This instrument happening to be the baby , great commotion and alarm ensued , which the sagacity of Boxer rather tended to increase ; for that good dog , more thoughtful than his master , had , it seemed , been watching the old gentleman in his sleep , lest he should walk off with a few young poplar-trees that were tied up behind the cart ; and he still attended on him very closely , worrying his gaiters , in fact , and making dead sets at the buttons . `` You 're such an undeniably good sleeper , sir , '' said John , when tranquillity was restored -LRB- in the meantime the old gentleman had stood , bareheaded and motionless , in the centre of the room -RRB- , `` that I have half a mind to ask you where the other six are -- only that would be a joke , and I know I should spoil it . Very near , though , '' murmured the Carrier with a chuckle ; `` very near ! '' The Stranger , who had long white hair , good features , singularly bold and well defined for an old man , and dark , bright , penetrating eyes , looked round with a smile , and saluted the Carrier 's wife by gravely inclining his head . His garb was very quaint and odd -- a long , long way behind the time . Its hue was brown , all over . In his hand he held a great brown club or walking-stick ; and , striking this upon the floor , it fell asunder , and became a chair . On which he sat down quite composedly . `` There ! '' said the Carrier , turning to his wife . `` That 's the way I found him , sitting by the roadside ! 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 XXXXX speak .
In On as at by lest over that to upon