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 its 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 undeniable good sleeper, sir,′ said John, when tranquillity was restored; in the mean time the old gentleman had stood, bareheaded and motionless, in the centre of the room; ′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 eighteenpence. 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. ′Don′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 John.
′Indeed?′ observed the Stranger. ′Surely? Very young!′
He quietly turned over, and resumed his reading. But, before he could have read two lines, he again interrupted himself to say:
′Baby, yours?′
John gave him a gigantic nod; equivalent to an answer in the affirmative, delivered through a speaking trumpet.
′Girl?′
′Bo-o-oy!′ roared John.
′Also very young, eh?′
Mrs. Peerybingle instantly struck in.
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