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 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 XXXXX the former , said : `` Your daughter , my good friend ? ''
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