say, with much of our original innocence intact—I do believe there is original innocence, as well as original sin. There was a time before the apple of knowledge was eaten.” He glanced back at Strafford over his shoulder and caught his deprecating look. “Oh, I know, I know, you feel the people have been deliberately kept in ignorance. We might have grown to maturity, had we been allowed. But centuries of English oppression kept us back, kept us down—kept us, as I say, innocent. I hope I don’t offend you by speaking of these things? Your people—”
