BART. Your opinion, indeed! Pshaw! what do you know about it?
JOSEPHINE (aside to COLONEL, and pointing to ROYSTON). What! has Harry found somebody already?
MRS. T. Julia, my dear, allow me to present Mr. Royston, an old friend of Mr. Barton’s (JULIA courtesies stiffly to ROYSTON).
BART. (to ROYSTON). There’s a courtesy! that’s what I call a courtesy!
ROYS. Yes! but, as I said before, of the two I prefer (looking at JOSEPHINE)—
BART. You prefer, indeed! Surely I must know better than you! (To JULIA.) My friend Royston, a distinguished amateur of the fine arts, is in raptures with your sketches, Miss Julia. (JULIA courtesies stiffly again.)
JOSEPHINE (to JULIA). Why don’t you thank Mr. Royston, sister?
ROYS. (aside to BARTON). Oh! she’s the sister—eh?
BART. (with pretended indifference). Yes, a little, harmless, insignificant school-girl—