Upright as a milestone . And almost as deaf . '' `` Sitting in the open air , John ? '' `` In the open air , '' replied the Carrier , `` just at dusk . ` Carriage Paid , ' he said ; and gave me eighteen-pence . Then he got in . And there he is . '' `` He 's going , John , I think ! '' Not at all . He was only going to speak . `` If you please , I was to be left till called for , '' said the Stranger mildly . `` Do n't mind me . '' With that he took a pair of spectacles from one of his large pockets , and a book from another , and leisurely began to read . Making no more of Boxer than if he had been a house lamb ! The Carrier and his wife exchanged a look of perplexity . The Stranger raised his head ; and , glancing from the latter to the former , said : `` Your daughter , my good friend ? '' `` Wife , '' returned John . `` Niece ? '' said the Stranger . `` Wife ! ''
roared XXXXX .
Boxer John Niece air dusk eighteen-pence head left milestone wife