"That woman's green with bile," the Doctor announced. "You've been over-feeding her."
"I did it to strengthen the child."
"No doubt; but this sort of woman will eat all that's put before her. Lower her diet."
This was done. The woman recovered in a couple of days and resigned her place at once, declaring she was starved.
A second wet-nurse was sought for and found. The child thrived, was weaned, and began to cut his teeth without any trouble to mention. Twice a day Captain Barker visited his nursery and studied him attentively.
"I'll own that I'm boggled," he confessed to Dr. Beckerleg. "You see, a child is the offspring of his parents."
"That is undeniable!" the Doctor answered.
"And science now asserts that he inherits his parents' aptitudes: therefore, to train him secundum naturam, I must discover these aptitudes and educate or check them."
"Decidedly."
"Well, but his mother was an angel, and his father the dirtiest scamp that ever cheated the halter."