I was born so," said Johnny.
"And there's Miss Roper--one never ought to speak free about a lady, but perhaps she's in love too." "Speak for yourself, Mrs Lupex," said Amelia.
"There's no harm in saying that, is there?
I'm sure, if you ain't, you're very hard-hearted; for, if ever there was a true lover, I believe you've got one of your own.

My!--if there's not Lupex's step on the stair! What can bring him home at this hour?
If he's been drinking, he'll come home as cross as anything." Then Mr Lupex entered the room, and the pleasantness of the party was destroyed.
It may be said that neither Mrs Cradell nor Mrs Eames would have placed their sons in Burton Crescent if they had known the dangers into which the young men would fall.

Each, it must be acknowledged, was imprudent; but each clearly saw the imprudence of the other.

Not a week before this, Cradell had seriously warned his friend against the arts of Miss Roper.

"By George, Johnny, you'll get yourself entangled with that girl." "One always has to go through that sort of thing," said Johnny.
"Yes; but those who go through too much of it never get out again.
Where would you be if she got a written promise of marriage from you ?" Poor Johnny did not answer this immediately, for in very truth Amelia Roper had such a document in her possession.
"Where should I be ?" said he.