“Who was Lilith?”
“Adam’s first love.”
She sat down, her eyes dancing, her lips demure; the prettiest combination!
“I didn’t know he had one. But I might have guessed. They always have. Go on!”
I went on, and this is the story.
II
“You were speaking of the pedestal. That, of course, was invented in Eden; for Adam early recognized the convenience of knowing where to leave your women and be certain of finding them on your return. So he made the pedestal, decorated it, burned incense before it, and went away upon his own occasions; and when Eve had finished her housekeeping (you may remember, Milton tells us what good little dinners she provided for Adam), she would look bored, climb upon the pedestal obediently, and stand there all day, yawning and wondering what kept him away so long.
“Now, on a memorable day, the Serpent came by, and stopped and looked up at the Lady of the Garden,—who naturally assumed a statuesque pose,—and there was joy in his bright little eyes. But all he said was, ‘May I ask if you find this amusing?’
“And Eve replied, ‘No, not at all. But it is the proper place for a lady.’
“And the Serpent rejoined: ‘Why?’