JOSEPHINE. Yes; that is the _professed_ reason--but of course it is on _your_ account that it is given. JULIA (_reproachfully_). Josephine! JOSEPHINE. I know a younger sister's duty, Miss Templeton (_makes a low courtesy and exit L. H._). JULIA. Josephine! sister!--Did she but know how she misjudges me! How heavily I have been punished for that pride, that apparent insensibility, with which she reproaches me! Oh, Harry! Harry! could you but tell how bitterly I have repented! But surely, surely the cruel, wicked indifference with which I treated his affection, his devotion, cannot have entirely destroyed them--some _little_ spark of the old flame must still remain! else why is he so constantly here? Why does he still seem to seek my presence? At any rate, he shall see that I am no heartless coquette; and when this Mr. Royston presents himself, as I'm sure he _will_ (_seeing ROYSTON, who enters from R. H._)-- I thought so! ROYS. (_aside_). She's alone! She's decidedly handsome. Yet, as I said before, there's something about the other that--that-- (_Aloud, and bowing to JULIA._) Miss Templeton! JULIA (_courtesying_). Sir! the business matter in which you are engaged is, I presume, settled? ROYS. Yes; the signatures alone are required. JULIA. In that case perhaps I had better-- (_About to retire._) ROYS. One moment, I beg! (_Aside._) She's decidedly _very_ handsome! Still--don't know how it is--but there is certainly something about the other that--that-- (_Aloud._) Before leaving this house to-morrow, with my new acquaintance--I mean _my old friend_ Barton-- JULIA (_quickly_). Mr. Barton leaves to-morrow? ROYS. Yes, alas! I say "alas," because one day only is now left for me to admire your physical attractions, your mental accomplishments-- JULIA. Oh, sir! Believe me, my sister is far more accomplished than I am. ROYS. Far be it from me to deny it. Still, from the highly eulogistic terms in which every one speaks of you--your sister among the first-- JULIA. Ah, sir! Dear Josephine is so amiable, so affectionate, so good, so loving, so angelic-- ROYS. (_aside_). She sticks up for her sister, that I will say! (_Aloud._) Still, there are _certain_ attractions which we can all judge of by our own eyes. JULIA (_quickly_). And who can possess them to a greater degree than Josephine? Such exquisite grace--such absolute perfection of form and feature-- ROYS. (_aside_). Her sister again! If we go on at this rate, we sha'n't get on very fast! (_Aloud._) Allow me to be frank with you; my brother Jonathan--but perhaps you've never heard of Jonathan?--Jonathan Royston, of Banbury--where the cakes come from--well, he often reproaches me with being what he calls rather wild and fast and flighty-- JULIA. The only fault I find with Josephine, dear child. She is so giddy, so thoughtless, so excitable! What a capital match you'd make! Ha, ha, ha!