mrs. arbuthnot
It was not I who made him see it. It was another.
lord illingworth
What fin-de-siècle person?
mrs. arbuthnot
The Puritan, Lord Illingworth. [A pause.]
·152· lord illingworth
[Winces, then rises slowly and goes over to table where his hat and gloves are. Mrs. Arbuthnot is standing close to the table. He picks up one of the gloves and begins putting it on.] There is not much then for me to do here, Rachel?
mrs. arbuthnot
Nothing.
lord illingworth
It is good-bye, is it?
mrs. arbuthnot
For ever, I hope, this time, Lord Illingworth.
lord illingworth
How curious! At this moment you look exactly as you looked the night you left me twenty years ago. You have just the same expression in your mouth. Upon my word, Rachel, no woman ever loved me as you did. Why, you gave yourself to me like a flower, to do anything I liked with. You were the prettiest of playthings, the most fascinating of small romances…. [Pulls out watch.] Quarter to two! Must be strolling back to Hunstanton. Don’t suppose I shall see you there again. I’m sorry, I am, really. It’s been an amusing experience to have met amongst ·153· people of one’s own rank, and treated quite seriously too, one’s mistress, and one’s——
[Mrs. Arbuthnot snatches up glove and strikes Lord Illingworth across the face with it. Lord Illingworth starts. He is dazed by the insult of his punishment. Then he controls himself, and goes to window and looks out at his son. Sighs, and leaves the room.]
mrs. arbuthnot
[Falls sobbing on the sofa.] He would have said it. He would have said it.
[Enter Gerald and Hester from the garden.]
gerald
Well, dear mother. You never came out after all. So we have come in to fetch you. Mother, you have not been crying? [Kneels down beside her.]
mrs. arbuthnot
My boy! My boy! My boy! [Running her fingers through his hair.]
hester
[Coming over.] But you have two children now. You’ll let me be your daughter?
mrs. arbuthnot
[Looking up.] Would you choose me for a mother?
·154· hester
You of all women I have ever known.
[They move towards the door leading into garden with their arms round each other’s waists. Gerald goes to table L.C. for his hat. On turning round he sees Lord Illingworth’s glove lying on the floor, and picks it up.]
gerald
Hallo, mother, whose glove is this? You have had a visitor. Who was it?
mrs. arbuthnot
[Turning round.] Oh! no one. No one in particular. A man of no importance.
Curtain.
An Ideal
Husband.
by
The Author of Lady Windermere’s Fan
London: Leonard Smithers and Co
5 Old Bond Street W, 1899
[The text follows the
first edition.]
contents.
·[v]· to
frank harris
a slight tribute to
his power and distinction
as an artist
his chivalry and nobility
as a friend
·[vii]· the persons of the play
the earl of caversham, K.G.
viscount goring, his Son
sir robert chiltern, Bart., Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs
vicomte de nanjac, Attaché at the French Embassy in London
mr. montford
mason, Butler to Sir Robert Chiltern
phipps, Lord Goring’s Servant
james,
harold, Footmen
lady chiltern
lady markby
the countess of basildon
mrs. marchmont
miss mabel chiltern, Sir Robert Chiltern’s Sister
mrs. cheveley
·[ix]· the scenes of the play
Act I: The Octagon Room in Sir Robert Chiltern’s House in Grosvenor Square.
Act II: Morning-room in Sir Robert Chiltern’s House.
Act III: The Library of Lord Goring’s House in Curzon Street.
Act IV: Same as Act II.
Time …. The Present.
Place …. London.
The Action of the Play is completed within twenty-four hours.
·[xi]· THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET
Sole Lessee: Mr. Herbert Beerbohm Tree Managers: Mr. Lewis Waller and Mr. H. H. Morell January 3rd, 1895
| The Earl of Caversham | Mr. Alfred Bishop |
| Viscount Goring | Mr. Charles H. Hawtrey |
| Sir Robert Chiltern | Mr. Lewis Waller |
| Vicomte de Nanjac | Mr. Cosmo Stuart |
| Mr. Montford | Mr. Harry Stanford |
| Phipps |