ROYS. (_aside to BARTON_). Oh! she's the sister--eh? BART. (_with pretended indifference_). Yes, a little, harmless, insignificant school-girl-- ROYS. Still, I repeat, if I had to choose between them-- BART. Pshaw! my dear fellow, if you only knew what nonsense you're talking! (_Aside._) Zounds! I hope he isn't going to fall in love with Josephine! COL. Sorry to interrupt, but my time is precious, and business must be attended to. Mr. Royston, will you step into the dining-room with your papers? Barton, you'll come too? JOSEPHINE (_hastily aside to BARTON_). I understand it all, Harry. A very nice young man, indeed! and likely to stand a good chance. Don't you think so? Where _did_ you pick him up so soon? BART. Hush! I'll explain everything another time. [_COLONEL and MRS. TEMPLETON exeunt at R. H., followed by BARTON and ROYSTON. ROYSTON stops, turns, and makes a profound bow to JOSEPHINE. BARTON pushes him out._ JOSEPHINE (_aside_). I wonder what she thinks of him? (_Aloud._) A very gentlemanly young man, Mr. Royston, don't you think so, Julia? JULIA (_indifferently_). I scarcely looked at him. JOSEPHINE (_aside_). That's not very encouraging! (_Aloud._) How _do_ you manage to find so many admirers? _I_ can't! JULIA (_smiling_). Hitherto, perhaps, I may have had the lion's share of attention, homage, and professed admiration; but _your_ turn will come. JOSEPHINE. It's a long time about it! You are so difficult to please. And poor Mr. Royston, I suppose, will be snubbed like the rest! JULIA (_reprovingly_). Josephine! surely you don't imagine-- JOSEPHINE. That there is some attraction for him here? Of course I do! It can't be Aunt Martha--nor I! _I'm_ only a _child!_ (_with affected humility_). JULIA. Josephine, you speak as though you were piqued, vexed--I might almost say _envious!_ JOSEPHINE. Envious? I? Of what? JULIA (_sighing_). Of what, indeed! Ah, dear one, the privileges of an elder sister are not so enviable after all! What is often her lot?--to be constantly exposed to flattery--adulation from the lips of strangers--compelling her to assume an extreme reserve in order to modify the exaggerated and at times indelicate encomiums of relatives and friends. What is the necessary result? Doubt, distrust, suspicion--nay, even prejudice, oftentimes unjust, against those who profess a desire to please! On this impulse _I_ have acted--an impulse dictated by self-respect and a due sense of my own dignity! JOSEPHINE (_aside_). What a serious tone! (_Aloud._) But just think how cruelly, how unjustly you _may_ have acted. And I'm sure, as for Mr. Royston-- JULIA. Mr. Royston again! Silly child! JOSEPHINE. Child? Perhaps I could mention a little fact that--that--but I won't! (_Aside._) Good-by to my secret if I did! (_Aloud._) Good-by! JULIA. Are you going to leave me too? JOSEPHINE. Haven't I got to write out all the invitations for our ball on the 23d? JULIA. Your birthday?--true.