_Mandeville._ Is my reputation then so very bad? _Julia._ You--you are supposed to be rather dangerous. You sing on the stage, and have a tenor voice. _Mandeville._ Is that enough to make a man dangerous? _Julia._ How can _I_ tell? But mamma said you were invincible. You admire mamma, of course. [_Sighs._] _Mandeville._ A charming woman, Mrs. de Trappe. A very interesting woman; so sympathetic. _Julia._ But she said she would not listen to you. _Mandeville._ Did she say that? [_A slight pause._] I hope you will not be angry when I own that I do not especially _admire_ your mother. A quarter of a century ago she may have had considerable attractions, but--are you offended? _Julia._ Offended? Oh, no. Only it seems strange. I thought that all men admired mamma. [_Pause._] You have not told me yet how you made Lady Doldrummond's acquaintance. _Mandeville._ I am here at Lord Aprile's invitation. He has decided that he feels no further need of Lady Doldrummond's apron-strings. _Julia._ Oh, Mr. Mandeville, are you teaching him to be wicked? _Mandeville._ But you will agree with me that a young man cannot make his mother a kind of scribbling diary? _Julia._ Still, if he spends his time well, there does not seem to be any reason why he should refuse to say where he dines when he is not at home. _Mandeville._ Lady Doldrummond holds such peculiar ideas; she would find immorality in a sofa-cushion. If she were to know that Cyril is coming with me to the dress rehearsal of our new piece! _Julia._ It would break her heart. And Lord Doldrummond would be indignant. Mamma says his own morals are so excellent! _Mandeville._ Is he an invalid? _Julia._ Certainly not. Why do you ask? _Mandeville._ Whenever I hear of a charming husband I always think that he _must_ be an invalid. But as for morals, there can be no harm in taking Cyril to a dress rehearsal. If you do not wish him to go, however, I can easily say that the manager does not care to have strangers present. [_Pause._] Afterwards there is to be a ball at Miss Sparrow's. _Julia._ Is Cyril going there, too? _Mandeville._ I believe that he has an invitation, but I will persuade him to refuse it, if you would prefer him to remain at home. _Julia._ You are very kind, Mr. Mandeville, but it is a matter of indifference to me where Lord Aprile goes. _Mandeville._ Perhaps I ought not to have mentioned this to you? _Julia._ [_Annoyed._] It does not make the least difference. In fact, I am delighted to think that you are taking Cyril out into the world. He is wretched in this house. [_With heroism._] I am glad to think that he knows anyone so interesting and clever and beautiful as Sarah Sparrow. I suppose she would be considered beautiful? _Mandeville._ [_With a profound glance._] One can forget her--sometimes. _Julia._ [_Looking down._] Perhaps--when I am as old as she is--I shall be prettier than I am at present.