among us, on this curious little planet. Judging by my
observation and experience, that ill-fated baby's chance of
inheriting the virtues of her parents is not to be compared with
her chances of inheriting their vices; especially if she happens
to take after her mother. _There_ the virtue is not conspicuous,
and the vice is one enormous fact. When I think of the growth of
that poisonous hereditary taint, which may come with time--when
I think of passions let loose and temptations lying in ambush--I
see the smooth surface of the Minister's domestic life with
dangers lurking under it which make me shake in my shoes. God!
what a life I should lead, if I happened to be in his place,
some years hence. Suppose I said or did something (in the just
exercise of my parental authority) which offended my adopted
daughter. What figure would rise from the dead in my memory, when
the girl bounced out of the room in a rage? The image of her
mother would be the image I should see. I should remember what
her mother did when _she_ was provoked; I should lock my bedroom
door, in my own house, at night. I should come down to breakfast
with suspicions in my cup of tea, if I discovered that my adopted
daughter had poured it out. Oh, yes; it's quite true that I might
be doing the girl a cruel injustice all the time; but how am I to
be sure of that? I am only sure that her mother was hanged for
one of the most merciless murders committed in our time. Pass
the match-box. My pipe's out, and my confession of faith has come
to an end."

It was useless to dispute with a man who possessed his command of
language. At the same time, there was a bright side to the poor
Minister's prospects which the Doctor had failed to see. It was
barely possible that I might succeed in putting my positive