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diff --git a/790-h/790-h.htm b/790-h/790-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..392d6c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/790-h/790-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3710 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lady Windermere's Fan, by Oscar Wilde</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .GutSmall { font-size: 0.7em; } + h1, h2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + h3, h4, h5 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } +table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + div.gapspace { height: 0.8em; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lady Windermere’s Fan, by Oscar Wilde</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Lady Windermere’s Fan</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Oscar Wilde</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 25, 1997 [eBook #790]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 7, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: David Price</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN ***</div> + +<h1>LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN</h1> +<p style="text-align: center">A PLAY<br /> +ABOUT A GOOD WOMAN</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="GutSmall">BY</span></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><b>OSCAR WILDE</b></p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">METHUEN & CO. LTD.<br /> +36 ESSEX STREET W.C.<br /> +LONDON</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall"><i>Sixteenth +Edition</i></span></p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><i>First Published</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1893</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>First Issued by Methuen & Co. Ltd.</i> (<i>Limited +Editions on Hand-made Paper and Japanese Vellum</i>) +<i>February</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1908</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Third Edition</i> (<i>F’cap</i> 8<i>vo</i>, +5<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) <i>September</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1909</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Fourth Edition</i> (5<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>June</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1910</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Fifth Edition</i> (<i>F’cap</i> 8<i>vo</i>, +1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) <i>November 3rd</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1911</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Sixth Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>November</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1911</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Eighth Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) <i>1912</i>, +<i>Ninth and Tenth Editions</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>1913</i>, <i>Eleventh Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>1914</i>, <i>Twelfth Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>1915</i>, <i>Thirteenth Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>) +<i>1916</i>, <i>Fourteenth and Fifteenth Edition</i> (1<i>s.</i> +<i>net</i>) <i>1917</i></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"> </p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><i>Sixteenth Edition</i> (5<i>s.</i> <i>net</i>)</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><i>1917</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><i>The literary and dramatic rights of</i> “<i>Lady +Windermere’s Fan</i>” <i>belong to Sir George +Alexander</i>, <i>by arrangement with whom this play is included +in this edition</i>. <i>The acting version</i> (<i>Samuel +French</i>) <i>does not contain the complete text</i>.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">TO<br /> +THE DEAR MEMORY<br /> +OF<br /> +ROBERT EARL OF LYTTON<br /> +IN AFFECTION<br /> +AND<br /> +ADMIRATION</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<h2>THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY</h2> +<p>Lord Windermere</p> +<p>Lord Darlington</p> +<p>Lord Augustus Lorton</p> +<p>Mr. Dumby</p> +<p>Mr. Cecil Graham</p> +<p>Mr. Hopper</p> +<p>Parker, Butler</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Lady Windermere</p> +<p>The Duchess of Berwick</p> +<p>Lady Agatha Carlisle</p> +<p>Lady Plymdale</p> +<p>Lady Stutfield</p> +<p>Lady Jedburgh</p> +<p>Mrs. Cowper-Cowper</p> +<p>Mrs. Erlynne</p> +<p>Rosalie, Maid</p> +<h2>THE SCENES OF THE PLAY</h2> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Act</span> I.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Morning-room in Lord Windermere’s house</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Act</span> II.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Drawing-room in Lord Windermere’s house</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Act</span> III.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Lord Darlington’s rooms</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Act</span> IV.</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Same as Act I.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Time</span>:</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>The Present</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Place</span>:</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>London</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><i>The action of the play takes place within twenty-four +hours</i>, <i>beginning on a Tuesday afternoon at five +o’clock</i>, <i>and ending the next day at</i> 1.30 +<i>p.m.</i></p> +<h2>LONDON: ST. JAMES’S THEATRE</h2> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Lessee and Manager</i>: <i>Mr. +George Alexander</i><br /> +<i>February</i> 22<i>nd</i>, 1892.</p> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. George Alexander</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. Nutcombe Gould</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus Lorton</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. H. H. Vincent</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mr. Cecil Graham</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. Ben Webster</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. Vane-Tempest</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mr. Hopper</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. Alfred Holles</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Parker</span> (<i>Butler</i>)</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Mr. V. Sansbury</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Lily Hanbury</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">The Duchess of Berwick</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Fanny Coleman</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha Carlisle</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Laura Graves</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Granville</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lady Jedburgh</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss B. Page</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lady Stutfield</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Madge Girdlestone</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Cowper-Cowper</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss A. de Winton</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span></p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Marion Terry</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Rosalie</span> (<i>Maid</i>)</p> +</td> +<td><p><i>Miss Winifred Dolan</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h2>FIRST ACT</h2> +<p style="text-align: center">SCENE</p> +<p><i>Morning-room of Lord Windermere’s house in Carlton +House Terrace</i>. <i>Doors C. and R. Bureau with +books and papers R.</i> <i>Sofa with small tea-table +L.</i> <i>Window opening on to terrace L.</i> +<i>Table R.</i></p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>is at table +R.</i>, <i>arranging roses in a blue bowl</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Is your ladyship at +home this afternoon?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Yes—who has called?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Lord Darlington, my +lady.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Hesitates for a moment</i>.] Show him up—and +I’m at home to any one who calls.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, my lady.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. It’s +best for me to see him before to-night. I’m glad +he’s come.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Lord Darlington,</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span> +<i>C.</i>]</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. How do you +do, Lady Windermere?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How do you +do, Lord Darlington? No, I can’t shake hands with +you. My hands are all wet with these roses. +Aren’t they lovely? They came up from Selby this +morning.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. They are +quite perfect. [<i>Sees a fan lying on the +table</i>.] And what a wonderful fan! May I look at +it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Do. +Pretty, isn’t it! It’s got my name on it, and +everything. I have only just seen it myself. +It’s my husband’s birthday present to me. You +know to-day is my birthday?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. No? Is +it really?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes, +I’m of age to-day. Quite an important day in my life, +isn’t it? That is why I am giving this party +to-night. Do sit down. [<i>Still arranging +flowers</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Sitting +down</i>.] I wish I had known it was your birthday, Lady +Windermere. I would have covered the whole street in front +of your house with flowers for you to walk on. They are +made for you.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>A short pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Lord +Darlington, you annoyed me last night at the Foreign +Office. I am afraid you are going to annoy me again.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I, Lady +Windermere?</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>and</i> +<span class="smcap">Footman</span> <i>C.</i>, <i>with tray and +tea things</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Put it +there, Parker. That will do. [<i>Wipes her hands with +her pocket-handkerchief</i>, <i>goes to tea-table</i>, <i>and +sits down</i>.] Won’t you come over, Lord +Darlington?</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Takes +chair and goes across L.C.</i>] I am quite miserable, Lady +Windermere. You must tell me what I did. [<i>Sits +down at table L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Well, you +kept paying me elaborate compliments the whole evening.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] Ah, nowadays we are all of us so hard up, +that the only pleasant things to pay <i>are</i> +compliments. They’re the only things we <i>can</i> +pay.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Shaking +her head</i>.] No, I am talking very seriously. You +mustn’t laugh, I am quite serious. I don’t like +compliments, and I don’t see why a man should think he is +pleasing a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of +things that he doesn’t mean.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Ah, but I +did mean them. [<i>Takes tea which she offers him</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Gravely</i>.] I hope not. I should be sorry to +have to quarrel with you, Lord Darlington. I like you very +much, you know that. But I shouldn’t like you at all +if I thought you were what most other men are. Believe me, +you are better than most other men, and I sometimes think you +pretend to be worse.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. We all have +our little vanities, Lady Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why do you +make that your special one? [<i>Still seated at table +L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Still +seated L.C.</i>] Oh, nowadays so many conceited people go +about Society pretending to be good, that I think it shows rather +a sweet and modest disposition to pretend to be bad. +Besides, there is this to be said. If you pretend to be +good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to +be bad, it doesn’t. Such is the astounding stupidity +of optimism.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Don’t +you <i>want</i> the world to take you seriously then, Lord +Darlington?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. No, not the +world. Who are the people the world takes seriously? +All the dull people one can think of, from the Bishops down to +the bores. I should like <i>you</i> to take me very +seriously, Lady Windermere, <i>you</i> more than any one else in +life.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Why—why me?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>After a +slight hesitation</i>.] Because I think we might be great +friends. Let us be great friends. You may want a +friend some day.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why do you +say that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Oh!—we +all want friends at times.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I think +we’re very good friends already, Lord Darlington. We +can always remain so as long as you don’t—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Don’t +what?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Don’t +spoil it by saying extravagant silly things to me. You +think I am a Puritan, I suppose? Well, I have something of +the Puritan in me. I was brought up like that. I am +glad of it. My mother died when I was a mere child. I +lived always with Lady Julia, my father’s elder sister, you +know. She was stern to me, but she taught me what the world +is forgetting, the difference that there is between what is right +and what is wrong. <i>She</i> allowed of no +compromise. <i>I</i> allow of none.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. My dear Lady +Windermere!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Leaning +back on the sofa</i>.] You look on me as being behind the +age.—Well, I am! I should be sorry to be on the same +level as an age like this.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You think +the age very bad?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +Nowadays people seem to look on life as a speculation. It +is not a speculation. It is a sacrament. Its ideal is +Love. Its purification is sacrifice.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] Oh, anything is better than being +sacrificed!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Leaning +forward</i>.] Don’t say that.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I do say +it. I feel it—I know it.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. The men want to know +if they are to put the carpets on the terrace for to-night, my +lady?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You +don’t think it will rain, Lord Darlington, do you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I +won’t hear of its raining on your birthday!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Tell them to +do it at once, Parker.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Still +seated</i>.] Do you think then—of course I am only +putting an imaginary instance—do you think that in the case +of a young married couple, say about two years married, if the +husband suddenly becomes the intimate friend of a woman +of—well, more than doubtful character—is always +calling upon her, lunching with her, and probably paying her +bills—do you think that the wife should not console +herself?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Frowning</i>.] Console herself?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Yes, I think +she should—I think she has the right.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Because the +husband is vile—should the wife be vile also?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Vileness is +a terrible word, Lady Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. It is a +terrible thing, Lord Darlington.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Do you know +I am afraid that good people do a great deal of harm in this +world. Certainly the greatest harm they do is that they +make badness of such extraordinary importance. It is absurd +to divide people into good and bad. People are either +charming or tedious. I take the side of the charming, and +you, Lady Windermere, can’t help belonging to them.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Now, Lord +Darlington. [<i>Rising and crossing R.</i>, <i>front of +him</i>.] Don’t stir, I am merely going to finish my +flowers. [<i>Goes to table R.C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Rising +and moving chair</i>.] And I must say I think you are very +hard on modern life, Lady Windermere. Of course there is +much against it, I admit. Most women, for instance, +nowadays, are rather mercenary.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Don’t +talk about such people.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Well then, +setting aside mercenary people, who, of course, are dreadful, do +you think seriously that women who have committed what the world +calls a fault should never be forgiven?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Standing +at table</i>.] I think they should never be forgiven.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. And +men? Do you think that there should be the same laws for +men as there are for women?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Certainly!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I think life +too complex a thing to be settled by these hard and fast +rules.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. If we had +‘these hard and fast rules,’ we should find life much +more simple.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You allow of +no exceptions?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. None!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Ah, what a +fascinating Puritan you are, Lady Windermere!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. The +adjective was unnecessary, Lord Darlington.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I +couldn’t help it. I can resist everything except +temptation.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You have the +modern affectation of weakness.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Looking +at her</i>.] It’s only an affectation, Lady +Windermere.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. The Duchess of +Berwick and Lady Agatha Carlisle.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter the</i> <span class="smcap">Duchess of +Berwick</span> and <span class="smcap">Lady Agatha +Carlisle</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Coming down C.</i>, <i>and shaking hands</i>.] Dear +Margaret, I am so pleased to see you. You remember Agatha, +don’t you? [<i>Crossing L.C.</i>] How do you +do, Lord Darlington? I won’t let you know my +daughter, you are far too wicked.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Don’t +say that, Duchess. As a wicked man I am a complete +failure. Why, there are lots of people who say I have never +really done anything wrong in the whole course of my life. +Of course they only say it behind my back.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +Isn’t he dreadful? Agatha, this is Lord +Darlington. Mind you don’t believe a word he +says. [<span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span> +<i>crosses R.C.</i>] No, no tea, thank you, dear. +[<i>Crosses and sits on sofa</i>.] We have just had tea at +Lady Markby’s. Such bad tea, too. It was quite +undrinkable. I wasn’t at all surprised. Her own +son-in-law supplies it. Agatha is looking forward so much +to your ball to-night, dear Margaret.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Seated +L.C.</i>] Oh, you mustn’t think it is going to be a +ball, Duchess. It is only a dance in honour of my +birthday. A small and early.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Standing +L.C.</i>] Very small, very early, and very select, +Duchess.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. [<i>On +sofa L.</i>] Of course it’s going to be select. +But we know <i>that</i>, dear Margaret, about <i>your</i> +house. It is really one of the few houses in London where I +can take Agatha, and where I feel perfectly secure about dear +Berwick. I don’t know what society is coming +to. The most dreadful people seem to go everywhere. +They certainly come to my parties—the men get quite furious +if one doesn’t ask them. Really, some one should make +a stand against it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. <i>I</i> +will, Duchess. I will have no one in my house about whom +there is any scandal.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>R.C.</i>] Oh, don’t say that, Lady +Windermere. I should never be admitted! +[<i>Sitting</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Oh, men +don’t matter. With women it is different. +We’re good. Some of us are, at least. But we +are positively getting elbowed into the corner. Our +husbands would really forget our existence if we didn’t nag +at them from time to time, just to remind them that we have a +perfect legal right to do so.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. It’s a +curious thing, Duchess, about the game of marriage—a game, +by the way, that is going out of fashion—the wives hold all +the honours, and invariably lose the odd trick.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. The +odd trick? Is that the husband, Lord Darlington?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. It would be +rather a good name for the modern husband.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Dear Lord +Darlington, how thoroughly depraved you are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Lord +Darlington is trivial.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Ah, +don’t say that, Lady Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why do you +<i>talk</i> so trivially about life, then?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Because I +think that life is far too important a thing ever to talk +seriously about it. [<i>Moves up C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. What does +he mean? Do, as a concession to my poor wits, Lord +Darlington, just explain to me what you really mean.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Coming +down back of table</i>.] I think I had better not, +Duchess. Nowadays to be intelligible is to be found +out. Good-bye! [<i>Shakes hands with</i> <span +class="smcap">Duchess</span>.] And now—[<i>goes up +stage</i>] Lady Windermere, good-bye. I may come to-night, +mayn’t I? Do let me come.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Standing +up stage with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Darlington</span>.] Yes, certainly. But you are not +to say foolish, insincere things to people.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] Ah! you are beginning to reform me. +It is a dangerous thing to reform any one, Lady Windermere. +[<i>Bows</i>, <i>and exit C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. [<i>Who +has risen</i>, <i>goes C.</i>] What a charming, wicked +creature! I like him so much. I’m quite +delighted he’s gone! How sweet you’re +looking! Where <i>do</i> you get your gowns? And now +I must tell you how sorry I am for you, dear Margaret. +[<i>Crosses to sofa and sits with</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Windermere</span>.] Agatha, darling!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, +mamma. [<i>Rises</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Will you +go and look over the photograph album that I see there?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, +mamma. [<i>Goes to table up L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Dear +girl! She is so fond of photographs of Switzerland. +Such a pure taste, I think. But I really am so sorry for +you, Margaret.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] Why, Duchess?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Oh, on +account of that horrid woman. She dresses so well, too, +which makes it much worse, sets such a dreadful example. +Augustus—you know my disreputable brother—such a +trial to us all—well, Augustus is completely infatuated +about her. It is quite scandalous, for she is absolutely +inadmissible into society. Many a woman has a past, but I +am told that she has at least a dozen, and that they all fit.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Whom are you +talking about, Duchess?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. About +Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Mrs. +Erlynne? I never heard of her, Duchess. And what +<i>has</i> she to do with me?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. My poor +child! Agatha, darling!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Will you +go out on the terrace and look at the sunset?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit through window</i>, +<i>L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Sweet +girl! So devoted to sunsets! Shows such refinement of +feeling, does it not? After all, there is nothing like +Nature, is there?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. But what is +it, Duchess? Why do you talk to me about this person?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +Don’t you really know? I assure you we’re all +so distressed about it. Only last night at dear Lady +Jansen’s every one was saying how extraordinary it was +that, of all men in London, Windermere should behave in such a +way.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. My +husband—what has <i>he</i> got to do with any woman of that +kind?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Ah, what +indeed, dear? That is the point. He goes to see her +continually, and stops for hours at a time, and while he is there +she is not at home to any one. Not that many ladies call on +her, dear, but she has a great many disreputable men +friends—my own brother particularly, as I told +you—and that is what makes it so dreadful about +Windermere. We looked upon <i>him</i> as being such a model +husband, but I am afraid there is no doubt about it. My +dear nieces—you know the Saville girls, don’t +you?—such nice domestic creatures—plain, dreadfully +plain, but so good—well, they’re always at the window +doing fancy work, and making ugly things for the poor, which I +think so useful of them in these dreadful socialistic days, and +this terrible woman has taken a house in Curzon Street, right +opposite them—such a respectable street, too! I +don’t know what we’re coming to! And they tell +me that Windermere goes there four and five times a +week—they <i>see</i> him. They can’t help +it—and although they never talk scandal, they—well, +of course—they remark on it to every one. And the +worst of it all is that I have been told that this woman has got +a great deal of money out of somebody, for it seems that she came +to London six months ago without anything at all to speak of, and +now she has this charming house in Mayfair, drives her ponies in +the Park every afternoon and all—well, all—since she +has known poor dear Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh, I +can’t believe it!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. But +it’s quite true, my dear. The whole of London knows +it. That is why I felt it was better to come and talk to +you, and advise you to take Windermere away at once to Homburg or +to Aix, where he’ll have something to amuse him, and where +you can watch him all day long. I assure you, my dear, that +on several occasions after I was first married, I had to pretend +to be very ill, and was obliged to drink the most unpleasant +mineral waters, merely to get Berwick out of town. He was +so extremely susceptible. Though I am bound to say he never +gave away any large sums of money to anybody. He is far too +high-principled for that!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Interrupting</i>.] Duchess, Duchess, it’s +impossible! [<i>Rising and crossing stage to C.</i>] +We are only married two years. Our child is but six months +old. [<i>Sits in chair R. of L. table</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Ah, the +dear pretty baby! How is the little darling? Is it a +boy or a girl? I hope a girl—Ah, no, I remember +it’s a boy! I’m so sorry. Boys are so +wicked. My boy is excessively immoral. You +wouldn’t believe at what hours he comes home. And +he’s only left Oxford a few months—I really +don’t know what they teach them there.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Are +<i>all</i> men bad?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Oh, all +of them, my dear, all of them, without any exception. And +they never grow any better. Men become old, but they never +become good.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Windermere +and I married for love.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Yes, we +begin like that. It was only Berwick’s brutal and +incessant threats of suicide that made me accept him at all, and +before the year was out, he was running after all kinds of +petticoats, every colour, every shape, every material. In +fact, before the honeymoon was over, I caught him winking at my +maid, a most pretty, respectable girl. I dismissed her at +once without a character.—No, I remember I passed her on to +my sister; poor dear Sir George is so short-sighted, I thought it +wouldn’t matter. But it did, though—it was most +unfortunate. [<i>Rises</i>.] And now, my dear child, +I must go, as we are dining out. And mind you don’t +take this little aberration of Windermere’s too much to +heart. Just take him abroad, and he’ll come back to +you all right.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Come back to +me? [<i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>L.C.</i>] Yes, dear, these wicked women get our +husbands away from us, but they always come back, slightly +damaged, of course. And don’t make scenes, men hate +them!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. It is very +kind of you, Duchess, to come and tell me all this. But I +can’t believe that my husband is untrue to me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Pretty +child! I was like that once. Now I know that all men +are monsters. [<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>rings bell</i>.] The only thing to do is to feed the +wretches well. A good cook does wonders, and that I know +you have. My dear Margaret, you are not going to cry?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You +needn’t be afraid, Duchess, I never cry.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +That’s quite right, dear. Crying is the refuge of +plain women but the ruin of pretty ones. Agatha, +darling!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. [<i>Entering +L.</i>] Yes, mamma. [<i>Stands back of table +L.C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Come and +bid good-bye to Lady Windermere, and thank her for your charming +visit. [<i>Coming down again</i>.] And by the way, I +must thank you for sending a card to Mr. Hopper—he’s +that rich young Australian people are taking such notice of just +at present. His father made a great fortune by selling some +kind of food in circular tins—most palatable, I +believe—I fancy it is the thing the servants always refuse +to eat. But the son is quite interesting. I think +he’s attracted by dear Agatha’s clever talk. Of +course, we should be very sorry to lose her, but I think that a +mother who doesn’t part with a daughter every season has no +real affection. We’re coming to-night, dear. +[<span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>opens C. doors</i>.] +And remember my advice, take the poor fellow out of town at once, +it is the only thing to do. Good-bye, once more; come, +Agatha.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exeunt</i> <span +class="smcap">Duchess</span> <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Agatha</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How +horrible! I understand now what Lord Darlington meant by +the imaginary instance of the couple not two years married. +Oh! it can’t be true—she spoke of enormous sums of +money paid to this woman. I know where Arthur keeps his +bank book—in one of the drawers of that desk. I might +find out by that. I <i>will</i> find out. [<i>Opens +drawer</i>.] No, it is some hideous mistake. +[<i>Rises and goes C.</i>] Some silly scandal! He +loves <i>me</i>! He loves <i>me</i>! But why should I +not look? I am his wife, I have a right to look! +[<i>Returns to bureau</i>, <i>takes out book and examines it page +by page</i>, <i>smiles and gives a sigh of relief</i>.] I +knew it! there is not a word of truth in this stupid story. +[<i>Puts book back in drawer</i>. <i>As he does so</i>, +<i>starts and takes out another book</i>.] A second +book—private—locked! [<i>Tries to open it</i>, +<i>but fails</i>. <i>Sees paper knife on bureau</i>, <i>and +with it cuts cover from book</i>. <i>Begins to start at the +first page</i>.] ‘Mrs. +Erlynne—£600—Mrs. +Erlynne—£700—Mrs. +Erlynne—£400.’ Oh! it is true! It +is true! How horrible! [<i>Throws book on +floor</i>.]</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Enter</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Well, dear, +has the fan been sent home yet? [<i>Going R.C.</i> +<i>Sees book</i>.] Margaret, you have cut open my bank +book. You have no right to do such a thing!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You think it +wrong that you are found out, don’t you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I think it +wrong that a wife should spy on her husband.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I did not +spy on you. I never knew of this woman’s existence +till half an hour ago. Some one who pitied me was kind +enough to tell me what every one in London knows +already—your daily visits to Curzon Street, your mad +infatuation, the monstrous sums of money you squander on this +infamous woman! [<i>Crossing L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret! +don’t talk like that of Mrs. Erlynne, you don’t know +how unjust it is!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Turning +to him</i>.] You are very jealous of Mrs. Erlynne’s +honour. I wish you had been as jealous of mine.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Your honour +is untouched, Margaret. You don’t think for a moment +that—[<i>Puts book back into desk</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I think that +you spend your money strangely. That is all. Oh, +don’t imagine I mind about the money. As far as I am +concerned, you may squander everything we have. But what I +<i>do</i> mind is that you who have loved me, you who have taught +me to love you, should pass from the love that is given to the +love that is bought. Oh, it’s horrible! +[<i>Sits on sofa</i>.] And it is I who feel degraded! +<i>you</i> don’t feel anything. I feel stained, +utterly stained. You can’t realise how hideous the +last six months seems to me now—every kiss you have given +me is tainted in my memory.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Crossing +to her</i>.] Don’t say that, Margaret. I never +loved any one in the whole world but you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rises</i>.] Who is this woman, then? Why do you +take a house for her?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I did not +take a house for her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You gave her +the money to do it, which is the same thing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, as +far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Is there a +Mr. Erlynne—or is he a myth?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Her husband +died many years ago. She is alone in the world.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. No +relations? [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. None.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Rather +curious, isn’t it? [<i>L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>L.C.</i>] Margaret, I was saying to you—and I beg +you to listen to me—that as far as I have known Mrs. +Erlynne, she has conducted herself well. If years +ago—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh! +[<i>Crossing R.C.</i>] I don’t want details about her +life!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] I am not going to give you any details about +her life. I tell you simply this—Mrs. Erlynne was +once honoured, loved, respected. She was well born, she had +position—she lost everything—threw it away, if you +like. That makes it all the more bitter. Misfortunes +one can endure—they come from outside, they are +accidents. But to suffer for one’s own +faults—ah!—there is the sting of life. It was +twenty years ago, too. She was little more than a girl +then. She had been a wife for even less time than you +have.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I am not +interested in her—and—you should not mention this +woman and me in the same breath. It is an error of +taste. [<i>Sitting R. at desk</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, +you could save this woman. She wants to get back into +society, and she wants you to help her. [<i>Crossing to +her</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Me!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Yes, +you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How +impertinent of her! [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, I +came to ask you a great favour, and I still ask it of you, though +you have discovered what I had intended you should never have +known that I have given Mrs. Erlynne a large sum of money. +I want you to send her an invitation for our party +to-night. [<i>Standing L. of her</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You are +mad! [<i>Rises</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I entreat +you. People may chatter about her, do chatter about her, of +course, but they don’t know anything definite against +her. She has been to several houses—not to houses +where you would go, I admit, but still to houses where women who +are in what is called Society nowadays do go. That does not +content her. She wants you to receive her once.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. As a triumph +for her, I suppose?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. No; but +because she knows that you are a good woman—and that if she +comes here once she will have a chance of a happier, a surer life +than she has had. She will make no further effort to know +you. Won’t you help a woman who is trying to get +back?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. No! If +a woman really repents, she never wishes to return to the society +that has made or seen her ruin.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I beg of +you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Crossing +to door R.</i>] I am going to dress for dinner, and +don’t mention the subject again this evening. Arthur +[<i>going to him C.</i>], you fancy because I have no father or +mother that I am alone in the world, and that you can treat me as +you choose. You are wrong, I have friends, many +friends.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>L.C.</i>] Margaret, you are talking foolishly, +recklessly. I won’t argue with you, but I insist upon +your asking Mrs. Erlynne to-night.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>R.C.</i>] I shall do nothing of the kind. +[<i>Crossing L.C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You +refuse? [<i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Absolutely!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Ah, +Margaret, do this for my sake; it is her last chance.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. What has +that to do with me?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. How hard +good women are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How weak bad +men are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, +none of us men may be good enough for the women we +marry—that is quite true—but you don’t imagine +I would ever—oh, the suggestion is monstrous!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why should +<i>you</i> be different from other men? I am told that +there is hardly a husband in London who does not waste his life +over <i>some</i> shameful passion.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I am not one +of them.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I am not +sure of that!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You are sure +in your heart. But don’t make chasm after chasm +between us. God knows the last few minutes have thrust us +wide enough apart. Sit down and write the card.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Nothing in +the whole world would induce me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Crossing +to bureau</i>.] Then I will! [<i>Rings electric +bell</i>, <i>sits and writes card</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You are +going to invite this woman? [<i>Crossing to him</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Yes. +[<i>Pause</i>. <i>Enter</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span>.] Parker!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, my lord. +[<i>Comes down L.C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Have this +note sent to Mrs. Erlynne at No. 84A Curzon Street. +[<i>Crossing to L.C. and giving note to</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span>.] There is no answer!</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Arthur, if +that woman comes here, I shall insult her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, +don’t say that.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I mean +it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Child, if +you did such a thing, there’s not a woman in London who +wouldn’t pity you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. There is not +a <i>good</i> woman in London who would not applaud me. We +have been too lax. We must make an example. I propose +to begin to-night. [<i>Picking up fan</i>.] Yes, you +gave me this fan to-day; it was your birthday present. If +that woman crosses my threshold, I shall strike her across the +face with it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, +you couldn’t do such a thing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You +don’t know me! [<i>Moves R.</i>]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p>Parker!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, my lady.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I shall dine +in my own room. I don’t want dinner, in fact. +See that everything is ready by half-past ten. And, Parker, +be sure you pronounce the names of the guests very distinctly +to-night. Sometimes you speak so fast that I miss +them. I am particularly anxious to hear the names quite +clearly, so as to make no mistake. You understand, +Parker?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, my lady.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. That will +do!</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>C.</i>]</p> +<p>[<i>Speaking to</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span>.] Arthur, if that woman comes +here—I warn you—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, +you’ll ruin us!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Us! +From this moment my life is separate from yours. But if you +wish to avoid a public scandal, write at once to this woman, and +tell her that I forbid her to come here!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I will +not—I cannot—she must come!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Then I shall +do exactly as I have said. [<i>Goes R.</i>] You leave +me no choice.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit R.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Calling +after her</i>.] Margaret! Margaret! [<i>A +pause</i>.] My God! What shall I do? I dare not +tell her who this woman really is. The shame would kill +her. [<i>Sinks down into a chair and buries his face in his +hands</i>.]</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">Act +Drop</span></p> +<h2>SECOND ACT</h2> +<p style="text-align: center">SCENE</p> +<p><i>Drawing-room in Lord Windermere’s house</i>. +<i>Door R.U. opening into ball-room</i>, <i>where band is +playing</i>. <i>Door L. through which guests are +entering</i>. <i>Door L.U. opens on to illuminated +terrace</i>. <i>Palms</i>, <i>flowers</i>, <i>and brilliant +lights</i>. <i>Room crowded with guests</i>. <i>Lady +Windermere is receiving them</i>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. [<i>Up +C.</i>] So strange Lord Windermere isn’t here. +Mr. Hopper is very late, too. You have kept those five +dances for him, Agatha? [<i>Comes down</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Sitting on sofa</i>.] Just let me see your card. +I’m so glad Lady Windermere has revived +cards.—They’re a mother’s only safeguard. +You dear simple little thing! [<i>Scratches out two +names</i>.] No nice girl should ever waltz with such +particularly younger sons! It looks so fast! The last +two dances you might pass on the terrace with Mr. Hopper.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span> <i>and</i> +<span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span> <i>from the +ball-room</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Fanning herself</i>.] The air is so pleasant there.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mrs. +Cowper-Cowper. Lady Stutfield. Sir James +Royston. Mr. Guy Berkeley.</p> +<p>[<i>These people enter as announced</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Good evening, Lady +Stutfield. I suppose this will be the last ball of the +season?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Stutfield</span>. I suppose so, +Mr. Dumby. It’s been a delightful season, +hasn’t it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Quite +delightful! Good evening, Duchess. I suppose this +will be the last ball of the season?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. I suppose +so, Mr. Dumby. It has been a very dull season, hasn’t +it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Dreadfully dull! +Dreadfully dull!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Cowper-Cowper</span>. Good +evening, Mr. Dumby. I suppose this will be the last ball of +the season?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Oh, I think not. +There’ll probably be two more. [<i>Wanders back +to</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mr. Rufford. +Lady Jedburgh and Miss Graham. Mr. Hopper.</p> +<p>[<i>These people enter as announced</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. How do you do, Lady +Windermere? How do you do, Duchess? [<i>Bows to</i> +<span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Dear Mr. +Hopper, how nice of you to come so early. We all know how +you are run after in London.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. Capital place, +London! They are not nearly so exclusive in London as they +are in Sydney.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Ah! we +know your value, Mr. Hopper. We wish there were more like +you. It would make life so much easier. Do you know, +Mr. Hopper, dear Agatha and I are so much interested in +Australia. It must be so pretty with all the dear little +kangaroos flying about. Agatha has found it on the +map. What a curious shape it is! Just like a large +packing case. However, it is a very young country, +isn’t it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. Wasn’t it made +at the same time as the others, Duchess?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. How +clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have a cleverness quite of +your own. Now I mustn’t keep you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. But I should like to +dance with Lady Agatha, Duchess.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Well, I +hope she has a dance left. Have you a dance left, +Agatha?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. The next +one?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. May I have the +pleasure? [<span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span> +<i>bows</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Mind you +take great care of my little chatterbox, Mr. Hopper.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Mr. Hopper</span> <i>pass into ball-room</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Margaret, I +want to speak to you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. In a +moment. [<i>The music drops</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Lord Augustus +Lorton.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Good evening, +Lady Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Sir +James, will you take me into the ball-room? Augustus has +been dining with us to-night. I really have had quite +enough of dear Augustus for the moment.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Sir James Royston</span> <i>gives the</i> +<span class="smcap">Duchess</span> <i>his arm and escorts her +into the ball-room</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur +Bowden. Lord and Lady Paisley. Lord Darlington.</p> +<p>[<i>These people enter as announced</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Coming up +to</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.] Want to +speak to you particularly, dear boy. I’m worn to a +shadow. Know I don’t look it. None of us men do +look what we really are. Demmed good thing, too. What +I want to know is this. Who is she? Where does she +come from? Why hasn’t she got any demmed +relations? Demmed nuisance, relations! But they make +one so demmed respectable.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You are +talking of Mrs. Erlynne, I suppose? I only met her six +months ago. Till then, I never knew of her existence.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. You have seen +a good deal of her since then.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Coldly</i>.] Yes, I have seen a good deal of her since +then. I have just seen her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Egad! the +women are very down on her. I have been dining with +Arabella this evening! By Jove! you should have heard what +she said about Mrs. Erlynne. She didn’t leave a rag +on her. . . . [<i>Aside</i>.] Berwick and I told her that +didn’t matter much, as the lady in question must have an +extremely fine figure. You should have seen +Arabella’s expression! . . . But, look here, dear +boy. I don’t know what to do about Mrs. +Erlynne. Egad! I might be married to her; she treats +me with such demmed indifference. She’s deuced +clever, too! She explains everything. Egad! she +explains you. She has got any amount of explanations for +you—and all of them different.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. No +explanations are necessary about my friendship with Mrs. +Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Hem! +Well, look here, dear old fellow. Do you think she will +ever get into this demmed thing called Society? Would you +introduce her to your wife? No use beating about the +confounded bush. Would you do that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Mrs. Erlynne +is coming here to-night.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Your wife has +sent her a card?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Mrs. Erlynne +has received a card.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Then +she’s all right, dear boy. But why didn’t you +tell me that before? It would have saved me a heap of worry +and demmed misunderstandings!</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Mr. Hopper</span> <i>cross and exit on terrace +L.U.E.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mr. Cecil Graham!</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. Cecil +Graham</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>Bows to</i> +<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>, <i>passes over and +shakes hands with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span>.] Good evening, Arthur. Why +don’t you ask me how I am? I like people to ask me +how I am. It shows a wide-spread interest in my +health. Now, to-night I am not at all well. Been +dining with my people. Wonder why it is one’s people +are always so tedious? My father would talk morality after +dinner. I told him he was old enough to know better. +But my experience is that as soon as people are old enough to +know better, they don’t know anything at all. Hallo, +Tuppy! Hear you’re going to be married again; thought +you were tired of that game.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. You’re +excessively trivial, my dear boy, excessively trivial!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. By the way, +Tuppy, which is it? Have you been twice married and once +divorced, or twice divorced and once married? I say +you’ve been twice divorced and once married. It seems +so much more probable.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. I have a very +bad memory. I really don’t remember which. +[<i>Moves away R.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. Lord +Windermere, I’ve something most particular to ask you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I am +afraid—if you will excuse me—I must join my wife.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. Oh, you +mustn’t dream of such a thing. It’s most +dangerous nowadays for a husband to pay any attention to his wife +in public. It always makes people think that he beats her +when they’re alone. The world has grown so suspicious +of anything that looks like a happy married life. But +I’ll tell you what it is at supper. [<i>Moves towards +door of ball-room</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] Margaret! I <i>must</i> speak to you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Will you +hold my fan for me, Lord Darlington? Thanks. +[<i>Comes down to him</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Crossing +to her</i>.] Margaret, what you said before dinner was, of +course, impossible?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. That woman +is not coming here to-night!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>R.C.</i>] Mrs. Erlynne is coming here, and if you in +any way annoy or wound her, you will bring shame and sorrow on us +both. Remember that! Ah, Margaret! only trust +me! A wife should trust her husband!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] London is full of women who trust their +husbands. One can always recognise them. They look so +thoroughly unhappy. I am not going to be one of them. +[<i>Moves up</i>.] Lord Darlington, will you give me back +my fan, please? Thanks. . . . A useful thing a fan, +isn’t it? . . . I want a friend to-night, Lord Darlington: +I didn’t know I would want one so soon.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Lady +Windermere! I knew the time would come some day; but why +to-night?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I +<i>will</i> tell her. I must. It would be terrible if +there were any scene. Margaret . . .</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mrs. Erlynne!</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> +<i>starts</i>. <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> +<i>enters</i>, <i>very beautifully dressed and very +dignified</i>. <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>clutches at her fan</i>, <i>then lets it drop on the +door</i>. <i>She bows coldly to</i> <span +class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>, <i>who bows to her sweetly in +turn</i>, <i>and sails into the room</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You have +dropped your fan, Lady Windermere. [<i>Picks it up and +hands it to her</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] How do you do, again, Lord Windermere? +How charming your sweet wife looks! Quite a picture!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>In a low +voice</i>.] It was terribly rash of you to come!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] The wisest thing I ever did in my +life. And, by the way, you must pay me a good deal of +attention this evening. I am afraid of the women. You +must introduce me to some of them. The men I can always +manage. How do you do, Lord Augustus? You have quite +neglected me lately. I have not seen you since +yesterday. I am afraid you’re faithless. Every +one told me so.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. +[<i>R.</i>] Now really, Mrs. Erlynne, allow me to +explain.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>R.C.</i>] No, dear Lord Augustus, you can’t +explain anything. It is your chief charm.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Ah! if you +find charms in me, Mrs. Erlynne—</p> +<p>[<i>They converse together</i>. <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span> <i>moves uneasily about the room watching</i> +<span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>To</i> +<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>.] How pale you +are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Cowards are +always pale!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You look +faint. Come out on the terrace.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>.] Parker, send +my cloak out.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Crossing to +her</i>.] Lady Windermere, how beautifully your terrace is +illuminated. Reminds me of Prince Doria’s at +Rome.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>bows +coldly</i>, <i>and goes off with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Darlington</span>.]</p> +<p>Oh, how do you do, Mr. Graham? Isn’t that your +aunt, Lady Jedburgh? I should so much like to know her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>After a +moment’s hesitation and embarrassment</i>.] Oh, +certainly, if you wish it. Aunt Caroline, allow me to +introduce Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. So pleased to +meet you, Lady Jedburgh. [<i>Sits beside her on the +sofa</i>.] Your nephew and I are great friends. I am +so much interested in his political career. I think +he’s sure to be a wonderful success. He thinks like a +Tory, and talks like a Radical, and that’s so important +nowadays. He’s such a brilliant talker, too. +But we all know from whom he inherits that. Lord Allandale +was saying to me only yesterday, in the Park, that Mr. Graham +talks almost as well as his aunt.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Jedburgh</span>. +[<i>R.</i>] Most kind of you to say these charming things +to me! [<span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> +<i>smiles</i>, <i>and continues conversation</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. [<i>To</i> <span +class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>.] Did you introduce Mrs. +Erlynne to Lady Jedburgh?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Had to, my dear +fellow. Couldn’t help it! That woman can make +one do anything she wants. How, I don’t know.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Hope to goodness she +won’t speak to me! [<i>Saunters towards</i> <span +class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>C.</i> <i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Jedburgh</span>.] On Thursday? With great +pleasure. [<i>Rises</i>, <i>and speaks to</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>, <i>laughing</i>.] +What a bore it is to have to be civil to these old +dowagers! But they always insist on it!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. [<i>To</i> +<span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span>.] Who is that +well-dressed woman talking to Windermere?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Haven’t got the +slightest idea! Looks like an <i>édition de luxe</i> +of a wicked French novel, meant specially for the English +market.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. So that is poor +Dumby with Lady Plymdale? I hear she is frightfully jealous +of him. He doesn’t seem anxious to speak to me +to-night. I suppose he is afraid of her. Those +straw-coloured women have dreadful tempers. Do you know, I +think I’ll dance with you first, Windermere. [<span +class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>bites his lip and +frowns</i>.] It will make Lord Augustus so jealous! +Lord Augustus! [<span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> +<i>comes down</i>.] Lord Windermere insists on my dancing +with him first, and, as it’s his own house, I can’t +well refuse. You know I would much sooner dance with +you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>With a low +bow</i>.] I wish I could think so, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You know it far +too well. I can fancy a person dancing through life with +you and finding it charming.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Placing +his hand on his white waistcoat</i>.] Oh, thank you, thank +you. You are the most adorable of all ladies!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. What a nice +speech! So simple and so sincere! Just the sort of +speech I like. Well, you shall hold my bouquet. +[<i>Goes towards ball-room on</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere’s</span> <i>arm</i>.] Ah, Mr. Dumby, how +are you? I am so sorry I have been out the last three times +you have called. Come and lunch on Friday.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. [<i>With perfect +nonchalance</i>.] Delighted!</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span> <i>glares with +indignation at</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span>. +<span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> <i>follows</i> <span +class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>into the ball-room +holding bouquet</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. [<i>To</i> +<span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span>.] What an absolute +brute you are! I never can believe a word you say! +Why did you tell me you didn’t know her? What do you +mean by calling on her three times running? You are not to +go to lunch there; of course you understand that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. My dear Laura, I +wouldn’t dream of going!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. You +haven’t told me her name yet! Who is she?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. [<i>Coughs slightly +and smooths his hair</i>.] She’s a Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. That +woman!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Yes; that is what +every one calls her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. How very +interesting! How intensely interesting! I really must +have a good stare at her. [<i>Goes to door of ball-room and +looks in</i>.] I have heard the most shocking things about +her. They say she is ruining poor Windermere. And +Lady Windermere, who goes in for being so proper, invites +her! How extremely amusing! It takes a thoroughly +good woman to do a thoroughly stupid thing. You are to +lunch there on Friday!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Why?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. Because I want +you to take my husband with you. He has been so attentive +lately, that he has become a perfect nuisance. Now, this +woman is just the thing for him. He’ll dance +attendance upon her as long as she lets him, and won’t +bother me. I assure you, women of that kind are most +useful. They form the basis of other people’s +marriages.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. What a mystery you +are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. [<i>Looking at +him</i>.] I wish <i>you</i> were!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. I am—to +myself. I am the only person in the world I should like to +know thoroughly; but I don’t see any chance of it just at +present.</p> +<p>[<i>They pass into the ball-room</i>, <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span> <i>enter from the +terrace</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +Her coming here is monstrous, unbearable. I know now what +you meant to-day at tea-time. Why didn’t you tell me +right out? You should have!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I +couldn’t! A man can’t tell these things about +another man! But if I had known he was going to make you +ask her here to-night, I think I would have told you. That +insult, at any rate, you would have been spared.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I did not +ask her. He insisted on her coming—against my +entreaties—against my commands. Oh! the house is +tainted for me! I feel that every woman here sneers at me +as she dances by with my husband. What have I done to +deserve this? I gave him all my life. He took +it—used it—spoiled it! I am degraded in my own +eyes; and I lack courage—I am a coward! [<i>Sits down +on sofa</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. If I know +you at all, I know that you can’t live with a man who +treats you like this! What sort of life would you have with +him? You would feel that he was lying to you every moment +of the day. You would feel that the look in his eyes was +false, his voice false, his touch false, his passion false. +He would come to you when he was weary of others; you would have +to comfort him. He would come to you when he was devoted to +others; you would have to charm him. You would have to be +to him the mask of his real life, the cloak to hide his +secret.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You are +right—you are terribly right. But where am I to +turn? You said you would be my friend, Lord +Darlington.—Tell me, what am I to do? Be my friend +now.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Between men +and women there is no friendship possible. There is +passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. I love +you—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. No, +no! [<i>Rises</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Yes, I love +you! You are more to me than anything in the whole +world. What does your husband give you? +Nothing. Whatever is in him he gives to this wretched +woman, whom he has thrust into your society, into your home, to +shame you before every one. I offer you my life—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Lord +Darlington!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. My +life—my whole life. Take it, and do with it what you +will. . . . I love you—love you as I have never loved any +living thing. From the moment I met you I loved you, loved +you blindly, adoringly, madly! You did not know it +then—you know it now! Leave this house +to-night. I won’t tell you that the world matters +nothing, or the world’s voice, or the voice of +society. They matter a great deal. They matter far +too much. But there are moments when one has to choose +between living one’s own life, fully, entirely, +completely—or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading +existence that the world in its hypocrisy demands. You have +that moment now. Choose! Oh, my love, choose.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Moving +slowly away from him</i>, <i>and looking at him with startled +eyes</i>.] I have not the courage.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>Following her</i>.] Yes; you have the courage. +There may be six months of pain, of disgrace even, but when you +no longer bear his name, when you bear mine, all will be +well. Margaret, my love, my wife that shall be some +day—yes, my wife! You know it! What are you +now? This woman has the place that belongs by right to +you. Oh! go—go out of this house, with head erect, +with a smile upon your lips, with courage in your eyes. All +London will know why you did it; and who will blame you? No +one. If they do, what matter? Wrong? What is +wrong? It’s wrong for a man to abandon his wife for a +shameless woman. It is wrong for a wife to remain with a +man who so dishonours her. You said once you would make no +compromise with things. Make none now. Be +brave! Be yourself!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I am afraid +of being myself. Let me think! Let me wait! My +husband may return to me. [<i>Sits down on sofa</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. And you +would take him back! You are not what I thought you +were. You are just the same as every other woman. You +would stand anything rather than face the censure of a world, +whose praise you would despise. In a week you will be +driving with this woman in the Park. She will be your +constant guest—your dearest friend. You would endure +anything rather than break with one blow this monstrous +tie. You are right. You have no courage; none!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Ah, give me +time to think. I cannot answer you now. [<i>Passes +her hand nervously over her brow</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. It must be +now or not at all.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Rising +from the sofa</i>.] Then, not at all! [<i>A +pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You break my +heart!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Mine is +already broken. [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. To-morrow I +leave England. This is the last time I shall ever look on +you. You will never see me again. For one moment our +lives met—our souls touched. They must never meet or +touch again. Good-bye, Margaret. [<i>Exit</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How alone I +am in life! How terribly alone!</p> +<p>[<i>The music stops</i>. <i>Enter the</i> <span +class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Paisley</span> <i>laughing and +talking</i>. <i>Other guests come on from +ball-room</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Dear +Margaret, I’ve just been having such a delightful chat with +Mrs. Erlynne. I am so sorry for what I said to you this +afternoon about her. Of course, she must be all right if +<i>you</i> invite her. A most attractive woman, and has +such sensible views on life. Told me she entirely +disapproved of people marrying more than once, so I feel quite +safe about poor Augustus. Can’t imagine why people +speak against her. It’s those horrid nieces of +mine—the Saville girls—they’re always talking +scandal. Still, I should go to Homburg, dear, I really +should. She is just a little too attractive. But +where is Agatha? Oh, there she is: [<span +class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Mr. Hopper</span> <i>enter from terrace +L.U.E.</i>] Mr. Hopper, I am very, very angry with +you. You have taken Agatha out on the terrace, and she is +so delicate.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. Awfully sorry, +Duchess. We went out for a moment and then got chatting +together.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] Ah, about dear Australia, I suppose?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. Yes!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Agatha, +darling! [<i>Beckons her over</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Aside</i>.] Did Mr. Hopper definitely—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. And what +answer did you give him, dear child?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Affectionately</i>.] My dear one! You always say +the right thing. Mr. Hopper! James! Agatha has +told me everything. How cleverly you have both kept your +secret.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. You don’t mind +my taking Agatha off to Australia, then, Duchess?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Indignantly</i>.] To Australia? Oh, don’t +mention that dreadful vulgar place.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. But she said +she’d like to come with me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. +[<i>Severely</i>.] Did you say that, Agatha?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Agatha</span>. Yes, mamma.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. Agatha, +you say the most silly things possible. I think on the +whole that Grosvenor Square would be a more healthy place to +reside in. There are lots of vulgar people live in +Grosvenor Square, but at any rate there are no horrid kangaroos +crawling about. But we’ll talk about that +to-morrow. James, you can take Agatha down. +You’ll come to lunch, of course, James. At half-past +one, instead of two. The Duke will wish to say a few words +to you, I am sure.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hopper</span>. I should like to have +a chat with the Duke, Duchess. He has not said a single +word to me yet.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span>. I think +you’ll find he will have a great deal to say to you +to-morrow. [<i>Exit</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Agatha</span> <i>with</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. +Hopper</span>.] And now good-night, Margaret. +I’m afraid it’s the old, old story, dear. +Love—well, not love at first sight, but love at the end of +the season, which is so much more satisfactory.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Good-night, +Duchess.</p> +<p>[<i>Exit the</i> <span class="smcap">Duchess of Berwick</span> +<i>on</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Paisley’s</span> +<i>arm</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. My dear +Margaret, what a handsome woman your husband has been dancing +with! I should be quite jealous if I were you! Is she +a great friend of yours?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. No!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Plymdale</span>. Really? +Good-night, dear. [<i>Looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. +Dumby</span> <i>and exit</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Awful manners young +Hopper has!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Ah! +Hopper is one of Nature’s gentlemen, the worst type of +gentleman I know.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Sensible woman, Lady +Windermere. Lots of wives would have objected to Mrs. +Erlynne coming. But Lady Windermere has that uncommon thing +called common sense.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. And Windermere +knows that nothing looks so like innocence as an +indiscretion.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Yes; dear Windermere +is becoming almost modern. Never thought he would. +[<i>Bows to</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>and +exit</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Jedburgh</span>. Good night, +Lady Windermere. What a fascinating woman Mrs. Erlynne +is! She is coming to lunch on Thursday, won’t you +come too? I expect the Bishop and dear Lady Merton.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I am afraid +I am engaged, Lady Jedburgh.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Jedburgh</span>. So +sorry. Come, dear. [<i>Exeunt</i> <span +class="smcap">Lady Jedburgh</span> <i>and</i> <span +class="smcap">Miss Graham</span>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> +<i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Charming ball +it has been! Quite reminds me of old days. [<i>Sits +on sofa</i>.] And I see that there are just as many fools +in society as there used to be. So pleased to find that +nothing has altered! Except Margaret. She’s +grown quite pretty. The last time I saw her—twenty +years ago, she was a fright in flannel. Positive fright, I +assure you. The dear Duchess! and that sweet Lady +Agatha! Just the type of girl I like! Well, really, +Windermere, if I am to be the Duchess’s +sister-in-law—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Sitting +L. of her</i>.] But are you—?</p> +<p>[<i>Exit</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. Cecil Graham</span> +<i>with rest of guests</i>. <span class="smcap">Lady +Windermere</span> <i>watches</i>, <i>with a look of scorn and +pain</i>, <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> <i>and her +husband</i>. <i>They are unconscious of her +presence</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh, yes! +He’s to call to-morrow at twelve o’clock! He +wanted to propose to-night. In fact he did. He kept +on proposing. Poor Augustus, you know how he repeats +himself. Such a bad habit! But I told him I +wouldn’t give him an answer till to-morrow. Of course +I am going to take him. And I dare say I’ll make him +an admirable wife, as wives go. And there is a great deal +of good in Lord Augustus. Fortunately it is all on the +surface. Just where good qualities should be. Of +course you must help me in this matter.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I am not +called on to encourage Lord Augustus, I suppose?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh, no! I +do the encouraging. But you will make me a handsome +settlement, Windermere, won’t you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Frowning</i>.] Is that what you want to talk to me +about to-night?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>With a +gesture of impatience</i>.] I will not talk of it here.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Laughing</i>.] Then we will talk of it on the +terrace. Even business should have a picturesque +background. Should it not, Windermere? With a proper +background women can do anything.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Won’t +to-morrow do as well?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. No; you see, +to-morrow I am going to accept him. And I think it would be +a good thing if I was able to tell him that I had—well, +what shall I say?—£2000 a year left to me by a third +cousin—or a second husband—or some distant relative +of that kind. It would be an additional attraction, +wouldn’t it? You have a delightful opportunity now of +paying me a compliment, Windermere. But you are not very +clever at paying compliments. I am afraid Margaret +doesn’t encourage you in that excellent habit. +It’s a great mistake on her part. When men give up +saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is +charming. But seriously, what do you say to +£2000? £2500, I think. In modern life +margin is everything. Windermere, don’t you think the +world an intensely amusing place? I do!</p> +<p>[<i>Exit on terrace with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span>. Music strikes up in ball-room.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. To stay in +this house any longer is impossible. To-night a man who +loves me offered me his whole life. I refused it. It +was foolish of me. I will offer him mine now. I will +give him mine. I will go to him! [<i>Puts on cloak +and goes to the door</i>, <i>then turns back</i>. <i>Sits +down at table and writes a letter</i>, <i>puts it into an +envelope</i>, <i>and leaves it on table</i>.] Arthur has +never understood me. When he reads this, he will. He +may do as he chooses now with his life. I have done with +mine as I think best, as I think right. It is he who has +broken the bond of marriage—not I. I only break its +bondage.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i>.]</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap"><i>Parker</i></span><i> enters L. and +crosses towards the ball-room R.</i> <i>Enter</i> <span +class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Is Lady +Windermere in the ball-room?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Her ladyship has just +gone out.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Gone out? +She’s not on the terrace?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. No, madam. Her +ladyship has just gone out of the house.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Starts</i>, +<i>and looks at the servant with a puzzled expression in her +face</i>.] Out of the house?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, madam—her +ladyship told me she had left a letter for his lordship on the +table.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. A letter for +Lord Windermere?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Yes, madam.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Thank you.</p> +<p>[<i>Exit</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>. <i>The +music in the ball-room stops</i>.] Gone out of her +house! A letter addressed to her husband! [<i>Goes +over to bureau and looks at letter</i>. <i>Takes it up and +lays it down again with a shudder of fear</i>.] No, +no! It would be impossible! Life doesn’t repeat +its tragedies like that! Oh, why does this horrible fancy +come across me? Why do I remember now the one moment of my +life I most wish to forget? Does life repeat its +tragedies? [<i>Tears letter open and reads it</i>, <i>then +sinks down into a chair with a gesture of anguish</i>.] Oh, +how terrible! The same words that twenty years ago I wrote +to her father! and how bitterly I have been punished for +it! No; my punishment, my real punishment is to-night, is +now! [<i>Still seated R.</i>]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> +<i>L.U.E.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Have you +said good-night to my wife? [<i>Comes C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Crushing +letter in her hand</i>.] Yes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Where is +she?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. She is very +tired. She has gone to bed. She said she had a +headache.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I must go to +her. You’ll excuse me?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Rising +hurriedly</i>.] Oh, no! It’s nothing +serious. She’s only very tired, that is all. +Besides, there are people still in the supper-room. She +wants you to make her apologies to them. She said she +didn’t wish to be disturbed. [<i>Drops +letter</i>.] She asked me to tell you!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Picks up +letter</i>.] You have dropped something.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh yes, thank +you, that is mine. [<i>Puts out her hand to take +it</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Still +looking at letter</i>.] But it’s my wife’s +handwriting, isn’t it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Takes the +letter quickly</i>.] Yes, it’s—an +address. Will you ask them to call my carriage, please?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +Certainly.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Goes L. and Exit</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Thanks! +What can I do? What can I do? I feel a passion +awakening within me that I never felt before. What can it +mean? The daughter must not be like the mother—that +would be terrible. How can I save her? How can I save +my child? A moment may ruin a life. Who knows that +better than I? Windermere must be got out of the house; +that is absolutely necessary. [<i>Goes L.</i>] But +how shall I do it? It must be done somehow. Ah!</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> +<i>R.U.E. carrying bouquet</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Dear lady, I +am in such suspense! May I not have an answer to my +request?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Lord Augustus, +listen to me. You are to take Lord Windermere down to your +club at once, and keep him there as long as possible. You +understand?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. But you said +you wished me to keep early hours!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Nervously</i>.] Do what I tell you. Do what I +tell you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. And my +reward?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Your +reward? Your reward? Oh! ask me that to-morrow. +But don’t let Windermere out of your sight to-night. +If you do I will never forgive you. I will never speak to +you again. I’ll have nothing to do with you. +Remember you are to keep Windermere at your club, and don’t +let him come back to-night.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Well, really, +I might be her husband already. Positively I might. +[<i>Follows her in a bewildered manner</i>.]</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">Act +Drop</span>.</p> +<h2>THIRD ACT</h2> +<p style="text-align: center">SCENE</p> +<p><i>Lord Darlington’s Rooms</i>. <i>A large sofa is +in front of fireplace R.</i> <i>At the back of the stage a +curtain is drawn across the window</i>. <i>Doors L. and +R.</i> <i>Table R. with writing materials. Table C. +with syphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame</i>. <i>Table L. +with cigar and cigarette box. Lamps lit</i>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Standing +by the fireplace</i>.] Why doesn’t he come? +This waiting is horrible. He should be here. Why is +he not here, to wake by passionate words some fire within +me? I am cold—cold as a loveless thing. Arthur +must have read my letter by this time. If he cared for me, +he would have come after me, would have taken me back by +force. But he doesn’t care. He’s +entrammelled by this woman—fascinated by +her—dominated by her. If a woman wants to hold a man, +she has merely to appeal to what is worst in him. We make +gods of men and they leave us. Others make brutes of them +and they fawn and are faithful. How hideous life is! . . . +Oh! it was mad of me to come here, horribly mad. And yet, +which is the worst, I wonder, to be at the mercy of a man who +loves one, or the wife of a man who in one’s own house +dishonours one? What woman knows? What woman in the +whole world? But will he love me always, this man to whom I +am giving my life? What do I bring him? Lips that +have lost the note of joy, eyes that are blinded by tears, chill +hands and icy heart. I bring him nothing. I must go +back—no; I can’t go back, my letter has put me in +their power—Arthur would not take me back! That fatal +letter! No! Lord Darlington leaves England +to-morrow. I will go with him—I have no choice. +[<i>Sits down for a few moments</i>. <i>Then starts up and +puts on her cloak</i>.] No, no! I will go back, let +Arthur do with me what he pleases. I can’t wait +here. It has been madness my coming. I must go at +once. As for Lord Darlington—Oh! here he is! +What shall I do? What can I say to him? Will he let +me go away at all? I have heard that men are brutal, +horrible . . . Oh! [<i>Hides her face in her +hands</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> +<i>L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Lady +Windermere! [<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>starts and looks up</i>. <i>Then recoils in +contempt</i>.] Thank Heaven I am in time. You must go +back to your husband’s house immediately.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Must?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Authoritatively</i>.] Yes, you must! There is not +a second to be lost. Lord Darlington may return at any +moment.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Don’t +come near me!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh! You +are on the brink of ruin, you are on the brink of a hideous +precipice. You must leave this place at once, my carriage +is waiting at the corner of the street. You must come with +me and drive straight home.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>throws off her +cloak and flings it on the sofa</i>.]</p> +<p>What are you doing?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Mrs. +Erlynne—if you had not come here, I would have gone +back. But now that I see you, I feel that nothing in the +whole world would induce me to live under the same roof as Lord +Windermere. You fill me with horror. There is +something about you that stirs the wildest—rage within +me. And I know why you are here. My husband sent you +to lure me back that I might serve as a blind to whatever +relations exist between you and him.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh! You +don’t think that—you can’t.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Go back to +my husband, Mrs. Erlynne. He belongs to you and not to +me. I suppose he is afraid of a scandal. Men are such +cowards. They outrage every law of the world, and are +afraid of the world’s tongue. But he had better +prepare himself. He shall have a scandal. He shall +have the worst scandal there has been in London for years. +He shall see his name in every vile paper, mine on every hideous +placard.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +No—no—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes! he +shall. Had he come himself, I admit I would have gone back +to the life of degradation you and he had prepared for me—I +was going back—but to stay himself at home, and to send you +as his messenger—oh! it was infamous—infamous.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>C.</i>] Lady Windermere, you wrong me +horribly—you wrong your husband horribly. He +doesn’t know you are here—he thinks you are safe in +your own house. He thinks you are asleep in your own +room. He never read the mad letter you wrote to him!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>R.</i>] Never read it!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. No—he +knows nothing about it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. How simple +you think me! [<i>Going to her</i>.] You are lying to +me!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Restraining +herself</i>.] I am not. I am telling you the +truth.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. If my +husband didn’t read my letter, how is it that you are +here? Who told you I had left the house you were shameless +enough to enter? Who told you where I had gone to? My +husband told you, and sent you to decoy me back. +[<i>Crosses L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>R.C.</i>] Your husband has never seen the letter. +I—saw it, I opened it. I—read it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Turning +to her</i>.] You opened a letter of mine to my +husband? You wouldn’t dare!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Dare! Oh! +to save you from the abyss into which you are falling, there is +nothing in the world I would not dare, nothing in the whole +world. Here is the letter. Your husband has never +read it. He never shall read it. [<i>Going to +fireplace</i>.] It should never have been written. +[<i>Tears it and throws it into the fire</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>With +infinite contempt in her voice and look</i>.] How do I know +that that was my letter after all? You seem to think the +commonest device can take me in!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh! why do you +disbelieve everything I tell you? What object do you think +I have in coming here, except to save you from utter ruin, to +save you from the consequence of a hideous mistake? That +letter that is burnt now <i>was</i> your letter. I swear it +to you!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Slowly</i>.] You took good care to burn it before I had +examined it. I cannot trust you. You, whose whole +life is a lie, could you speak the truth about anything? +[<i>Sits down</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Hurriedly</i>.] Think as you like about me—say +what you choose against me, but go back, go back to the husband +you love.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Sullenly</i>.] I do <i>not</i> love him!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You do, and you +know that he loves you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. He does not +understand what love is. He understands it as little as you +do—but I see what you want. It would be a great +advantage for you to get me back. Dear Heaven! what a life +I would have then! Living at the mercy of a woman who has +neither mercy nor pity in her, a woman whom it is an infamy to +meet, a degradation to know, a vile woman, a woman who comes +between husband and wife!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>With a +gesture of despair</i>.] Lady Windermere, Lady Windermere, +don’t say such terrible things. You don’t know +how terrible they are, how terrible and how unjust. Listen, +you must listen! Only go back to your husband, and I +promise you never to communicate with him again on any +pretext—never to see him—never to have anything to do +with his life or yours. The money that he gave me, he gave +me not through love, but through hatred, not in worship, but in +contempt. The hold I have over him—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] Ah! you admit you have a hold!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes, and I will +tell you what it is. It is his love for you, Lady +Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You expect +me to believe that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You must +believe it! It is true. It is his love for you that +has made him submit to—oh! call it what you like, tyranny, +threats, anything you choose. But it is his love for +you. His desire to spare you—shame, yes, shame and +disgrace.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. What do you +mean? You are insolent! What have I to do with +you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Humbly</i>.] Nothing. I know it—but I tell +you that your husband loves you—that you may never meet +with such love again in your whole life—that such love you +will never meet—and that if you throw it away, the day may +come when you will starve for love and it will not be given to +you, beg for love and it will be denied you—Oh! Arthur +loves you!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Arthur? And you tell me there is nothing between you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Lady +Windermere, before Heaven your husband is guiltless of all +offence towards you! And I—I tell you that had it +ever occurred to me that such a monstrous suspicion would have +entered your mind, I would have died rather than have crossed +your life or his—oh! died, gladly died! [<i>Moves +away to sofa R.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You talk as +if you had a heart. Women like you have no hearts. +Heart is not in you. You are bought and sold. +[<i>Sits L.C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Starts</i>, +<i>with a gesture of pain</i>. <i>Then restrains +herself</i>, <i>and comes over to where</i> <span +class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>is sitting</i>. +<i>As she speaks</i>, <i>she stretches out her hands towards +her</i>, <i>but does not dare to touch her</i>.] Believe +what you choose about me. I am not worth a moment’s +sorrow. But don’t spoil your beautiful young life on +my account! You don’t know what may be in store for +you, unless you leave this house at once. You don’t +know what it is to fall into the pit, to be despised, mocked, +abandoned, sneered at—to be an outcast! to find the door +shut against one, to have to creep in by hideous byways, afraid +every moment lest the mask should be stripped from one’s +face, and all the while to hear the laughter, the horrible +laughter of the world, a thing more tragic than all the tears the +world has ever shed. You don’t know what it is. +One pays for one’s sin, and then one pays again, and all +one’s life one pays. You must never know +that.—As for me, if suffering be an expiation, then at this +moment I have expiated all my faults, whatever they have been; +for to-night you have made a heart in one who had it not, made it +and broken it.—But let that pass. I may have wrecked +my own life, but I will not let you wreck yours. +You—why, you are a mere girl, you would be lost. You +haven’t got the kind of brains that enables a woman to get +back. You have neither the wit nor the courage. You +couldn’t stand dishonour! No! Go back, Lady +Windermere, to the husband who loves you, whom you love. +You have a child, Lady Windermere. Go back to that child +who even now, in pain or in joy, may be calling to you. +[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>rises</i>.] +God gave you that child. He will require from you that you +make his life fine, that you watch over him. What answer +will you make to God if his life is ruined through you? +Back to your house, Lady Windermere—your husband loves +you! He has never swerved for a moment from the love he +bears you. But even if he had a thousand loves, you must +stay with your child. If he was harsh to you, you must stay +with your child. If he ill-treated you, you must stay with +your child. If he abandoned you, your place is with your +child.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>bursts into +tears and buries her face in her hands</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Rushing to her</i>.] Lady Windermere!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Holding +out her hands to her</i>, <i>helplessly</i>, <i>as a child might +do</i>.] Take me home. Take me home.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Is about to +embrace her</i>. <i>Then restrains herself</i>. +<i>There is a look of wonderful joy in her face</i>.] +Come! Where is your cloak? [<i>Getting it from +sofa</i>.] Here. Put it on. Come at once!</p> +<p>[<i>They go to the door</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Stop! +Don’t you hear voices?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. No, no! +There was no one!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes, there +is! Listen! Oh! that is my husband’s +voice! He is coming in! Save me! Oh, it’s +some plot! You have sent for him.</p> +<p>[<i>Voices outside</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Silence! +I’m here to save you, if I can. But I fear it is too +late! There! [<i>Points to the curtain across the +window</i>.] The first chance you have, slip out, if you +ever get a chance!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. But you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh! never mind +me. I’ll face them.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>hides herself +behind the curtain</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. +[<i>Outside</i>.] Nonsense, dear Windermere, you must not +leave me!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Lord +Augustus! Then it is I who am lost! [<i>Hesitates for +a moment</i>, then <i>looks round and sees door R.</i>, <i>and +exits through it</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>, +<span class="smcap">Mr. Dumby</span>, <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span>, <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus +Lorton</span>, <i>and</i> <span class="smcap">Mr. Cecil +Graham</span>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. What a nuisance their +turning us out of the club at this hour! It’s only +two o’clock. [<i>Sinks into a chair</i>.] The +lively part of the evening is only just beginning. +[<i>Yawns and closes his eyes</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. It is very +good of you, Lord Darlington, allowing Augustus to force our +company on you, but I’m afraid I can’t stay long.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +Really! I am so sorry! You’ll take a cigar, +won’t you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +Thanks! [<i>Sits down</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>To</i> +<span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.] My dear boy, +you must not dream of going. I have a great deal to talk to +you about, of demmed importance, too. [<i>Sits down with +him at L. table</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Oh! We +all know what that is! Tuppy can’t talk about +anything but Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Well, that +is no business of yours, is it, Cecil?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. None! +That is why it interests me. My own business always bores +me to death. I prefer other people’s.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Have +something to drink, you fellows. Cecil, you’ll have a +whisky and soda?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Thanks. +[<i>Goes to table with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Darlington</span>.] Mrs. Erlynne looked very handsome +to-night, didn’t she?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. I am not one +of her admirers.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. I usen’t +to be, but I am now. Why! she actually made me introduce +her to poor dear Aunt Caroline. I believe she is going to +lunch there.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>In +Purple</i>.] No?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. She is, +really.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Excuse me, +you fellows. I’m going away to-morrow. And I +have to write a few letters. [<i>Goes to writing table and +sits down</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Clever woman, Mrs. +Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Hallo, +Dumby! I thought you were asleep.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. I am, I usually +am!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. A very clever +woman. Knows perfectly well what a demmed fool I +am—knows it as well as I do myself.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span> <i>comes towards him +laughing</i>.]</p> +<p>Ah, you may laugh, my boy, but it is a great thing to come +across a woman who thoroughly understands one.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. It is an awfully +dangerous thing. They always end by marrying one.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. But I thought, +Tuppy, you were never going to see her again! Yes! you told +me so yesterday evening at the club. You said you’d +heard—</p> +<p>[<i>Whispering to him</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Oh, +she’s explained that.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. And the +Wiesbaden affair?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. She’s +explained that too.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. And her income, +Tuppy? Has she explained that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>In a very +serious voice</i>.] She’s going to explain that +to-morrow.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span> <i>goes back to C. +table</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Awfully commercial, +women nowadays. Our grandmothers threw their caps over the +mills, of course, but, by Jove, their granddaughters only throw +their caps over mills that can raise the wind for them.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. You want to +make her out a wicked woman. She is not!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Oh! +Wicked women bother one. Good women bore one. That is +the only difference between them.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Puffing a +cigar</i>.] Mrs. Erlynne has a future before her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Mrs. Erlynne has a +past before her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. I prefer women +with a past. They’re always so demmed amusing to talk +to.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Well, +you’ll have lots of topics of conversation with <i>her</i>, +Tuppy. [<i>Rising and going to him</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. You’re +getting annoying, dear-boy; you’re getting demmed +annoying.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>Puts his +hands on his shoulders</i>.] Now, Tuppy, you’ve lost +your figure and you’ve lost your character. +Don’t lose your temper; you have only got one.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. My dear boy, +if I wasn’t the most good-natured man in London—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. We’d +treat you with more respect, wouldn’t we, Tuppy? +[<i>Strolls away</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. The youth of the +present day are quite monstrous. They have absolutely no +respect for dyed hair. [<span class="smcap">Lord +Augustus</span> <i>looks round angrily</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Mrs. Erlynne +has a very great respect for dear Tuppy.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Then Mrs. Erlynne sets +an admirable example to the rest of her sex. It is +perfectly brutal the way most women nowadays behave to men who +are not their husbands.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Dumby, you +are ridiculous, and Cecil, you let your tongue run away with +you. You must leave Mrs. Erlynne alone. You +don’t really know anything about her, and you’re +always talking scandal against her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>Coming +towards him L.C.</i>] My dear Arthur, I never talk +scandal. <i>I</i> only talk gossip.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. What is the +difference between scandal and gossip?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Oh! gossip is +charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is +gossip made tedious by morality. Now, I never +moralise. A man who moralises is usually a hypocrite, and a +woman who moralises is invariably plain. There is nothing +in the whole world so unbecoming to a woman as a Nonconformist +conscience. And most women know it, I’m glad to +say.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Just my +sentiments, dear boy, just my sentiments.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Sorry to hear +it, Tuppy; whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be +wrong.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. My dear boy, +when I was your age—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. But you never +were, Tuppy, and you never will be. [<i>Goes up +C.</i>] I say, Darlington, let us have some cards. +You’ll play, Arthur, won’t you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. No, thanks, +Cecil.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. [<i>With a +sigh</i>.] Good heavens! how marriage ruins a man! +It’s as demoralising as cigarettes, and far more +expensive.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. You’ll +play, of course, Tuppy?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Pouring +himself out a brandy and soda at table</i>.] Can’t, +dear boy. Promised Mrs. Erlynne never to play or drink +again.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Now, my dear +Tuppy, don’t be led astray into the paths of virtue. +Reformed, you would be perfectly tedious. That is the worst +of women. They always want one to be good. And if we +are good, when they meet us, they don’t love us at +all. They like to find us quite irretrievably bad, and to +leave us quite unattractively good.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Rising +from R. table</i>, <i>where he has been writing +letters</i>.] They always do find us bad!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. I don’t think we +are bad. I think we are all good, except Tuppy.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. No, we are +all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. +[<i>Sits down at C. table</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. We are all in the +gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars? Upon my +word, you are very romantic to-night, Darlington.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Too +romantic! You must be in love. Who is the girl?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. The woman I +love is not free, or thinks she isn’t. [<i>Glances +instinctively at</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> +<i>while he speaks</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. A married +woman, then! Well, there’s nothing in the world like +the devotion of a married woman. It’s a thing no +married man knows anything about.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Oh! she +doesn’t love me. She is a good woman. She is +the only good woman I have ever met in my life.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. The only good +woman you have ever met in your life?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Yes!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>Lighting a +cigarette</i>.] Well, you are a lucky fellow! Why, I +have met hundreds of good women. I never seem to meet any +but good women. The world is perfectly packed with good +women. To know them is a middle-class education.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. This woman +has purity and innocence. She has everything we men have +lost.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. My dear fellow, +what on earth should we men do going about with purity and +innocence? A carefully thought-out buttonhole is much more +effective.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. She doesn’t +really love you then?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. No, she does +not!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. I congratulate you, my +dear fellow. In this world there are only two +tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other +is getting it. The last is much the worst; the last is a +real tragedy! But I am interested to hear she does not love +you. How long could you love a woman who didn’t love +you, Cecil?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. A woman who +didn’t love me? Oh, all my life!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. So could I. But +it’s so difficult to meet one.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. How can you +be so conceited, <span class="smcap">Dumby</span>?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. I didn’t say it +as a matter of conceit. I said it as a matter of +regret. I have been wildly, madly adored. I am sorry +I have. It has been an immense nuisance. I should +like to be allowed a little time to myself now and then.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Looking +round</i>.] Time to educate yourself, I suppose.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. No, time to forget all +I have learned. That is much more important, dear +Tuppy. [<span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> <i>moves +uneasily in his chair</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. What cynics +you fellows are!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. What is a +cynic? [<i>Sitting on the back of the sofa</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. A man who +knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. And a +sentimentalist, my dear Darlington, is a man who sees an absurd +value in everything, and doesn’t know the market price of +any single thing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You always +amuse me, Cecil. You talk as if you were a man of +experience.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. I am. +[<i>Moves up to front off fireplace</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You are far +too young!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. That is a great +error. Experience is a question of instinct about +life. I have got it. Tuppy hasn’t. +Experience is the name Tuppy gives to his mistakes. That is +all. [<span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> <i>looks +round indignantly</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Experience is the name +every one gives to their mistakes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>Standing +with his back to the fireplace</i>.] One shouldn’t +commit any. [<i>Sees</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Windermere’s</span> <i>fan on sofa</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. Life would be very +dull without them.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Of course you +are quite faithful to this woman you are in love with, +Darlington, to this good woman?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Cecil, if one +really loves a woman, all other women in the world become +absolutely meaningless to one. Love changes +one—<i>I</i> am changed.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Dear me! +How very interesting! Tuppy, I want to talk to you. +[<span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> <i>takes no +notice</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dumby</span>. It’s no use +talking to Tuppy. You might just as well talk to a brick +wall.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. But I like +talking to a brick wall—it’s the only thing in the +world that never contradicts me! Tuppy!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Well, what is +it? What is it? [<i>Rising and going over to</i> +<span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Come over +here. I want you particularly. [<i>Aside</i>.] +Darlington has been moralising and talking about the purity of +love, and that sort of thing, and he has got some woman in his +rooms all the time.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. No, really! +really!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. [<i>In a low +voice</i>.] Yes, here is her fan. [<i>Points to the +fan</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. +[<i>Chuckling</i>.] By Jove! By Jove!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Up by +door</i>.] I am really off now, Lord Darlington. I am +sorry you are leaving England so soon. Pray call on us when +you come back! My wife and I will be charmed to see +you!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Upstage +with</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.] I am +afraid I shall be away for many years. Good-night!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Arthur!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. What?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. I want to speak +to you for a moment. No, do come!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Putting +on his coat</i>.] I can’t—I’m off!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. It is something +very particular. It will interest you enormously.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] It is some of your nonsense, Cecil.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. It +isn’t! It isn’t really.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Going to +him</i>.] My dear fellow, you mustn’t go yet. I +have a lot to talk to you about. And Cecil has something to +show you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Walking +over</i>.] Well, what is it?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. Darlington has +got a woman here in his rooms. Here is her fan. +Amusing, isn’t it? [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Good +God! [<i>Seizes the fan</i>—<span +class="smcap">Dumby</span> <i>rises</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cecil Graham</span>. What is the +matter?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Lord +Darlington!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Turning +round</i>.] Yes!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. What is my +wife’s fan doing here in your rooms? Hands off, +Cecil. Don’t touch me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. Your +wife’s fan?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Yes, here it +is!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. [<i>Walking +towards him</i>.] I don’t know!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You must +know. I demand an explanation. Don’t hold me, +you fool. [<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Cecil +Graham</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. +[<i>Aside</i>.] She is here after all!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Speak, +sir! Why is my wife’s fan here? Answer +me! By God! I’ll search your rooms, and if my +wife’s here, I’ll— [<i>Moves</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span>. You shall +not search my rooms. You have no right to do so. I +forbid you!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You +scoundrel! I’ll not leave your room till I have +searched every corner of it! What moves behind that +curtain? [<i>Rushes towards the curtain C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Enters +behind R.</i>] Lord Windermere!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Mrs. +Erlynne!</p> +<p>[<i>Every one starts and turns round</i>. <span +class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>slips out from behind the +curtain and glides from the room L.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I am afraid I +took your wife’s fan in mistake for my own, when I was +leaving your house to-night. I am so sorry. [<i>Takes +fan from him</i>. <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span> <i>looks at her in contempt</i>. <span +class="smcap">Lord Darlington</span> <i>in mingled astonishment +and anger</i>. <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> +<i>turns away</i>. <i>The other men smile at each +other</i>.]</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">Act +Drop</span>.</p> +<h2>FOURTH ACT</h2> +<p style="text-align: center">SCENE—Same as in Act I.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Lying on +sofa</i>.] How can I tell him? I can’t tell +him. It would kill me. I wonder what happened after I +escaped from that horrible room. Perhaps she told them the +true reason of her being there, and the real meaning of +that—fatal fan of mine. Oh, if he knows—how can +I look him in the face again? He would never forgive +me. [<i>Touches bell</i>.] How securely one thinks +one lives—out of reach of temptation, sin, folly. And +then suddenly—Oh! Life is terrible. It rules +us, we do not rule it.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Rosalie</span> +<i>R.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Rosalie</span>. Did your ladyship +ring for me?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +Have you found out at what time Lord Windermere came in last +night?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Rosalie</span>. His lordship did not +come in till five o’clock.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Five +o’clock? He knocked at my door this morning, +didn’t he?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Rosalie</span>. Yes, my +lady—at half-past nine. I told him your ladyship was +not awake yet.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Did he say +anything?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Rosalie</span>. Something about your +ladyship’s fan. I didn’t quite catch what his +lordship said. Has the fan been lost, my lady? I +can’t find it, and Parker says it was not left in any of +the rooms. He has looked in all of them and on the terrace +as well.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. It +doesn’t matter. Tell Parker not to trouble. +That will do.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Rosalie</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] She is sure to tell him. I can fancy +a person doing a wonderful act of self-sacrifice, doing it +spontaneously, recklessly, nobly—and afterwards finding out +that it costs too much. Why should she hesitate between her +ruin and mine? . . . How strange! I would have publicly +disgraced her in my own house. She accepts public disgrace +in the house of another to save me. . . . There is a bitter irony +in things, a bitter irony in the way we talk of good and bad +women. . . . Oh, what a lesson! and what a pity that in life we +only get our lessons when they are of no use to us! For +even if she doesn’t tell, I must. Oh! the shame of +it, the shame of it. To tell it is to live through it all +again. Actions are the first tragedy in life, words are the +second. Words are perhaps the worst. Words are +merciless. . . . Oh! [<i>Starts as</i> <span +class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>enters</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Kisses +her</i>.] Margaret—how pale you look!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I slept very +badly.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Sitting +on sofa with her</i>.] I am so sorry. I came in +dreadfully late, and didn’t like to wake you. You are +crying, dear.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes, I am +crying, for I have something to tell you, Arthur.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. My dear +child, you are not well. You’ve been doing too +much. Let us go away to the country. You’ll be +all right at Selby. The season is almost over. There +is no use staying on. Poor darling! We’ll go +away to-day, if you like. [<i>Rises</i>.] We can +easily catch the 3.40. I’ll send a wire to +Fannen. [<i>Crosses and sits down at table to write a +telegram</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes; let us +go away to-day. No; I can’t go to-day, Arthur. +There is some one I must see before I leave town—some one +who has been kind to me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Rising +and leaning over sofa</i>.] Kind to you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Far more +than that. [<i>Rises and goes to him</i>.] I will +tell you, Arthur, but only love me, love me as you used to love +me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Used +to? You are not thinking of that wretched woman who came +here last night? [<i>Coming round and sitting R. of +her</i>.] You don’t still imagine—no, you +couldn’t.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I +don’t. I know now I was wrong and foolish.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. It was very +good of you to receive her last night—but you are never to +see her again.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why do you +say that? [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Holding +her hand</i>.] Margaret, I thought Mrs. Erlynne was a woman +more sinned against than sinning, as the phrase goes. I +thought she wanted to be good, to get back into a place that she +had lost by a moment’s folly, to lead again a decent +life. I believed what she told me—I was mistaken in +her. She is bad—as bad as a woman can be.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Arthur, +Arthur, don’t talk so bitterly about any woman. I +don’t think now that people can be divided into the good +and the bad as though they were two separate races or +creations. What are called good women may have terrible +things in them, mad moods of recklessness, assertion, jealousy, +sin. Bad women, as they are termed, may have in them +sorrow, repentance, pity, sacrifice. And I don’t +think Mrs. Erlynne a bad woman—I know she’s not.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. My dear +child, the woman’s impossible. No matter what harm +she tries to do us, you must never see her again. She is +inadmissible anywhere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. But I want +to see her. I want her to come here.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Never!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. She came +here once as <i>your</i> guest. She must come now as +<i>mine</i>. That is but fair.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. She should +never have come here.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] It is too late, Arthur, to say that +now. [<i>Moves away</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] Margaret, if you knew where Mrs. Erlynne +went last night, after she left this house, you would not sit in +the same room with her. It was absolutely shameless, the +whole thing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Arthur, I +can’t bear it any longer. I must tell you. Last +night—</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span> <i>with a tray +on which lie</i> <span class="smcap">Lady +Windermere’s</span> <i>fan and a card</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mrs. Erlynne has +called to return your ladyship’s fan which she took away by +mistake last night. Mrs. Erlynne has written a message on +the card.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh, ask Mrs. +Erlynne to be kind enough to come up. [<i>Reads +card</i>.] Say I shall be very glad to see her.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p>She wants to see me, Arthur.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Takes +card and looks at it</i>.] Margaret, I <i>beg</i> you not +to. Let me see her first, at any rate. She’s a +very dangerous woman. She is the most dangerous woman I +know. You don’t realise what you’re doing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. It is right +that I should see her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. My child, +you may be on the brink of a great sorrow. Don’t go +to meet it. It is absolutely necessary that I should see +her before you do.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Why should +it be necessary?</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>.]</p> +<p style="text-align: right">[<i>Exit</i> <span +class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. How do you do, +Lady Windermere? [<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span>.] How do you do? Do you know, Lady +Windermere, I am so sorry about your fan. I can’t +imagine how I made such a silly mistake. Most stupid of +me. And as I was driving in your direction, I thought I +would take the opportunity of returning your property in person +with many apologies for my carelessness, and of bidding you +good-bye.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +Good-bye? [<i>Moves towards sofa with</i> <span +class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> <i>and sits down beside +her</i>.] Are you going away, then, Mrs. Erlynne?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes; I am going +to live abroad again. The English climate doesn’t +suit me. My—heart is affected here, and that I +don’t like. I prefer living in the south. +London is too full of fogs and—and serious people, Lord +Windermere. Whether the fogs produce the serious people or +whether the serious people produce the fogs, I don’t know, +but the whole thing rather gets on my nerves, and so I’m +leaving this afternoon by the Club Train.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. This +afternoon? But I wanted so much to come and see you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. How kind of +you! But I am afraid I have to go.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Shall I +never see you again, Mrs. Erlynne?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I am afraid +not. Our lives lie too far apart. But there is a +little thing I would like you to do for me. I want a +photograph of you, Lady Windermere—would you give me +one? You don’t know how gratified I should be.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh, with +pleasure. There is one on that table. I’ll show +it to you. [<i>Goes across to the table</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Coming +up to</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> <i>and speaking +in a low voice</i>.] It is monstrous your intruding +yourself here after your conduct last night.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>With an +amused smile</i>.] My dear Windermere, manners before +morals!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Returning</i>.] I’m afraid it is very +flattering—I am not so pretty as that. [<i>Showing +photograph</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You are much +prettier. But haven’t you got one of yourself with +your little boy?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I +have. Would you prefer one of those?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I’ll +go and get it for you, if you’ll excuse me for a +moment. I have one upstairs.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. So sorry, Lady +Windermere, to give you so much trouble.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Moves to +door R.</i>] No trouble at all, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Thanks so +much.</p> +<p>[<i>Exit</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>R.</i>] You seem rather out of temper this morning, +Windermere. Why should you be? Margaret and I get on +charmingly together.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I +can’t bear to see you with her. Besides, you have not +told me the truth, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I have not told +<i>her</i> the truth, you mean.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Standing +C.</i>] I sometimes wish you had. I should have been +spared then the misery, the anxiety, the annoyance of the last +six months. But rather than my wife should know—that +the mother whom she was taught to consider as dead, the mother +whom she has mourned as dead, is living—a divorced woman, +going about under an assumed name, a bad woman preying upon life, +as I know you now to be—rather than that, I was ready to +supply you with money to pay bill after bill, extravagance after +extravagance, to risk what occurred yesterday, the first quarrel +I have ever had with my wife. You don’t understand +what that means to me. How could you? But I tell you +that the only bitter words that ever came from those sweet lips +of hers were on your account, and I hate to see you next +her. You sully the innocence that is in her. [<i>Moves +L.C.</i>] And then I used to think that with all your +faults you were frank and honest. You are not.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Why do you say +that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You made me +get you an invitation to my wife’s ball.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. For my +daughter’s ball—yes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You came, +and within an hour of your leaving the house you are found in a +man’s rooms—you are disgraced before every one. +[<i>Goes up stage C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Turning +round on her</i>.] Therefore I have a right to look upon +you as what you are—a worthless, vicious woman. I +have the right to tell you never to enter this house, never to +attempt to come near my wife—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Coldly</i>.] My daughter, you mean.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You have no +right to claim her as your daughter. You left her, +abandoned her when she was but a child in the cradle, abandoned +her for your lover, who abandoned you in turn.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] Do you count that to his credit, Lord +Windermere—or to mine?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. To his, now +that I know you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Take +care—you had better be careful.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Oh, I am not +going to mince words for you. I know you thoroughly.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Looks +steadily at him</i>.] I question that.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I <i>do</i> +know you. For twenty years of your life you lived without +your child, without a thought of your child. One day you +read in the papers that she had married a rich man. You saw +your hideous chance. You knew that to spare her the +ignominy of learning that a woman like you was her mother, I +would endure anything. You began your blackmailing.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Shrugging +her shoulders</i>.] Don’t use ugly words, +Windermere. They are vulgar. I saw my chance, it is +true, and took it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Yes, you +took it—and spoiled it all last night by being found +out.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>With a +strange smile</i>.] You are quite right, I spoiled it all +last night.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. And as for +your blunder in taking my wife’s fan from here and then +leaving it about in Darlington’s rooms, it is +unpardonable. I can’t bear the sight of it now. +I shall never let my wife use it again. The thing is soiled +for me. You should have kept it and not brought it +back.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I think I shall +keep it. [<i>Goes up</i>.] It’s extremely +pretty. [<i>Takes up fan</i>.] I shall ask Margaret +to give it to me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I hope my +wife will give it you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Oh, I’m +sure she will have no objection.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I wish that +at the same time she would give you a miniature she kisses every +night before she prays—It’s the miniature of a young +innocent-looking girl with beautiful <i>dark</i> hair.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Ah, yes, I +remember. How long ago that seems! [<i>Goes to sofa +and sits down</i>.] It was done before I was married. +Dark hair and an innocent expression were the fashion then, +Windermere! [<i>A pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. What do you +mean by coming here this morning? What is your +object? [<i>Crossing L.C. and sitting</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>With a note +of irony in her voice</i>.] To bid good-bye to my dear +daughter, of course. [<span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span> <i>bites his under lip in anger</i>. +<span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span> <i>looks at him</i>, +<i>and her voice and manner become serious</i>. <i>In her +accents as she talks there is a note of deep tragedy</i>. +<i>For a moment she reveals herself</i>.] Oh, don’t +imagine I am going to have a pathetic scene with her, weep on her +neck and tell her who I am, and all that kind of thing. I +have no ambition to play the part of a mother. Only once in +my life have I known a mother’s feelings. That was +last night. They were terrible—they made me +suffer—they made me suffer too much. For twenty +years, as you say, I have lived childless,—I want to live +childless still. [<i>Hiding her feelings with a trivial +laugh</i>.] Besides, my dear Windermere, how on earth could +I pose as a mother with a grown-up daughter? Margaret is +twenty-one, and I have never admitted that I am more than +twenty-nine, or thirty at the most. Twenty-nine when there +are pink shades, thirty when there are not. So you see what +difficulties it would involve. No, as far as I am +concerned, let your wife cherish the memory of this dead, +stainless mother. Why should I interfere with her +illusions? I find it hard enough to keep my own. I +lost one illusion last night. I thought I had no +heart. I find I have, and a heart doesn’t suit me, +Windermere. Somehow it doesn’t go with modern +dress. It makes one look old. [<i>Takes up +hand-mirror from table and looks into it</i>.] And it +spoils one’s career at critical moments.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. You fill me +with horror—with absolute horror.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] I suppose, Windermere, you would like me +to retire into a convent, or become a hospital nurse, or +something of that kind, as people do in silly modern +novels. That is stupid of you, Arthur; in real life we +don’t do such things—not as long as we have any good +looks left, at any rate. No—what consoles one +nowadays is not repentance, but pleasure. Repentance is +quite out of date. And besides, if a woman really repents, +she has to go to a bad dressmaker, otherwise no one believes in +her. And nothing in the world would induce me to do +that. No; I am going to pass entirely out of your two +lives. My coming into them has been a mistake—I +discovered that last night.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. A fatal +mistake.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Smiling</i>.] Almost fatal.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I am sorry +now I did not tell my wife the whole thing at once.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I regret my bad +actions. You regret your good ones—that is the +difference between us.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I +don’t trust you. I <i>will</i> tell my wife. +It’s better for her to know, and from me. It will +cause her infinite pain—it will humiliate her terribly, but +it’s right that she should know.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You propose to +tell her?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I am going +to tell her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Going up to +him</i>.] If you do, I will make my name so infamous that +it will mar every moment of her life. It will ruin her, and +make her wretched. If you dare to tell her, there is no +depth of degradation I will not sink to, no pit of shame I will +not enter. You shall not tell her—I forbid you.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Why?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>After a +pause</i>.] If I said to you that I cared for her, perhaps +loved her even—you would sneer at me, wouldn’t +you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. I should +feel it was not true. A mother’s love means devotion, +unselfishness, sacrifice. What could you know of such +things?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You are +right. What could I know of such things? Don’t +let us talk any more about it—as for telling my daughter +who I am, that I do not allow. It is my secret, it is not +yours. If I make up my mind to tell her, and I think I +will, I shall tell her before I leave the house—if not, I +shall never tell her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Angrily</i>.] Then let me beg of you to leave our house +at once. I will make your excuses to Margaret.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>R.</i> <i>She goes over to</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. +Erlynne</span> <i>with the photograph in her hand</i>. +<span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>moves to back of +sofa</i>, <i>and anxiously watches</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. +Erlynne</span> <i>as the scene progresses</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I am so +sorry, Mrs. Erlynne, to have kept you waiting. I +couldn’t find the photograph anywhere. At last I +discovered it in my husband’s dressing-room—he had +stolen it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Takes the +photograph from her and looks at it</i>.] I am not +surprised—it is charming. [<i>Goes over to sofa +with</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>, <i>and sits +down beside her</i>. <i>Looks again at the +photograph</i>.] And so that is your little boy! What +is he called?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Gerard, +after my dear father.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>Laying the +photograph down</i>.] Really?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +If it had been a girl, I would have called it after my +mother. My mother had the same name as myself, +Margaret.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. My name is +Margaret too.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Indeed!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes. +[<i>Pause</i>.] You are devoted to your mother’s +memory, Lady Windermere, your husband tells me.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. We all have +ideals in life. At least we all should have. Mine is +my mother.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Ideals are +dangerous things. Realities are better. They wound, +but they’re better.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Shaking +her head</i>.] If I lost my ideals, I should lose +everything.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Everything?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes. +[<i>Pause</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Did your father +often speak to you of your mother?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. No, it gave +him too much pain. He told me how my mother had died a few +months after I was born. His eyes filled with tears as he +spoke. Then he begged me never to mention her name to him +again. It made him suffer even to hear it. My +father—my father really died of a broken heart. His +was the most ruined life know.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] I am afraid I must go now, Lady +Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Rising</i>.] Oh no, don’t.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. I think I had +better. My carriage must have come back by this time. +I sent it to Lady Jedburgh’s with a note.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Arthur, +would you mind seeing if Mrs. Erlynne’s carriage has come +back?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Pray +don’t trouble, Lord Windermere.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Yes, Arthur, +do go, please.</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span> <i>hesitated for a +moment and looks at</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. +Erlynne</span>. <i>She remains quite impassive</i>. +<i>He leaves the room</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>.] +Oh! What am I to say to you? You saved me last +night? [<i>Goes towards her</i>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +Hush—don’t speak of it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I must speak +of it. I can’t let you think that I am going to +accept this sacrifice. I am not. It is too +great. I am going to tell my husband everything. It +is my duty.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. It is not your +duty—at least you have duties to others besides him. +You say you owe me something?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. I owe you +everything.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Then pay your +debt by silence. That is the only way in which it can be +paid. Don’t spoil the one good thing I have done in +my life by telling it to any one. Promise me that what +passed last night will remain a secret between us. You must +not bring misery into your husband’s life. Why spoil +his love? You must not spoil it. Love is easily +killed. Oh! how easily love is killed. Pledge me your +word, Lady Windermere, that you will never tell him. I +insist upon it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>With +bowed head</i>.] It is your will, not mine.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Yes, it is my +will. And never forget your child—I like to think of +you as a mother. I like you to think of yourself as +one.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Looking +up</i>.] I always will now. Only once in my life I +have forgotten my own mother—that was last night. Oh, +if I had remembered her I should not have been so foolish, so +wicked.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. [<i>With a +slight shudder</i>.] Hush, last night is quite over.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Your +carriage has not come back yet, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. It makes no +matter. I’ll take a hansom. There is nothing in +the world so respectable as a good Shrewsbury and Talbot. +And now, dear Lady Windermere, I am afraid it is really +good-bye. [<i>Moves up C.</i>] Oh, I remember. +You’ll think me absurd, but do you know I’ve taken a +great fancy to this fan that I was silly enough to run away with +last night from your ball. Now, I wonder would you give it +to me? Lord Windermere says you may. I know it is his +present.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh, +certainly, if it will give you any pleasure. But it has my +name on it. It has ‘Margaret’ on it.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. But we have the +same Christian name.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Oh, I +forgot. Of course, do have it. What a wonderful +chance our names being the same!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. Quite +wonderful. Thanks—it will always remind me of +you. [<i>Shakes hands with her</i>.]</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Parker</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Parker</span>. Lord Augustus +Lorton. Mrs. Erlynne’s carriage has come.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Good morning, +dear boy. Good morning, Lady Windermere. [<i>Sees</i> +<span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>.] Mrs. Erlynne!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. How do you do, +Lord Augustus? Are you quite well this morning?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. +[<i>Coldly</i>.] Quite well, thank you, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. You don’t +look at all well, Lord Augustus. You stop up too +late—it is so bad for you. You really should take +more care of yourself. Good-bye, Lord Windermere. [<i>Goes +towards door with a bow to</i> <span class="smcap">Lord +Augustus</span>. <i>Suddenly smiles and looks back at +him</i>.] Lord Augustus! Won’t you see me to my +carriage? You might carry the fan.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Allow +me!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. No; I want Lord +Augustus. I have a special message for the dear +Duchess. Won’t you carry the fan, Lord Augustus?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. If you really +desire it, Mrs. Erlynne.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Erlynne</span>. +[<i>Laughing</i>.] Of course I do. You’ll carry +it so gracefully. You would carry off anything gracefully, +dear Lord Augustus.</p> +<p>[<i>When she reaches the door she looks back for a moment +at</i> <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. <i>Their +eyes meet</i>. <i>Then she turns</i>, <i>and exit C. +followed by</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>.]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. You will +never speak against Mrs. Erlynne again, Arthur, will you?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. +[<i>Gravely</i>.] She is better than one thought her.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. She is +better than I am.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Smiling +as he strokes her hair</i>.] Child, you and she belong to +different worlds. Into your world evil has never +entered.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. Don’t +say that, Arthur. There is the same world for all of us, +and good and evil, sin and innocence, go through it hand in +hand. To shut one’s eyes to half of life that one may +live securely is as though one blinded oneself that one might +walk with more safety in a land of pit and precipice.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. [<i>Moves +down with her</i>.] Darling, why do you say that?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Sits on +sofa</i>.] Because I, who had shut my eyes to life, came to +the brink. And one who had separated us—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. We were +never separated.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. We never +must be again. O Arthur, don’t love me less, and I +will trust you more. I will trust you absolutely. Let +us go to Selby. In the Rose Garden at Selby the roses are +white and red.</p> +<p>[<i>Enter</i> <span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span> +<i>C.</i>]</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. Arthur, she +has explained everything!</p> +<p>[<span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> <i>looks horribly +frightened at this</i>. <span class="smcap">Lord +Windermere</span> <i>starts</i>. <span class="smcap">Lord +Augustus</span> <i>takes</i> <span +class="smcap">Windermere</span> <i>by the arm and brings him to +front of stage</i>. <i>He talks rapidly and in a low +voice</i>. <span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span> +<i>stands watching them in terror</i>.] My dear fellow, she +has explained every demmed thing. We all wronged her +immensely. It was entirely for my sake she went to +Darlington’s rooms. Called first at the +Club—fact is, wanted to put me out of suspense—and +being told I had gone on—followed—naturally +frightened when she heard a lot of us coming in—retired to +another room—I assure you, most gratifying to me, the whole +thing. We all behaved brutally to her. She is just +the woman for me. Suits me down to the ground. All +the conditions she makes are that we live entirely out of +England. A very good thing too. Demmed clubs, demmed +climate, demmed cooks, demmed everything. Sick of it +all!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. +[<i>Frightened</i>.] Has Mrs. Erlynne—?</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Augustus</span>. [<i>Advancing +towards her with a low bow</i>.] Yes, Lady +Windermere— Mrs. Erlynne has done me the honour of +accepting my hand.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Windermere</span>. Well, you +are certainly marrying a very clever woman!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lady Windermere</span>. [<i>Taking +her husband’s hand</i>.] Ah, you’re marrying a +very good woman!</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center"><span +class="smcap">Curtain</span></p> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. 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