But Eve had stopped my mouth. “Now, Adam,” she said, “I have missed some pretty speech of yours--and I love your pretty speeches--but you may make another for me when I am done. For I have a purpose. Did you know that?” “Yes,” I said. “I was sure that you had. You generally have a purpose--which you invariably accomplish. So ask, and I will answer; and if my answers are not what are expected of me it will be but my misfortune. My intentions are of the best.” And, at that, she laughed. “Well, then,” she said, “was not Solomon a wise man?” “He had that reputation,” I replied meekly; “and I believe that he has it still--though it is a marvel to me that a dead man can have anything in this world. Yes, I think there can be no doubt that he was the wisest man in the world.” “That will do--nicely, on the whole,” said Eve, having weighed my answer carefully, “although it leaves something to be desired. Now,--do you know what Solomon said about despising your neighbors?” She was looking down--and trembling at her boldness, I made no doubt--and so she did not see the look of grieved astonishment that came into my face. I was silent for some while, trying to recall just what Solomon did say about despising one’s neighbors. He said such a vast number of things. And, at last, Eve looked up,--and I saw that she had not been trembling at her boldness, for she was quite at her ease, and smiling at me. “Eve,” I said, and I tried to be severe--but failed lamentably, for I smiled, too; and there is some excuse for me, for how could any one, meeting that smile of hers, remember such a purpose? “Eve,” I said, “I did not think it of you, that you would thus put your own husband to shame. For I do remember, and would you imply that I am void of wisdom? I have no doubt that I, myself, could write proverbs well enough”-- But Eve interrupted me. “Do you remember,” she asked, “the Welsh giant?” Now what had the Welsh giant to do with it? “I was about to say,” I continued, “when you interrupted me, that I had no doubt that I, myself, could write proverbs,--quite passable proverbs,--if Solomon had not covered the field completely, some thousands of years ago.” And I looked at Eve--but she was leaning back in her chair, looking at me and smiling still; and she made me no answer. So I resumed. “Out of my own mouth,” I said, “have you convicted me. But there is yet more, Eve. Do you remember what it is?” And, on a sudden, she had left her chair and was on the arm of mine; and when she had made an end of rumpling my hair, she spoke. “So you think, Adam,” she said, “that you have proved yourself a man of understanding? Well, then, perhaps you have. But you may have these same neighbors to visit with you, for I find much good in them. And now,” she added, with a blush that well became her, “I must sew.”