ROYS. (_aside_). That's a pretty broad hint! (_Aloud._) And he--I mean Jonathan--says that the best thing I could do would be to get _married!_ JULIA. The very conclusion I have come to about Josephine. ROYS. (_aside_). It really looks as if she wanted to turn me over to her sister. (_Aloud._) And having received the flattering assurance that my pretensions to your hand might possibly not be unsuccessful-- JULIA. From whom, pray? Doubtless from my aunt. ROYS. Oh no! From my dear old friend, Barton. JULIA (_indignantly_). Mr. Barton? He? No, no! I cannot, _will_ not believe it! ROYS. I'm sure he will not deny it--and see, fortunately, he's here! _Enter BARTON at door R. H._ BART. Miss Templeton, your presence is required in the drawing-room. JULIA (_very coldly, and seating herself at table_). Presently. BART. (_aside to ROYSTON_). Well, what news? ROYS. (_aside_). All right! At least, if it isn't this one, it'll be the other! One of the two! BART. What do you mean by "the other?" ROYS. The "little, harmless, insignificant school-girl," you know! BART. (_aside_). Confound the fellow! ROYS. You first put the notion of marriage into my head, and I won't leave this house a bachelor; I'll marry somebody! I leave you together! You'll plead my cause, won't you?--and pitch it strong, won't you? I shall be all anxiety to know the result--because if _she_ won't have me, I can fall back on the other. Don't you see? (_shaking BARTON'S hand, and runs out at C._). BART. (_aside, and looking at JULIA_). To have to plead the cause of another, when, in spite of me, her presence _will_ recall the past, painful, humiliating as it is! JULIA (_with indifference_). Your friend has left you, Mr. Barton? BART. He has, _Miss Templeton;_ but he has left an advocate to intercede with you on his behalf. JULIA (_satirically_). A willing and an earnest one, no doubt, who probably has already furnished him with a detailed catalogue of my tastes, habits, pursuits, disposition-- BART. (_aside_). He's been blabbing! (_Aloud._) Surely he cannot have betrayed my confidence? JULIA (_with suppressed anger_). The charge of "betrayal of confidence" should rather be levelled at one who by his intimacy with a family, into which he is admitted on terms of friendship, is enabled to study the characters of its members for the purpose of retailing the result of his observations to others! BART. I will not affect to misunderstand your reproof. It is true that I spoke of you to Mr. Royston in terms which you fully merit--that I even told him your heart was free. JULIA. Perfectly, absolutely free! You undertook to be his advocate with such zeal, such earnestness, one might almost imagine you had some personal interest. BART. And what if I _had_ an interest--a _powerful_ interest? JULIA (_quickly_). Indeed?