~Her Husband.~~ Yes, and also a great sense of _purpose in life._ For, as we educate a child--removing out of its path those obstacles over which we ourselves, in early days, have stumbled, and strengthening its mind with the aid of our own matured experience--we, as it were, construct a new and better replica of ourselves, and thus enable the race to move slowly, but surely, forward towards the ultimate goal of existence--towards _perfection_. ~The Father.~~ You are quite right, most estimable brother-in-law. When I was a boy I used to torment dumb animals, and the practice bred in me cruelty: wherefore I shall never allow my son to be unkind to any living thing. Again, when I was grown up I fell into many, errors as regards the bestowal of my friendship and affections--I chose unworthy comrades, and loved deceitful women; but now I shall warn my son that---- [_Enter the Doctor hurriedly._] ~The Doctor.~~ Sir, your wife has taken a turn for the worse. You ought to go and see her at once. ~The Father.~~ My God! [_Exit with the Doctor, while the Relations seat themselves in a semicircle, and for a while preserve a solemn silence. Meanwhile the Being in Grey stands motionless as before, with his stony face turned towards the company,_] ~Dialogue of the Relations.~~ ~The Husband.~~ My dear wife, do you not think that our sister-in-law is going to die? ~Elderly Lady.~~ No, I do not. She was always a nervous, fidgety woman--a woman who made overmuch of her ailments. All of us have to go through childbed, and few of us die of it. Why, I myself have been through it six times! ~The Daughter.~~ But she screamed so dreadfully, mother dear? And she grew quite black in the face with it? ~Elderly Lady.~~ It was not with screaming; it was a mere nervous flush. You do not understand these things. _I_ used to turn quite black in the face, though I never uttered a single scream. Not long ago the wife of an engineer of my acquaintance had a baby, and she never uttered a sound from start to finish. I know. My brother should not grow so alarmed, but keep himself in hand, and take a saner, cooler view of things. I am afraid he will bring much indulgence and absurdity to bear upon the education of this child. Yes. He is a man much too easily influenced. Though anything but rich, he gives away money to the most undeserving people. Do you know how much he paid for this child's _layette?_ Do not speak of it! My brother's extravagance fairly sickens me! We have had many quarrels about it. They say it is a stork which brings the babies. What a funny stork it must be! [_The young people laugh._] Oh, do not talk such nonsense. I myself have brought six babies into the world, and _I_ am no stork. [_The young people laugh still more unrestrainedly, despite the fact that the Elderly Lady is regarding them with a fixed and stony stare._]