When he came back to breakfast, he was still the same polite but cynical man whom Mrs. Briggs had grown accustomed to.
"Beautiful mornin', sur. 'Tes lovely 'ere in the summer."
"But the winter will come, Mrs. Briggs."
"Then lev us enjoy the summer while we've a-got et, sur."
"You are a philosopher, Mrs. Briggs; but each must enjoy in his own way."
"Iss, tha's true; but I d'often feel as 'ow Vale Linden must be somethin' like the Garden of Eden where our first parents lived together."
"But the serpent came in, Mrs. Briggs."
"Iss, he ded. But you knaw the promise: 'The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.' And it did, ya knaw, sur, it did."
"The serpent seems to be pretty much alive," remarked
Ricordo.