“I object on principle,” said Eugene, “as a biped⁠—”

“As a what?” asked Mr. Boffin.

“As a two-footed creature;⁠—I object on principle, as a two-footed creature, to being constantly referred to insects and four-footed creatures. I object to being required to model my proceedings according to the proceedings of the bee, or the dog, or the spider, or the camel. I fully admit that the camel, for instance, is an excessively temperate person; but he has several stomachs to entertain himself with, and I have only one. Besides, I am not fitted up with a convenient cool cellar to keep my drink in.”

“But I said, you know,” urged Mr. Boffin, rather at a loss for an answer, “the bee.”