The Sergeant seemed to find in this a subject for profound thought, and he strode on beside Bellew very silently, and with his eyes straight before him.
"'That the peaches were riper,—to-night,—than ever they were?'" said he at last.
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Riper!" said the Sergeant, as though turning this over in his mind.
"Riper than ever they were!" nodded Bellew.
"The—peaches, I think, sir?"
"The peaches, yes." Bellew heard the Sergeant's finger rasping to and fro across his shaven chin.
"Mr. Bellew, sir—she is a—very remarkable woman, sir!"
"Yes, Sergeant!"
"A—wonderful woman!"