbel-damb-damb," which he -knew quite well he shouldn't. -</p> - -<p> -Then he ran across the floor pitter-pat; -and down the ladder to the bottom, bump; -and across the square patter-pit; screaming, -</p> - -<p> -"I don't care! I will say!—Debbel-debbel-damb-damb." -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -30 -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny ran out of the Fort to tell Baby -they must move out of Cosy Cottage at -once, quickly this minute. -</p> - -<p> -And a little woolly white dog came out -after him in a great state, and stood on four -legs, and barked till it shook. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only ran on like lead. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny pounded down the hill with his -heart in his heels. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny loathed them all. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -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. -</p> - -<p> -Then the door burst open, and out rushed -Baby in an apron, with a scream and a scurry, -yelling, -</p> - -<p> -"O, Tiny! what <i>do</i> you think?" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny only answered quite dull and dead, -</p> - -<p> -"What?" -</p> - -<p> -So Baby cried, -</p> - -<p> -"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?" -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-126"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-126.jpg" alt="DISGUISED AS A PARSON" /> -<br /> -DISGUISED AS A PARSON -</p> - -<p> -And she hopped on the path, her hand -upon Tiny's arm, and her hair all splendid -and babbled on, -</p> - -<p> -"So of course I asked him in, and -showed him over, and all my improvements -and that. And he rubbed his hands and -chuckled, and said how cosy and comfie, -and hoped I should live to enjoy it as long -as I liked. And after that he asked how -mannikin was getting on, and if he might -see him, and said that was really why he -came, and the reason of his disguise. So -I took him myself. And he gave him quite -a nice little talking to on being good and -not spiteful and that; and said if he didn't -try to escape perhaps the King would let -him out some day. But mannikin behaved -shockingly and cuddled away in the corner, -nibbling his nut, and giggled till I was really -quite ashamed." -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby remembered that, and -the Commander-in-Chief standing in the -door of the boot-hole in his parson's clothes -and cocked hat talking pi, she laughed like -anything. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny just said nothing. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby babbled on, -</p> - -<p> -"And after that he shook hands, and -said he could feel happy about me now—Wasn't -it nice of him? And he took off -his cocked hat, and went down the road, -whistling. So you see he's quite a reformed -character." And she laid her hand on -Tiny's arm, and twinkled up at him, and -said slowly, -</p> - -<p> -"I—almost—wish——" -</p> - -<p> -Then she looked in her pocket, and -cried, -</p> - -<p> -"But O! I forgot. I was to give this -writing to Captain Tiny with his <i>dear</i> love. -So you see, Tiny, he can forgive." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny said nothing, and took the -writing. -</p> - -<p> -And it was in pencil on some greasy -paper that had folded a dead fish: for St -Jack was good at insults if he was good at -nothing else. -</p> - -<p> -And the writing ran, -</p> - -<p> -<i>I paid u one for your snuk. This pays u -for your share in Goliuf. And I will pay -u one more yet because I love u so.</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>How?</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>Ha!</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>SAINT JACK.</i> -</p> - -<p> -<i>P.S.—I have got orders from the King to -burn down Cosy Cottage before night, because -I told him it had been lived in by swines, -who had had swine-fever. So clear out at -once or sooner.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -31 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny wound round Baby, and -walked her up and down in the road under -the yew-hedge, where nobody could see, only -Methuselah, who didn't matter, and told her -all about it very tenderly. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby heard that, she went -quite pale, and leaned on Tiny, so that he -wound round very tight indeed. -</p> - -<p> -But all she said was, -</p> - -<p> -"Pooh! move to another Fort!—what's -it matter?—means a change of house—that's all." -</p> - -<p> -Only when she got back to the garden, -and saw her little home so cosy under -creepers, and the two windows in front so -neat and nice, with tiny white curtains with -waists that she'd put up herself that -morning, and the one behind, with nothing yet, -but soon would have, and everybody so busy -and happy and good, she did blink a bit. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny saw that, he said in her ear, -</p> - -<p> -"You poor old duck, you!" -</p> - -<p> -But Baby just hopped and cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Pah!—I hate this little dog-hole. Not -enough room to swing a cat in. Thankful to -be shut of it." -</p> - -<p> -All the same she let go Tiny's arm and -ran quickly. And when she got into her -dear little parlour that she'd arranged so -cosy and stuffy and huggy-warm and tight -up to the top with things, and Tiny's big -chair one side the hearth where he was to -have learned up E in the evenings, and her -little one on the other side where she was to -have heard him say it, she locked the door -and sat down and began. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny came up outside. -</p> - -<p> -And when he heard what was going on -inside, he tried hard to get in. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby wouldn't let him. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny whispered with his mouth, close to -the crack, -</p> - -<p> -"O, Baby, d'you forgive for this morning?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby came to the door, and undid a -bit, and shoved her little finger through. -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny took it, and said, all sobby, -</p> - -<p> -"Best and booflest!—Gobbless. -Gobbless. Gobbless. Amen. Amen. Amen. -No more now. See you again some day. -Bye. Goobye." -</p> - -<p> -And he ran out. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -32 -</p> - -<p> -Then as the clock struck twelve the -Colonel marched out of the Fort, with little -Marwy, the regimental baa-lamb, on a string, -and his sword drawn, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Left-right! left-right!" -</p> - -<p> -And behind him came the Fellows saying -in a sort of chorus, -</p> - -<p> -"Left-right! left-right!" -</p> - -<p> -And behind the Fellows came old Goly and -the Boy, drawing the great cannon: which -was really what Goly was for, only they used -him for rides instead. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And as they passed the Wood, the -Commander-in-Chief sat on a gate, with his -cocked hat on the back of his head and said -to himself out loud, -</p> - -<p> -"And if they don't find a Fort then that -proves they're no soldiers. So out of the -Country they go for shams. And if they do, -then I come and plough the lot in E. So -guess I've got um either way." -</p> - -<p> -And he threw his legs about and laughed. -</p> - -<p> -But the Colonel walked on without a word: -for he was grieved about the Commander-in-Chief. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny came by. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Commander-in-Chief saw -him, he pointed his finger, and laughed till -he had to wipe his eyes, rocking to and fro, -and crying, -</p> - -<p> -"O dear! O dear! O dear!—Souse me, -won't you?—It does make me laff so—you -and Baby all settled in so cosy and comfie -in your little home, and now turned out, and -got to find a new house before night or leave -the Country. E! E! E! Master Tiny! E! -E! E!" -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny marched on quite brave and -steady: for he was true to Baby, and what -she had taught him; which was Love. -</p> - -<p> -Then St Jack laughed so that at last he -toppled off the gate backwards on to his -cocked hat, and bashed it. -</p> - -<p> -But he pulled himself together, and scrambled -on his knees, and pelted stones at Goliath's -back-view, which he couldn't help -hitting, and yelled, -</p> - -<p> -"Fat beast! I'll have my ride yet, you'll -see." -</p> - -<p> -But Goly did nothing, only went with a -whisky tail: for old Goly knew about -discipline. Only he stored it up in his memory -for the future all the same. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then the Regiment marched on across the -Common, only stopping to pat Methuselah -under the thorn for the last time. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-136"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-136.jpg" alt="THEN THE REGIMENT MARCHED ON" /> -<br /> -THEN THE REGIMENT MARCHED ON -</p> - -<p> -But as they were passing by the old yew, -little Marwy baaed, and tugged away towards -her mother's grave; where the clover grew. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Colonel stooped, swallowing his -throat. And he picked her up in his arms, -and marched on without a word. -</p> - -<p> -And they went down a rutty lane that -seemed to have no turning, until by good -luck they came to a Fort in a Hole at the -bottom. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And when the Colonel saw that, he said, -</p> - -<p> -"What about in here?" for he knew it -didn't matter where they went, so long as -they went somewhere. For the Commander-in-Chief -was like a lot more, he had only one -idea, which was to give trouble. -</p> - -<p> -So the Colonel walked across the drawbridge -with little Marwy in his arms, and -banged with his sword-hilt. -</p> - -<p> -And when nobody came, he peeped in. -</p> - -<p> -And it was all empty inside, only for a -lot of weeds, and an old speckled seagull with -a dagger-beak, limping up and down the -barrack-square. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Colonel saw the gull, his -eyes shone, and he said, -</p> - -<p> -"This'll do. Come on," and he put -down little Marwy, and trotted in; and the -Fellows followed with Goliath and the great -cannon rumbling over the draw-bridge -behind. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Fellows set the cannon up with -its nose over the wall; for it was a low -wall; and the Fort was in a Hole. So -when they fired the cannon off to see if -it was all all right, the ball only hit the -mud-bank that ran round, and bounded back -and took the yellow one's wind rather; which -cheered Tiny up a bit. -</p> - -<p> -But, as the big brown captain said, when -he saw the cannon wouldn't shoot over the -bank, it didn't really matter much: for it -was the noise that kept Them down, supposing -They were there. -</p> - -<p> -And while the Fellows rubbed the yellow -one, the Colonel ran and made friends with -the gull. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny went apart, and wrote a writing -on his cuff, and sent it by Cooey to -Baby. -</p> - -<p> -And the writing ran, -</p> - -<p> -<i>Found a Fort in a Hole come quicks-you-can -by Puck and get a house near by to put -things in.—TINY.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -33 -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby got the writing, she led -out Puck from the shed, and put him in -the little cart, while Phyllis held the shafts, -and mannikin screamed a lot of orders -through the crack of the boot-hole: for -mannikin was like Tiny, and wanted -everybody to think he was horsey. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby and Phyllis paid no heed, and -just did up the band instead, while Puck tried -to bite them, which was a very favourite -thing of Puck's. -</p> - -<p> -Then they put the things under the -seat, and Baby got in, with mannikin and -the Junior Subaltern on the back-seat: for -the Colonel had left the Junior Subaltern -behind to sweep up; which was always his -little job. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby took the reins, and tugged, -and Puck went off at a run-away patter; -while Phyllis walked, and the Others trailed -behind on high heels. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And it was Winter by now. And Baby -always said she liked Winter best, for the -same reason as Autumn. -</p> - -<p> -And the roads were good with frost; -and Puck's feet rang as he pattered; and the -robins sat about and sang; and there were -red berries on the holly, and apples to chew, -so Baby chewed them as she drove. -</p> - -<p> -Only there were no houses near the Hole -to be found, which made it rather difficult -for Baby to find one. But Baby wouldn't -be beat, because she didn't believe in it. -</p> - -<p> -So she drove round and round the rim of -the Hole all day looking. -</p> - -<p> -And when ever they came to the corner -of the road there was the Commander-in-Chief -sitting on a mud-heap, reading up -out of a great book. -</p> - -<p> -And each time they came round he -jumped up, and took off his cocked hat very -courteously, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"And have you found a house yet, Mrs. Tiny?" -</p> - -<p> -And each time Baby smiled back and -answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Almost nearly quite, thank-you." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief cooed, -</p> - -<p> -"<i>So</i> glad," and went back to his book -with a little snigger. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby flicked up Puck and drove on. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then towards evening she came to a white -house with windows under an elm with rooks. -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby heard the rooks, one tear -went, for it made her think of her home in the -Hall several miles off. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Junior Subaltern saw Baby's -tear go, his tear went too: for his heart was -pretty juicy still. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby pulled up Puck, while mannikin -ran to his head to show he knew all about -it. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby looked over the gate, and said, -rather trembly, -</p> - -<p> -"Why not this?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern glanced over his -shoulder, and whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Cause you can't," and pointed to a great -notice-board in the garden that said in huge -letters, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -GO AWAY. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But Baby cheered up and cocked her nose, -and said to show him, -</p> - -<p> -"Can't I, Boy? Can," and she whipped up -Puck, and nearly ran over mannikin, and -went up the drive under the elms in the dusk. -</p> - -<p> -But the Junior Subaltern did what the -notice-board told him, and jumped off, and -ran away down to the Fort in the Hole, as -hard as his little legs would carry him. -</p> - -<p> -And there they spanked him for being out -after dark. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But Baby drew up at the white house, -and ran up the steps, and peeped into the -drawing-room, where tea was, and smiled -in, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"May we have your house, please, Tiny -and me?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the old lady put down the teapot, -and said very graciously, -</p> - -<p> -"Why should you, my dear?" -</p> - -<p> -So Baby thought for a long time with her -nose in the door, and said at last, -</p> - -<p> -"Only because I like its looks." -</p> - -<p> -Then the old lady, who was a very beautiful -character, and great on giving up things, -said very smilingly, -</p> - -<p> -"Then there's no more to be said." -</p> - -<p> -And she got up and said to her daughter, -</p> - -<p> -"Come, my dear." -</p> - -<p> -So they went out, while Baby held the -door for them. -</p> - -<p> -And when they got outside they remembered -they were relations of the King's. So -they tramped across to the Castle, and stayed -there. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -34 -</p> - -<p> -And when they were quite gone, Baby -went in, and bagged a postage-stamp out of -their box, and wrote on the back of it in -large great letters, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - LET<br /> - by<br /> - BABY,<br /> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -and stuck it in the window to show -everybody: for when Baby had done a thing, -she liked everybody to know about it. -</p> - -<p> -Then she tore out to Phyllis and the -Others who were coming up the drive, crying, -</p> - -<p> -"O don't I manage well!" for Baby really -thought there was nobody in the whole -world managed like she did. -</p> - -<p> -Only when she got outside she saw the -Commander-in-Chief sitting on the lawn in -the moon, reading up out of the great book. -</p> - -<p> -So she steadied herself and walked across -to him. -</p> - -<p> -But the Commander-in-Chief stayed deep -in his book, and waved away with his hand, -saying in a squeaky voice, -</p> - -<p> -"'Scuse me, won't you!—Truth is I have -to examine pore Captain Tiny and the others -in E about to-morrow. Only hope they'll -pass—that's all; because if they don't they'll -have to leave the country." -</p> - -<p> -But Baby stood before him in the moon -and said, very grave and sad, -</p> - -<p> -"You haven't been very loving, have you, -Jacky?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief read on all -the harder. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby said, very low and quiet, -</p> - -<p> -"Have you, Jacky?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief shut the -book snap, and got up quick, and walked -away with his shoulders rather high. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-147"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-147.jpg" alt="Book VII headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book VII headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK VII.—GOLIATH PAYS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -35 -</p> - -<p> -So they moved into the white house. -</p> - -<p> -And it was in a garden with a grass-walk. -</p> - -<p> -And there was a lawn under an elm with -rooks, and a drive. -</p> - -<p> -And at the bottom of the drive was a -cottage among currant-bushes. And there -a little old woman lived behind a lattice and -crooned all day, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "Little Old<br /> - Lollypop<br /> - Lived in a<br /> - Stuffy Shop,<br /> - Watching the<br /> - Crickets Hop-pop,<br /> - Hop-pop."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So Baby loved it all better even than -Cosy Cottage. -</p> - -<p> -And when, she and Phyllis had arranged -the things round the wall, she sat down and -wrote to the Commander-in-Chief, -</p> - -<p> -<i>DEAR JACKY,—Will you come and have tea -with me? Your loving,—BABY,</i> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -to show she forgave him quite and quite. -</p> - -<p> -But St Jack wrote back, very short and -simple, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -<i>No. I wun't,</i> -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -to show he wouldn't be forgiven: for he was -a very straight little fellow when it suited -him. -</p> - -<p> -And St Jack wouldn't go, for he knew -very well that if he did he would repent, -because of Baby; and he preferred bad. -</p> - -<p> -And besides he was kept on duty all day -at the Castle just now, handing tea-cakes -to the visitors, which he was rather good at; -for St Jack's manners, when he liked, were -very remarkable. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So That Country had peace and quiet -for some time: for the visitors settled to -stay at the Castle perhaps for ever, because -of the tea-cakes. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -36 -</p> - -<p> -Then St Valentine's Day came with the -crocuses. -</p> - -<p> -And on that day all the birds are married -in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And after that the blackbirds join with -the thrushes, and sing in the bare trees very -rich and jolly: for the blackbirds mayn't sing -till they're married, because that is one of -the rules; but when they do begin they sing -more songs and sing them better than the -thrushes, which shout and whistle more. -</p> - -<p> -And when the blackbirds begin the -robins rather leave off: for the robins are -like a lot more, they want to have it all -to themselves all the time; only they just -can't. -</p> - -<p> -So they sulk instead. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Spring came, and jolly began. -And Baby always said she liked Spring -best, because of as before. -</p> - -<p> -And the sky became a song, and the -earth a garden. And the robins went into -the woods; and the swallows came out of -the ponds; and the larks ran up the sky; -and everybody was glad. -</p> - -<p> -And the sap rose everywhere, and rather -got into mannikin's head; and he became -so dreadfully excited that at last Baby took -Tiny down to see him, because she was afraid -his poor little brain was going. -</p> - -<p> -So they came to the hole, and looked in. -</p> - -<p> -And there was mannikin standing on the -knife-board, and plugging the blacking-bottles -on to the bricks. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny said -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -Mannikin sucked his thumb and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Becob I like to see the ink splosh so." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny, who loved lecturing better -than anything else in the world, took the -blacking-bottles away from him, and told him -he was only making it worse for himself, and -the badder he behaved the longer he'd be there, -and how the King was very strict, although -he was so good and kind. -</p> - -<p> -But Mannikin didn't seem to mind, and -strutted up and down the boot-hole, with his -hands in his pockets, singing, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "I'm the cock of the boot-hole!<br /> - I'm the cock of the boot-hole!<br /> - See me!<br /> - See me!<br /> - I'm the cock of the boot-hole!"<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -37 -</p> - -<p> -And after that May and June came. -</p> - -<p> -And there were tad-poles in the ponds, -and lilacs with purple plumes, and chestnuts -with white ones, and cuckoos calling and -little flop-birds that tried to fly, and tumbled -on the lawn instead. And everything was -jolly all around. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny played cricket in the Fort in the -Hole, while Baby sat on the wall with the -Fellows, and watched him, and afterwards wrote -round, -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<i>Tiny played four balls, and hit one. The -next bowled him, and the Junior Subaltern -umpired him out. So that wasn't so bad—for -us, was it!</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And every day when the Regiment went -out to War, after the first pellet, the Colonel -fell out, because he said he'd be a casualty -now, and let the other Fellows have a go, -which Tiny always took to mean him. -</p> - -<p> -And the Colonel ran away bent up double -behind the wild cherry-hedge till he came -where Baby was waiting him under the -laburnum at the little gate into her garden. -</p> - -<p> -And when she had let him in, they ran -hand in hand to the elm, where there was -a great bowl of milk and a cabbage-leaf of -strawberries ready. -</p> - -<p> -Then the dear old Colonel took off his -shako, and was quite quite bald. And he -sat on a little stool among the elm-roots, -and drank the milk, and ate the strawberries, -while Baby leaned up against the elm with -her feet straight before her, and read him a -story of a naughty pussy-kitten out of a -great picture-book. -</p> - -<p> -And that pleased the Colonel so that he -lifted himself on his hands and swung to -and fro, chuckling. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that Baby had a grey kitten of -her own, which the Colonel gave her; and she -played with it all the time. -</p> - -<p> -And every day she took the kitten on her -shoulder, and went down the drive under the -trees in the dappled sunshine to meet Tiny -when he came home from the Fort, which he -usually did about an hour after he'd started -for it. For work tired Tiny very easily so -that he had to be careful not to overdo it. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby and Tiny walked home arm -in arm, when they thought nobody was -looking, though everybody was, especially -mannikin behind the bars of the boot-hole -at one end of the drive, and little old -Lollypop through the lattice at the other -end. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby hugged Tiny's arm, and Tiny -hugged Baby's. And Tiny looked down, and -Baby looked up. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"Now me!" and hopped. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny said, -</p> - -<p> -"Now me!" and skipped. -</p> - -<p> -Then both said, -</p> - -<p> -"Now bofe!" and jumped. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby smiled, and Tiny grinned, and -neither spoke. And sometimes tears came -because of nobody knew why, and sometimes -roars because of so jolly. And half the time -they were so wise you wouldn't believe, and -half the time so silly you can't think, and -whole the time so happy I couldn't tell -you. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -38 -</p> - -<p> -But with Summer coming, the Commander-in-Chief -began to stir again. -</p> - -<p> -For the Queen at the Castle came with her -hands on her hips and said she could do no -more tea-cakes just now, and they must ave -mustard and cress instead. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-156"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-156.jpg" alt="SHE COULD DO NO MORE TEA CAKES" /> -<br /> -SHE COULD DO NO MORE TEA CAKES -</p> - -<p> -Then the King cocked his crown, and -asked if he might be so good as to inquire -her reasons. -</p> - -<p> -So the Queen mopped and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of too warm." -</p> - -<p> -But the old lady, when she heard that, got -up, and said to her daughter rather bitterly, -for too many tea-cakes had soured her -nature, -</p> - -<p> -"<i>Then</i> I think it's time for us to be -going." And they went out with their heads very -high, and camped on the Common instead; -which you may as soon as the grass is dry. -</p> - -<p> -But the King was really rather glad: for -he was a bit bored. -</p> - -<p> -And the Commander-in-Chief was glad -too; for he was free to do his bad best -once more. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that very afternoon, as the Colonel -and Tiny were taking their daily ride on -Goliath—the Colonel with the sea-gull in his -arms to give it a swim in the Pond,—the -Commander-in-Chief, disguised as a nigger-boy, -leaped out of the Wood, and tried to -storm Goly by the tail. -</p> - -<p> -But Goly just turned his trunk, and gave -the Commander-in-Chief a good old clout -instead, which sent him sprawling. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Colonel, who was sitting towards -the head, said, -</p> - -<p> -"What is it?" -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny, who was sitting towards the tail, -answered, very loud, -</p> - -<p> -"Only a dirty little black boy, Sir, whom -Goly spanked for tweaking his tail." But -Tiny really knew quite well, because the -Commander-in-Chief's hump stuck up in the -air, as he lay flat-face in the mud. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Commander-in-Chief heard -what Tiny said, tie raised his face, with his -nose all muddy, and screamed, -</p> - -<p> -"I'll tell the King! I'll tell the King! -I'll tell the King!" and he buried his face -in the road again, and simplee kicked. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny just cried back anyhow, -</p> - -<p> -"Dummind if you do," for he knew he was -all right: for if when you are Commander-in-Chief -you disguise as a nigger-boy, you -mustn't mind if you do get spanked. -</p> - -<p> -Besides Tiny knew that St Jack had been -growing so old of late, that even the good -King had begun to notice it. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny knew <i>that</i> because the Queen -who was a bit of a blab, honest soul, had told -him in secret that morning, when he went to -the Castle for the washing; which was always -his little job. -</p> - -<p> -For the Queen does all the washing in That -Country. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -A few minutes later as Baby came panting -up the lane with Tiny's boat, which he was -going to sail on the Pond against the Colonel's -gull, she found the Commander-in-Chief sitting -in the middle of the path, fiddling his nose -about between his fingers, and blubbing rather. -</p> - -<p> -And when she saw how muddy his nose -was, and how he fiddled it, she ran up with -her eyes round-wide, crying, -</p> - -<p> -"O, you poor little thing!—What <i>have</i> -they been doing to you?—Let me wipe your -nose for you." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief answered -very brave, as he leaned back on his hands, -with his nose up for Baby to do, -</p> - -<p> -"Why, I was comin up the lane, when all -of a sudden—pop! bang! They set on -me—ten hundud times ten hundud of um. But -I beat um off—and I killed um all." And -he bubbled his eyes and whispered—"There -was some true live blood." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby whistled as she did his nose -with her handkerchief, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Strikes me, you are the bravest in all the -world—only Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -But when the Commander-in-Chief heard -that, he slapped Baby's hand away, and -scrambled to his feet, and bowed up and down with -a sort of a smile, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Thank-<i>ku</i>," and went away down the lane -with his hump up high: for it only rose when -he was in a temper. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -39 -</p> - -<p> -But St Jack was not the only one who was -growing old in That Country about now. -</p> - -<p> -For the Others, who had never been young, -were aging very rapidly, because of Phyllis, -who scolded them when they didn't work, and -cuffed them when they did. -</p> - -<p> -So one evening when Phyllis had run down -to little old Lollypop for some fruit for supper -(for you have pretty well all fruit in the -summer in That Country) the Others came and -stood in a row before Baby on the lawn, and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"Please, 'M," and the rest, like they do in -Abroad; and let go a tear they had got ready. -</p> - -<p> -So when Phyllis ran back up the drive, -Baby peeped through the golden bush and -called, -</p> - -<p> -"Phyllis." -</p> - -<p> -Then Phyllis came, with the great basket -of cherries on her head. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby stood by the golden bush, and -pulled a leaf to pieces, and said, very grave -and sad, -</p> - -<p> -"Is it true?" -</p> - -<p> -So Phyllis cocked her nose, and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Some is, Miss; most ain't," which is usually -the way with stories from folk in Abroad. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby turned her face away, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"You are very straight and true, Phyllis. -So I love you. Only I must sack you all the -same, because you mustn't pinch," for that is -one of the rules. -</p> - -<p> -Then Phyllis nearly cried, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Very well, Miss. Only why can't the -Others go back to Abroad where they belong?" -</p> - -<p> -And when Baby heard that, she went to the -back-door, and peeped. -</p> - -<p> -And there were the Others trying on huge -flower-hats before the glass, and saying there -was only one puffect gentleman in That -Country, and he was the Commander-in-Chief. -</p> - -<p> -So Baby said very gently, -</p> - -<p> -"My dears, don't you think you'd be happier -back in Abroad, where you belong?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the Others turned up their noses, and -drooped down their mouths, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Thank-ye for nothin—We was just hon the go." -</p> - -<p> -And they swept out arm-in-arm, and flounced -back to Abroad, where they belonged; and a -good job too. -</p> - -<p> -But Phyllis stayed with Baby for ever and -ever. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -40 -</p> - -<p> -Then about next morning the Commander-in-Chief -came to the Fort in the Hole, -and knocked. -</p> - -<p> -And he was wearing a cap and gown over -his khaki-coat, so people might take him for -a scholar; and under his arm was the great -E-book. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Junior Subaltern came to -the gate, and asked him what he wanted, he -dropped his eyes, and answered very piously, -"I have come to examine you all in -E,—and especially my deah Captain Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern let him in, -because he knew he could do it all right. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief came in, -walking with his shoulders rather round, and -his knees rather knocky, because that was -how he thought you did if you were a scholar. -</p> - -<p> -But when he got to the square, there was -the King in his crown walking up and down -arm in arm with the Colonel and Tiny. -</p> - -<p> -And they were laughing and chattering all -together at once; and the King was telling -about his visitors, and how they had gone at -last; and the Colonel was talking about the -sea-gull, and how he had christened him -Moses; and Tiny was telling about mannikin, -and what a good little mannikin he was -growing under Baby, who had him out of -his hole every day to pick daisies, and taught -him. -</p> - -<p> -But when they saw the Commander-in-Chief -slouching across the square, with the -E-book under his arm, they all stopped. -</p> - -<p> -Then the King stepped forward, and took -off his crown very courteously, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Ah, St Jack! I see why you've come. -Well. I'll tell you. I have just examined -these gentlemen for you. And I know no -one will be so glad as you to hear that -they have all passed, and especially your -deah Captain Tiny, as nobody ever passed -before. So now you can go back to the -Castle whence you came. Thank-you very -much all the same. How d'you do?—Good-bye." -</p> - -<p> -Then the Commander-in-Chief, when he -heard that, bowed up and down with a sort -of a smile. -</p> - -<p> -And after that he slouched back across the -square to the gate: for there was nothing -else to do. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny ran before him in a great bustle, -saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Let me, Sir!" and held the gate for him, -for nobody could be more charming than -Tiny when he liked, which was mostly -always never. -</p> - -<p> -And as the Commander-in-Chief went -through, he said most sweetly, -</p> - -<p> -"<i>So</i> sorry you've had all your trouble for -nothing, Sir." -</p> - -<p> -But the Commander-in-Chief ran away, -snorting; and when he got outside he took -off his moustaches and whacked his hand with -them; which he always did in a passion. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that evening he sulked so after tea, -that the King got up in a rage, and after -pouring the dominoes over his head, shouted, -</p> - -<p> -"Look here! I'm sick o you. You grow -older and horrider every day. Go to -Abroad!" And he marched to the door. -</p> - -<p> -Then St Jack sat very tight in his chair, -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"What ye mean?" -</p> - -<p> -So the King threw his crown into the -corner, and roared, -</p> - -<p> -"The sack—that's what I mean!" and he -held the door open. -</p> - -<p> -Then Jacky went out in a terrible rage, -the King's toe behind him. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -41 -</p> - -<p> -And after that, Summer came. -</p> - -<p> -And Baby always said she liked Summer -best, because of you know why. -</p> - -<p> -And she lived in the garden all day in -a flap-hat and gauntlets, and messed, and -loved it. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern lived there -with her in a coat of many colours and -a white hat, and white shoes, and a little -sash round his waist, and ate things. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And he loved Baby in a pink and proper -way. And Baby loved him to love her, and -taught him, so that he became almost like -a little man. -</p> - -<p> -And the Junior Subaltern was easier -to teach than Tiny, because of younger and -squashier. But though he learned quickest, -he forgot quickest too—which is often the -way. So it really came about to about the -same in the end. -</p> - -<p> -But when the Junior Subaltern was -there, Tiny walked by himself at the other -end of the garden with his back rather -turned. -</p> - -<p> -And because he was full of unkindness -he too began to grow old. -</p> - -<p> -And he became more and more like a -common man from Abroad for the time -being, and less and less like a native of -That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then one day when Baby saw Tiny -alone by himself like so, she put her -finger to her lip, and said to herself out -loud, -</p> - -<p> -"I wonder why?" -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Because of about my umpiring him out -at cricket, I spect." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby nodded and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Probly praps. Go and make it up. -I turn my back." And she stooped with -her kitten on her shoulder and gardened -a flower. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern went. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny, when he saw him coming, only -turned his back more than ever, and walked -away, very proud and pokery. -</p> - -<p> -Only when he got round the hollyhocks, -where Baby couldn't see, all of a sudden -he stopped and bumped backwards into -the Junior Subaltern. And when Tiny -felt the bump, he whispered skew-wise out -of the corner of his mouth, very fierce, -</p> - -<p> -"What ye mean by it?" -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern answered, -</p> - -<p> -"By what?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny whispered fiercer than ever, -</p> - -<p> -"Don't answer me, Sir! or I'll put you -under arrest or something—you ugh!" and -he pretended sick over the flower-bed. -</p> - -<p> -But when the Junior Subaltern heard -about you ugh! which is pretty well the -worst you can say in That Country, and -saw what Tiny was pretending over the -flower-bed, he turned pale under the pink, -and came up close, and whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"May I be so good as to ask you to -splain yourself, Sir?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny answered very short, -</p> - -<p> -"No, ye mayn't," which was a very -favourite saying of his. -</p> - -<p> -Then the Junior Subaltern trembled, and -answered rather hubbly-bubbly, -</p> - -<p> -"I shan't love <i>you</i> any more, Captain -Tiny." -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny just smacked the heads off -Baby's flowers, and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Don't then. Duncare." -</p> - -<p> -So the Junior Subaltern bowed up and -down to Tiny's back, and strutted away, all -puffed up like a little pouty pigeon, never -to return till next day. -</p> - -<p> -But when Baby looked up from gardening -the flower, and saw the bristles at the -back of the Junior Subaltern's head as he -marched away, she ran to Tiny, and dug -his ribs with the trowel, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"What you been doing to my nice boy, pig?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny bent and gardened a weed, -and grumbled, -</p> - -<p> -"Only nothin." -</p> - -<p> -But Baby dug him some more, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"O you have!—look at the look of the -back of his neck." -</p> - -<p> -So Tiny came up from the weed rather -red and sulky, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Only been teachin the boy manners—that's all." -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby said, -</p> - -<p> -"Well, I wish you'd leave teaching him to -me," and she took Tiny's arm, and walked -him up and down the grass-walk, with the -dial at one end, and the herb-border on either -side, all sweet in the evening, and taught him -till he came good and nice and like you ought -to be, if you are to live in That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And next morning on his way down to the -Fort, Tiny tapped at little old Lollypop's -lattice, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Good-morning, kind Lollypop. Some red -currants, please." -</p> - -<p> -Then Lollypop came out in a sun-bonnet; -and her face was all wrinkles and redness like -an old crab-apple; and she picked some -currants, and did them up in a bag, and wiped -her hands on her apron, and gave them to -Tiny, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"There, young gentleman!" -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny gave her his penny pocket-money -Baby had given him before he went -out, for it was Saturday; and ran on down to -the Fort with the bag. -</p> - -<p> -And when he got there he shared the -currants with the Junior Subaltern on parade, -when the Colonel had his back turned, which -he had mostly always. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after that Tiny and the Junior Subaltern -became better friends than ever till -next time, which you do in that Army. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -42 -</p> - -<p> -Meanwhile Jacky had gone down to the -market, and taken off his Commander-in-Chief's -clothes in public there, and sold them -to the Junior Subaltern's mother; who laid -them away in a drawer for her son, ready for -Commander-in-Chief in days to come. -</p> - -<p> -And after that, Jacky swore by little -Marwy, who was supposed to be dying, that -he would have his ride on Goliath, or leave -That Country. -</p> - -<p> -Then he went into hiding in the Wood, -and sent round a message by Cooey to say -he wasn't there. -</p> - -<p> -But that afternoon as the Boy rode by with -the Colonel and the gull on the way to the -Pond, he saw Jacky squatting in a hole he'd -dug in the ground. -</p> - -<p> -And Jacky was rolling a bit of paper -between his fingers, and spying over his -shoulder, to see if he was being seen. For he -knew very well that what he was doing was -dead against the rules of That Country. But -he was going from bad to worst so fast that -he cared for nothing very much now. -</p> - -<p> -Indeed he was said to have said that, next -to a ride, his great wish was to be like a -man from Abroad. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then the Boy, now he knew where Jacky -was, lay awake all night with Goly, planning -a booby-trap. And old Goly entered into it -with all his might: for he loved the Boy, -because they had jokes together; and hated -Jacky, because of fat beast. -</p> - -<p> -So next day they started out of the Fort -together, the Boy riding with his red parasol -up to attract attention. -</p> - -<p> -And they went past the Wood, where they -could see Jacky quite plainly, hiding up an -elder bush, disguised as a cannibal. And he -was holding something between his lips. -And when he saw them he took it out of his -mouth, and held it up in his fingers, and -puffed: for he was pretty well dead to all -shame now. -</p> - -<p> -But they paid no heed, and strolled on -instead. -</p> - -<p> -Then when they got to the Pond they -stopped. -</p> - -<p> -And Goly went to sleep with one eye -wide, and his back to the Wood. -</p> - -<p> -And he stood with his trunk a tiny bit -<i>retroussé</i>, and his tail the least leetle bit out -towards the Wood to tempt Jacky. -</p> - -<p> -And Jacky was tempted. -</p> - -<p> -For after about a bit out he crawled in -his disguise, and crept up on his hands and -knees, and swarmed up Goly by the tail, -and threw the Boy down after not much -of a tussle; while Goly just stood still and -chuckled. -</p> - -<p> -And when Jacky had done dancing and -screaming, -</p> - -<p> -"There! There! I told you I would! -I told you I would! ha! ha! ha! Who's -won now? Who's won now?" he sat down -across Goly for his ride. -</p> - -<p> -And he dug his heels in, and bobbed up -and down, to pretend he was rising in stirrups, -and went with his arms like he'd seen -men on horse-back, and cried in a bass-voice, -</p> - -<p> -"Gee up, fat beast! gee up!" and slapped -with his hands. -</p> - -<p> -So Goly winked one eyelid, and went for -a little bit of a canter round the Pond. -</p> - -<p> -Then Jacky, who wasn't much of a horseman -at the best of times, sprawled on Goly's -back, gasping, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm having my ride! I'm having my -ride. O, I say!—Isn't it j-j-just lubly?" -which was quite a lie, for he hated it, because -of the bumpety bump. -</p> - -<p> -So he was just going to slither off when -Goly shyed with a skip and a squeal, and -landed plump in the Pond. -</p> - -<p> -And when the waves had gone down a bit, -all you could see was the tip of Goly's trunk, -and the top of his back showing above water -like a little black island with a shipwrecked -cannibal on it, screaming for help. -</p> - -<p> -But there was no help to be had: for the -Boy, as soon as he could walk for laughing, -tottered back to the Fort, to tell the Fellows! -</p> - -<p> -So the Fellows all came across the Common -arm in arm to see. Only the Colonel didn't -come, because of too kind. Besides he was -sitting up with little Marwy, who was -supposed to be dying of a broken heart, -because of her mother's grave. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Fellows saw Jacky stranded -on Goly's back, they just sat down together -round the Pond in a ring, and roared. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny tossed to and fro, and wiped the -tears away, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Sense me, won't you!—It does make -me laff so—you so cosy and comfie out -there, Royal King of your own little island, -and likely to stay there, for ever so far as -I can see. E! E! E! Master Jacky. E! E! E!" -</p> - -<p> -And all the Fellows tossed to and fro, -and said in a sort of chorus, -</p> - -<p> -"E! E! E! Master Jacky. E! E! E!" -</p> - -<p> -So they just sat round all that afternoon -and evening, and tumbled up against each -other with laughing. -</p> - -<p> -But about dusk, Tiny stood up, and said -he'd been asked to say a few words. -</p> - -<p> -So they stopped laughing; and there was -silence. And Tiny soaped his hands, and -lectured, and simplee loved it. -</p> - -<p> -And he said pretty well what Baby had -often said to him, only altered a bit, and -went on about how Jacky's conduct had -grieved him; and how wrong it was to be -spiteful and bear malice; and how it not -only hurt other people, but it hurt yourself -most, because it soured your nature. And -if Jacky couldn't be kind and loving then -he had better leave That Country. And -if he would neither be good, nor go, then -they must put him out, for they had found -him out now. -</p> - -<p> -And after that he lifted his hand and -forgave Jacky on behalf of himself and Baby, -and the Regiment, and said he would now -say goodnight. -</p> - -<p> -So he bowed up and down, and the -Fellows rose, and bowed up and down. -Then they all went back across the Common -in the dusk arm in arm. -</p> - -<p> -And Jacky was left alone on his island. -</p> - -<p> -But about midnight Goliath knelt down -suddenly. -</p> - -<p> -Then Jacky would have been drowned, -but that he was washed ashore in the -surgings that arose. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-178"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-178.jpg" alt="SWAGGERED OFF TO ABROAD" /> -<br /> -SWAGGERED OFF TO ABROAD -</p> - -<p> -And after that Goliath rose and waded -out; and the Boy, who was waiting on -the bank, dried him with his handkerchief, -and got on; and they went back to the Fort -at a good round trot. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -But Jacky, when he had changed out -of his cannibal clothes, swaggered off to -Abroad, in a new suit, smoking a cigarette. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-182"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-182.jpg" alt="Book VIII headpiece" /> -<br /> -Book VIII headpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<h3> -BOOK VIII.—A SURPRISE-PRESENT FOR BABY -</h3> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -43 -</p> - -<p> -Then about next day the good old doctor -rode over from the Castle very mysteriously, -and asked to see Baby. -</p> - -<p> -And when he had shut the door, and -drawn his chair up very close, he told her -in a whisper there was a Surprise-present -coming for her from the King at the -Castle; only she wasn't to tell any one, -because it was a secret. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby opened her eyes, and whispered, -</p> - -<p> -"Mayn't I know?" -</p> - -<p> -But the good old doctor chuckled, -</p> - -<p> -"Certainly not, my dear. You may -guess—if you can," and he got up to go. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby got up too, and asked, -</p> - -<p> -"When may I know?" -</p> - -<p> -So the doctor answered, -</p> - -<p> -"About to-morrow," and went out, chuckling. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby stayed behind in the window, and -guessed and guessed. -</p> - -<p> -Then all of a sudden her heart leaped up; -and she blushed and trembled so that she had -to sit down. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -44 -</p> - -<p> -So all the rest of the day she sat under -the elm, very busy, making secret little -clothes, that nobody was supposed to know -anything about. -</p> - -<p> -But of course mannikin must leave his -daisies, and come and poke and pry and -bother with questions, until at last Baby -got up and took him by his little hand, and -led him back to his hole, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"You're a very naughty little man indeed. -And I'm very cross with you—very cross." -</p> - -<p> -But mannikin only swaggered along at -her side, nodding his head very wisely, -and saying, -</p> - -<p> -"I know—I know," which was a very -favourite saying of mannikin's. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby answered very short, -</p> - -<p> -"I'm sure you don't," and locked him in -good and tight for the rest of the day. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And that evening when Tiny came back -from the Fort, Baby hid the little clothes -away, and walked about on his arm, talking -poetry-talk in the twilight among the roses; -and she didn't say one word about the -secret. -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny saw there was something up -all the same. And when he went to tidy up -the boot-hole for the night, mannikin came -to him in tears, and begged him to get Baby -to forgive him, and to say he promised not -to mention one word about the little clothes. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny heard about the little -clothes, he thought, -</p> - -<p> -"<i>Now</i> I know!" and went pale all over -with excitement. -</p> - -<p> -For at that time every year, the good -King sends a Surprise-present to the best -married girl of That Country: for that is -one of the rules. -</p> - -<p> -And the Surprise-present is always the -same, and so jolly you can't think. -</p> - -<p> -So every nice married girl wants to win it; -only you can't unless you have been truly -good and loving. -</p> - -<p> -And Tiny knew Baby was best by far; and -he believed the King knew it too. -</p> - -<p> -For as he was leaving the Fort that afternoon, -he had seen the King whispering in the -Colonel's ear behind the water-butt. -</p> - -<p> -And when the Colonel heard, he hopped -up high, crying, -</p> - -<p> -"Dear old Baby!" -</p> - -<p> -And the Colonel was Baby's great friend. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -45 -</p> - -<p> -But Tiny didn't say one word to Baby -all the same, but just gave her mannikin's -message instead. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby cried, -</p> - -<p> -"O poor little chap!—I <i>clean</i> forgot him," -and she ran to the boot-hole. -</p> - -<p> -And when she got there she heard a tiny -little noise inside. -</p> - -<p> -So she undid and peeped. -</p> - -<p> -And there was mannikin sobbing in a heap -in the corner. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby cried, -</p> - -<p> -"Why?" -</p> - -<p> -But mannikin only sobbed, -</p> - -<p> -"Becob you're cross." -</p> - -<p> -So Baby ran to him, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Dear little mannikin!—It's nothing—only -you mustn't bother with questions just -now about things you can't understand." -</p> - -<p> -And she sat down, and took him on her -lap, and comforted him. -</p> - -<p> -And mannikin leaned his head on her -shoulder, and said, very sniffy, -</p> - -<p> -"Lub me," for he was a sentimental little -thing. -</p> - -<p> -And he told Baby about his home in a -cottage in the Forest far away, where he used -to live with his old mother, and little lame -sister, and the tortoise-shell cat, till the King -came and took him. -</p> - -<p> -And when he told about that, he began to -cry again. -</p> - -<p> -Then Baby jigged him a bit, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Now I'll tell you a secret the Queen -told me last time she came round with the -butter.—The King is going to let you out -soon now, because at all events you <i>try</i> to be -good. There!" -</p> - -<p> -And when mannikin heard that, he sniffed -and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Gobblessim." -</p> - -<p> -And after that Baby tied an empty reel to -a thread, and gave it him. -</p> - -<p> -And he quite cheered up, and bobbed -the reel, and twinkled his eyes, and said he -a little fisherman, trying to catch a -Surprise-present for being so truly good and -loving. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -46 -</p> - -<p> -Next morning, as Tiny entered the Fort, -all the Fellows came rushing out from the -shed, shouting, -</p> - -<p> -"Well done, Baby!—Good luck to you -both!" for it usually leaks out who has won -the Surprise-present for the year, before it is -stuck up on the Castle-door. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny stopped and said, -</p> - -<p> -"But you don't <i>know</i>." -</p> - -<p> -So all the Fellows crowded round, and they -answered, -</p> - -<p> -"No, we don't <i>know</i>. But the Queen got -talking to the Junior Subaltern when he went -to the Castle for his glass of milk this -morning. So we next door to know." -</p> - -<p> -Just then the dear old Colonel came up -with Moses on his shoulder, and little Marwy, -who had quite recovered from her broken -heart, trotting behind. -</p> - -<p> -And he stopped and patted Tiny on the -back, saying, -</p> - -<p> -"Ah, my dear boy!—I believe I have -to congratulate you." -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny blushed and answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Well, Sir, we've heard nothing from -the King as yet. Still—we hope." -</p> - -<p> -So the Colonel nodded very wisely and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Well, we shall see what we shall see." -</p> - -<p> -And he passed on to Sunday-school: for -the Colonel always attended himself, and -tried to get the Fellows to come too; only -they always had sore throats or something, -and couldn't. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny ran home, quite sure now. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -47 -</p> - -<p> -And when he got there he found a white -paper pinned on to the door, saying, -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -<i>I have gone to my room to wait. Don't -come.</i> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So Tiny waited down below all day. -</p> - -<p> -But towards evening, he crept up, and -peeped. -</p> - -<p> -And there was Baby waiting by the -window, nursing her pussy-kitten. -</p> - -<p> -And as she nursed, she sang, -</p> - -<p class="poem"> - "Hushaby,<br /> - Hushaby,<br /> - Here at twilight,<br /> - Waiting, I,<br /> - Sweet-contented,<br /> - Know not why—<br /> - Hushaby,<br /> - Hushaby."<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then Tiny put his finger to his lips, and -stole away without a word. -</p> - -<p> -But Baby waited at the window, looking East. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -48 -</p> - -<p> -Then at dusk the good old doctor came -from the Castle with a basket on his arm. -</p> - -<p> -And the basket was full of lovely little -Stars of Bethlehem, which flower about -then in That Country. -</p> - -<p> -And on the basket was a label written in -the King's hand, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - <i>Baby<br /> - from<br /> - The King<br /> - because<br /> - She Is<br /> - so truly<br /> - Good and Loving.</i><br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then the old doctor went up the stairs -in the dusk very quietly. -</p> - -<p> -And he knocked at Baby's door and -entered, the little Stars of Bethlehem -shining white about him, as he went. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -49 -</p> - -<p> -Then after about a bit he came downstairs -smiling, the basket empty now, only -for the bulrushes that had lined it. -</p> - -<p> -And he came out to where Tiny was -holding his white cob, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"Ha, my boy!—what d'you think I've -brought for you?" -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny trembled and said, -</p> - -<p> -"What, Sir?" -</p> - -<p> -So the good old doctor answered, -</p> - -<p> -"Go to Baby's room; and you'll see." And -he climbed on to his cob, and jogged -away, chuckling. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And the kitten walked after him down -the drive with its tail up tight. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3b"> -50 -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny came to Baby's door and -knocked. -</p> - -<p> -But there came no answer. -</p> - -<p> -So he went in. -</p> - -<p> -And within all was still and twilight. -</p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-192"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-192.jpg" alt="WITHIN ALL WAS STILL AND TWILIGHT" /> -<br /> -WITHIN ALL WAS STILL AND TWILIGHT -</p> - -<p> -And the only light came from the Stars -of Bethlehem strewn about the floor. -</p> - -<p> -And in the middle of these kneeled Baby, -rocking to and fro with something in her -arms. -</p> - -<p> -And when Tiny came in, she looked -up; and he could see her eyes shining in -the dusk. -</p> - -<p> -Then Tiny came to her upon his toes, and -kneeled beside her. -</p> - -<p> -And he laid his lips to her ear, and whispered, -"Mother." -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -Then they kissed each other and It. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="t3"> -AMEN -</p> - -<p><br /><br /></p> - -<p class="capcenter"> -<a id="img-195"></a> -<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-195.jpg" alt="Book VIII tailpiece" /> -<br /> -Book VIII tailpiece -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /></p> - -<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> - -<h3> -ON THE STORY THAT GOES ON FOR EVER -</h3> - -<p> -So this story ends the same as all other -stories that ever were written, and that is -happily. -</p> - -<p> -And really there is only one Story, and it -is the best Story in the world; but it is not -finished yet, and never will be. -</p> - -<p> -And this Story grows better and better all -the time, which is how we know it from the -written stories that we read. -</p> - -<p> -But it is told in bits, so that unless we're -sort of in the secret, we may mistake it for a -lot of little stories, all separate, and all telling -against each other. -</p> - -<p> -Yet all the little bits fit in together at the -end most perfectly; and not one word is -wasted, although it seems as if there would -be thousands; to say nothing of bad spellings, -and erasures, and great blots of ink and tears. -</p> - -<p> -And it is the same end always, and always -a happy end. -</p> - -<p> -For no story really ends sadly for the very -good reason that it can't. -</p> - -<p> -For Love is Love, and in the end end of all -Love must win. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -So after we have finished our bit of the -Story, and our friends have read it, and -scribbled on the blank space at the bottom, -</p> - -<p class="t3"> - THE END:<br /> - HE WAS A SINNER—<br /> -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And after they have whispered about us in -public, and the ladies have gone behind their -handkerchieves, and said, -</p> - -<p> -"We must hope for the best, and expect -the worst," and the men have yawned and -said, -</p> - -<p> -"Ah, well—De mortuis nil nisi bonum," -which means—"He was the Devil's darling -from his youth up, and I always told you so." -</p> - -<p> -We need not mind so very much; for -it may be that we have done better than we -thought; and it is certain that while the -world knows nothing of our aim, of our -failure it knows more than all. -</p> - -<p> -Moreover let us remember to our comfort -that after that dead -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -END, -</p> - -<p class="noindent"> -which seems to wind us up so blankly, there -is always a -</p> - -<p class="t3"> -BEYOND. -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And the strange thing about that Beyond -is that it is really no Beyond at all: it is -There all the time; but we can hardly see -it for the rather odd reason that we are too -close. -</p> - -<p> -And this Beyond that is always There is -the real Story, if we only knew it. -</p> - -<p> -What we read is only foot-notes at the -bottom of the page to explain the real Story. -</p> - -<p> -But because our eyes are so close to the -page, and because the page is so very large, -we often only see the foot-notes, which are -most interesting of themselves. -</p> - -<p> -Then sometimes we deny that the page is -there, saying the foot-notes are all, which -is rather foolish: for what is the good of -Notes on Nothing? -</p> - -<p><br /></p> - -<p> -And a man who buries his nose in the -Notes, and tries to read the writing by -smelling it, is a sinner; and <i>he</i> usually knows a -lot about nothing. -</p> - -<p> -And a man who holds his eyes close to -the page, and pries into the Notes, is a -scientist; and <i>he</i> usually knows a lot about the -Notes, and nothing about the Story, which -the Notes are on. -</p> - -<p> -And a man who stands back a bit, and -says he can read the whole thing, Notes and -all, and explain it easily, is a Philosopher; -and <i>he</i> usually knows a little about both -Notes and Story. -</p> - -<p> -And a man who stands still further back, -and looks at the Story very quietly, and tells -truly all he sees, without trying to explain -it, is a Poet; and he usually knows a lot -about both Notes and Story. -</p> - -<p> -And this Beyond that is always There is -always the same, and is always a Love-story. -</p> - -<p> -And we are characters in this Love-story, -and walk for ever through its pages. -</p> - -<p> -But if we walk apart by ourselves, rather -proud and puffed up, saying that it isn't a -real Story, and that we don't belong to it, -and will take no part, then we lose all the -interest. -</p> - -<p> -For that comes from joining in, and feeling -that we are characters in the Story, and must -help it along by helping the other characters. -</p> - -<p> -While if we enter in, then we very soon -find out that it is the best Story in the -world, and that if we will, we can be little -heroes, and play our part, and win in the -end quite splendidly. -</p> - -<p> -<i>Then</i> it becomes exciting. -</p> - -<p> -And once we have joined in, we find -oddly enough that as we grow older we -grow younger, until at length we become as -little children, happy all the time, our work -our play, our life a Song of Innocence, not -unlike the natives of That Country. -</p> - -<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Redcoat Captain, by Alfred Ollivant - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REDCOAT CAPTAIN *** - -***** This file should be named 54575-h.htm or 54575-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/7/54575/ - -Produced by Al Haines -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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