I…I meant…what did you mean when you said save her?”

“I meant a lot, my boy, and don’t overlook it…Tell me straight, Heftral. This is a serious matter for us all. Do you think Cherry is still a good girl?”

“I don’t think. I know,” Heftral returned ringingly. “Your question is an insult to her, Mister Winters.”

“I wonder whether or not any question is that, in regard to young women in this age,” Winters went on soberly. “I gave you credit for being a brainy clear-eyed fellow, for all your grave-digging propensity. I saw how you disapproved of Cherry…her friends and habits.”

“Yes, I did…deplorably so. But nevertheless…”

“Love is blind, my son,” interposed Winters. “You think more of Cherry than she deserves. All the same I’m glad. That’ll help us out. I regard you as an anchor.”

“Mister Winters, I…I don’t know what to say. I’m overwhelmed.”

“Well, I dare say you’ve reason to be. But all the same you listen to me patiently. Will you?”

“Why, certainly.”

“You were justified in being shocked at my question about Cherry. But I wouldn’t blame anyone for a pretty raw opinion of modern girls. I have it myself…To be brief, they have gotten under my skin, if you know what that means. Cherry’s generation is beyond my understanding. They have developed something new. They are eliminating right and wrong. They have no respect for their parents, and so far as I can see very little affection. They have a positive hatred for all restraint. They will not stand to be controlled. They have no faith in our old standards. As a rule they have no religion. They wear indecent clothes, or I might say very few clothes at all. They dance all night, drown themselves in booze, pet and neck indiscriminately, and most of them go the limit.”

“Mister Winters!” Heftral expostulated, somewhat taken aback by the elder man’s outburst.

“Stephen, I’m telling you straight. This is not my theory. I know. I’ve got this young crowd figured that far, at least.