MRS. COTTER (at door) Ye might as well come up-stairs, Sergeant. There's a fine fire in the sitting-room.
SERGEANT
I'm first rate where I am. Thank you all the same.
[Takes stout and finishes it without withdrawing it from his mouth. Coughs.
MRS. COTTER
How do you feel now?
SERGEANT (wiping his mouth with a large old handkerchief) 'Tis gone! I mean the bone. I feel meself again.
MRS. COTTER I'm glad of that. (Looking at clock) 'Tis gone half-past ten, Sergeant.
SERGEANT
Plenty o' time. We'll be a long time dead, an' happy
I hope.
MRS. COTTER
Amen!
SERGEANT 'Tis my belief that we should all try to do good while we're alive.
MRS. COTTER
There's a lot o' good people in the world, Sergeant.