Resting his elbows on the arms, putting one hand over the other, sticking his lame leg straight out, and placing the stick with the rubber ferrule beside it, he sat perfectly still.

There was something rigid about him.
Did he think?
Probably the same thoughts again and again.

But were they "nice" thoughts, interesting thoughts?
He was a man with a temper; tenacious, faithful.

Women would have felt, "Here is law.

Here is order.
Therefore we must cherish this man.