JULIA (_endeavoring to conceal her emotion_). Yes, Josephine, willingly, gladly! Can I be indifferent to your happiness? (_smiling sadly_). JOSEPHINE (_aside_). How bravely she bears herself! (_Aloud._) And yet, just now, you were so indignant, so angry with me? JULIA. A momentary caprice, an unworthy jealousy!--but no more of that. Kiss me, dear sister! (_kissing JOSEPHINE and moving away_). JOSEPHINE (_aside_). A tear? But you won't suffer long, poor dear martyr! (_Suddenly bursting into loud laughter._) Ha! ha! ha! (_Aside to COLONEL._) Laugh! COL. (_forcing laugh_). Ha! ha! ha! (_Aside._) Laugh! ROYS. (_very loud_). Ha! ha! ha! (_Aside._) I don't know what I'm laughing about. MRS. T. What _is_ the matter? JOSEPHINE (_laughing again_). Ha! ha! ha! You don't mean to say you've all been taken in? Did you think we were in earnest all the time? Ha! ha! ha! (_Aside to COLONEL._) Laugh! COL. Ha! ha! ha! ROYS. (_very loud_). Ha! ha! ha! MRS. T. (_impatiently_). Josephine, I insist on your explaining this extraordinary behavior instantly! JOSEPHINE. Nothing so simple. (_To COLONEL and BARTON._) There's no necessity for our carrying on this innocent little _jest_ any longer, is there? MRS. T. Jest? JOSEPHINE. Yes; this harmless conspiracy to make everybody happy! Julia dear, it was to test your love for me that I pretended to be so very anxious to get married, which I wasn't the least little bit in the world (_with a sly look at ROYSTON_). I mean I wasn't _then!_ My fellow-conspirator, Mr. Barton, fearing that your rejection of him might proceed from a preference for another, joined in the plot, but very unwillingly, for it is you, Julia, you alone, that he has ever loved; you alone that he loves still! MRS. T. What is it I hear? BART. The truth, madam! (_To JULIA._) May I hope, or must I endure a second refusal! JULIA (_tenderly_). I suffered too much from the first, Harry (_giving her hand to BARTON_). ROYS. (_aside_). That's _one_ couple; but there's room for another. (_To MRS. TEMPLETON._) Madam, I have the honor to solicit the hand of your younger niece, Miss Josephine! MRS. T. With all my heart, Mr. Royston; that is, unless Josephine objects. JOSEPHINE (_quickly_). But she doesn't! (_giving her hand to ROYSTON_). BART. You see, Jonathan will be satisfied, after all. ROYS. Yes. But poor Sophia (_sighing_). BART. Hush! (_Aside to JULIA, and slipping the portrait into her hand._) You'll put this portrait back in its place. JOSEPHINE. She won't care to look at it, now that she's got the _original._ THE CURTAIN FALLS. PEPPERPOT'S LITTLE PETS! _In One Act._ DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. JACK PEPPERPOT, late H. M. 147th Foot. DOCTOR JACOBUS JOGTROT. MR. CHRISTOPHER CHIRPER. STEPHEN BLUNT. MRS. TARLETAN. JESSIE (her niece). MARTHA (a servant). SCENE.--Mrs. Tarletan's Villa at Hampstead.