`` Oh ! That 's all right ! '' said the honest Carrier . `` I was afraid , from the look of your face , that I had gone rambling on so long as to set you thinking about something else . I was very near it , I 'll be bound . '' Dot making no reply , they jogged on , for some little time , in silence . But , it was not easy to remain silent very long in John Peerybingle 's cart , for everybody on the road had something to say . Though it might only be `` How are you ? '' and , indeed , it was very often nothing else , still , to give that back again in the right spirit of cordiality , required , not merely a nod and a smile , but as wholesome an action of the lungs withal as a long-winded Parliamentary speech . Sometimes , passengers on foot , or horseback , plodded on a little way beside the cart , for the express purpose of having a chat ; and then there was a great deal to be said on both sides . Then , Boxer gave occasion to more good-natured recognitions of , and by , the Carrier , than half-a-dozen Christians could have done ! Everybody knew him all along the road -- especially the fowls and pigs , who , when they saw him approaching , with his body all on one side , and his ears pricked up inquisitively , and that knob of a tail making the most of itself in the air , immediately withdrew into remote back-settlements , without waiting for the honour of a nearer acquaintance . He had business elsewhere ; going down all the turnings , looking into all the wells , bolting in and out of all the cottages , dashing into the midst of all the Dame Schools , fluttering all the pigeons , magnifying the tails of all the cats , and trotting into the public-houses like a regular customer . Wherever he went , somebody or other might have been heard to cry , `` Halloa ! here 's Boxer ! '' and out came that somebody forthwith , accompanied by at least two or three other somebodies , to give John Peerybingle and his pretty wife Good day . The packages and parcels for the errand cart were numerous ; and there were many stoppages to take them in and give them out , which were not by any means the worst parts of the journey . Some people were so full of expectation about their parcels , and other people were so full of wonder about their parcels , and other people were so full of inexhaustible directions about their parcels , and John had such a lively interest in all the parcels , that it was as good as a play . Likewise , there were articles to carry , which required to be considered and discussed , and in reference to the adjustment and disposition of which councils had to be holden by the Carrier and the senders : at which Boxer usually assisted , in short fits of the closest attention , and long fits of tearing round and round the assembled sages , and barking himself hoarse . Of all these little incidents , Dot was the amused and open-eyed spectatress from her chair in the cart ; and as she sat there , looking on -- a charming little portrait framed to admiration by the tilt -- there was no lack of nudgings and glancings and whisperings and envyings among the younger men .
And this delighted John the Carrier beyond measure ; for he was proud to have his little wife admired , knowing XXXXX she did n't mind it -- that , if anything , she rather liked it perhaps .
Of along beside for in near on than that to