My father stamped the butt of his musket upon deck. "'Rested in the notion,' did it? Nothing of the sort, sir! It rested in the apple, which he was told not to eat; but, nevertheless, ate. Born a philosopher, was he? And knew the effect of every cause without knowing the difference between good and evil? Why, man, 'twas precisely against becoming a philosopher that the Almighty took pains to warn him!" Mr. Badcock hastily turned a page. "The image of God was no less resplendent in that which we call man's practical understanding--namely, that storehouse of the soul in which are treasured up the rules of action and the seeds of morality. Now of this sort are these maxims: 'That God is to be worshipped,' 'That parents are to be honoured,' 'That a man's word is to be kept.' It was the privilege of Adam innocent to have these notions also firm and untainted--" My father flung up both hands. "Oh! So Adam honoured his father and his mother?" "Belike," suggested Billy Priske, scratching his head, "Eve was expecting, and he invented it to keep her spirits up." "I assure you, sir," Mr. Badcock protested with dignity, "Dr. South was the most admired preacher of his day. Her late Majesty offered him the Deanery of Westminster." "I could have found a better preferment for him, then; that of Select Preacher to the Marines." "If you will have patience, sir--" "Prosper, how near is the leading boat?" "A good mile away, sir, as yet." "Then I will have patience, Mr. Badcock." "The Doctor, sir, proceeds to make some observations on Love, with which you will find yourself able to agree. Love, he says-- "'is the great instrument and engine of Nature, the bond and cement of society; the spring and spirit of the universe. . . . Now this affection in the state of innocence was happily pitched upon its right object--'" "'Happily,' did you say? 'Happily'? Why, good heavens, sir! how many women had Adam to go gallivanting after? Enough, enough, gentleman! To your guns! and in the strength of a faith which must be strong indeed, to have survived its expositors!"