..? What?"
The doctor gave him his candid opinion and added that he was sorry
that there were not enough men to go round.
"In a state of nature the male is mostly polygamous; in most cases
there is no obstacle to this, as there is plenty of food for the young
ones (beasts of prey excepted): abnormalities like unmated females do
not exist in nature. But in civilised countries, where a man is lucky
if he earns enough bread, it is a common occurrence, especially as the
females are in preponderance. One ought to treat unmarried women with
kindness, for their lot is a melancholy one."
"With kindness! That's all very well; but supposing they are anything
but kind themselves!"
And he told the doctor the whole story, even confessing that he had
written a critique on a play.
"Oh! well, no end of nonsense is written," said the doctor, putting
his hand on the lid of the jug which contained the punch. "In the end
science decides all great questions! Science, and nothing else."
When the six months were over and the captain, who had been in
constant, but not very pleasant, correspondence with his wife, (she
had sharply criticised his critique), at last landed at Dalaro, he was
received by his wife, all the children, two servants and Ottilia.
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