I had quite a long talk with him this morning : he can hear me better already , he says , as he gets more used to my voice . He told me a great deal about himself , and I told him a good deal about myself , and a rare lot of questions he asked me . I gave him information about my having two beats , you know , in my business ; one day to the right from our house and back again ; another day to the left from our house and back again -LRB- for he 's a stranger , and do n't know the names of places about here -RRB- ; and he seemed quite pleased . ` Why , then I shall be returning home to-night your way , ' he says , ` when I thought you 'd be coming in an exactly opposite direction . That 's capital ! I may trouble you for another lift , perhaps , but I 'll engage not to fall so sound asleep again . ' He was sound asleep , sure-ly ! -- Dot ! what are you thinking of ? '' `` Thinking of , John ? I -- I was listening to you . '' `` 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 XXXXX 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 .
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