In order, therefore to ensure herself the possession of a child perfect in physique, and intellect; and endowed with such faculties of mind as formed her beau ideal of a beautiful character, she underwent a course of self-denial and watchfulness throughout the whole period of pregnancy. During this important period, the greatest in her life, she took heed that no emotion, thought, or action was indulged in on her part that she would object to seeing reproduced in her child, however modified these might be by the new individuality. To ensure this she followed a system of wholesome and healthy employment, which served the two-fold purpose of keeping her mind pure, and her muscle-power in practice. By experience it was found that the most beautiful characters had been given to the world by parents noted for their industry, morality and unselfishness. Then there were the intellectual powers of the child’s mind to consider, for it was not left to chance the arrangement of his talents, or capabilities for a profession. Expectant parents took time by the forelock, for instead of waiting for the period when their son’s schooling would be completed for the choice of a profession, they carefully considered the question long before he put in an appearance, and made their plans regarding his future with twentieth-century forethought. If it so happened that the ambition of a couple was to see their son a professor of music then the mother-that-was-to-be took her _rôle_ accordingly. During this interesting time she would devote herself almost exclusively to the pursuit of music; daily practising on the instruments she wished him to excel in; studying the theory of music, attending high-class musical entertainments; encouraging lovers of music at her house, and in fact, neglecting nothing that lay in her power to foster and encourage the growth of that group of faculties, whose possession makes the perfect musician. Indeed, the friends of a lady _enceinte_ would suspect her condition, not from seeing her lying about on the couch, or other indolent indulgences, but from her increased activities in a regular and definite direction. ‘It’s easy to see,’ a neighbour would remark in fireside parlance, ‘that Mistress Woodward is expecting a son; evidently they are going to make him a civil engineer. Mark, how she is slaving over mathematics and reading up every work on engineering she can lay her hands on. Why, her boudoir is filled with mechanical drawings: you would think she was about building all the suspension bridges, and electrometers in the Empire. It is a son, you may be sure; she would hardly put a daughter to such a profession, seeing that when one comes she will be an heiress. Yes, the grandmother left all her property to the grand-daughter, _when she arrives_. I suppose they will have one; it goes without saying that they will, _under the circumstances_.’ Or this might be the gossip.