Then you came along to teach me a lesson." "Well, Pepper, that's strong talk," returned Lane.

"But cut it, and hurry to--to what comes home to me.

What's the matter with these Middleville girls ?" "Lane, any intelligent man, who _knows_ things, and who can think for himself, will tell you this--that to judge from the dress, dance, talk, conduct of these young girls--most of them have _apparently_ gone wrong." "You include our nice girls--from what we used to call Middleville's best families ?" "I don't only include them.

I throw the emphasis on them.

The girls you know best." Lane straightened up, to look at his companion.