Mrs. Burton suddenly comprehended the situation; she left her chair, made the one atonement which is always sufficient between husband and wife, and said:
“Only one thing, you dear old boy, and even that is a repetition, I suppose. It’ only this: parents are quite as remiss as loving uncles in training their children, instead of merely watching them. The impress of the older and wiser mind should be placed upon the child from the earliest dawn of its intelligence, so that the little one’s shall be determined, instead of being left to chance.”
“And the impress is readily made, of course, even by a love-struck uncle on a short vacation?”
“Certainly. Even wild animals are often tamed at sight by master-minds.”
“But suppose these impressible little beings should have opinions and wishes and intentions of their own?”
“They should be overcome by the adult mind.”
“And if they object?”
“That should make no difference,” said Mrs. Burton, gaining suddenly an inch or two in stature and queenly beauty.
“Do you mean that you would really make them obey you?” asked Mr. Burton, with a gaze as reverent as if the answer would be by absolute authority.
“Certainly!” replied the lady, adding a grace or two to her fully aroused sense of command.