“No epilepsy, no insanity of any form?”
“No. Of course, you understand that almost no one is what might be called eugenically perfect. Strictly speaking, perhaps not over two or three per cent. of the population even approximates that standard. But it seemed to me that in everything essential in this case, weakness latent in Atherton was mating strength in Eugenia and the same way on her part for an entirely different set of traits.”
“Still,” considered Kennedy, “there might have been something latent in her family germ plasm back of the time through which you could trace it?”
Dr. Crafts shrugged his shoulders. “There often is, I must admit, something we can’t discover because it lies too far back in the past.”
“And likely to crop out after skipping generations,” put in Maude Schofield.
She evidently did not take the same liberal view in the practical application of the matter expressed by her chief. I set it down to the ardor of youth in a new cause, which often becomes the saner conservatism of maturity.
“Of course, you found it much easier than usual to get at the true family history of the Athertons,” pursued Kennedy. “It is an old family and has been prominent for generations.”
“Naturally,” assented Dr. Crafts.
“You know Burroughs Atherton on both lines of descent?” asked Kennedy, changing the subject abruptly.
“Yes, fairly well,” answered Crafts.