LADY WINDERMERE: I am afraid of being myself. Let me think. Let me wait! My husband may return to me. (Sits down on sofa.)
LORD DARLINGTON: 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!
LADY WINDERMERE: Ah, give me time to think. I cannot answer you now. (Passes her hand nervously over her brow.)
LORD DARLINGTON: It must be now or not at all.
LADY WINDERMERE: (rising from the sofa): Then, not at all! (A pause.)
LORD DARLINGTON: You break my heart!
LADY WINDERMERE: Mine is already broken. (A pause.)
LORD DARLINGTON: 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. (Exit.)
LADY WINDERMERE: How alone I am in life. How terribly alone!
The music stops. Enter the DUCHESS OF BERWICK and LORD PAISLEY laughing and talking. Other guests come in from ballroom.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK: 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 you 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. (LADY AGATHA and MR. HOPPER enter from terrace L.U.E.) Mr. Hopper, I am very, very angry with you. You have taken Agatha out on the terrace, and she is so delicate.
HOPPER (L.C.): Awfully sorry, Duchess. We went out for a moment and then got chatting together.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK (C.): Ah, about dear Australia, I suppose?
HOPPER: Yes!
DUCHESS OF BERWICK: Agatha, darling! (Beckons her over.)
LADY AGATHA: Yes, mamma!
DUCHESS OF BERWICK (aside): Did Mr. Hopper definitely –
LADY AGATHA: Yes, mamma.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK: And what answer did you give him, dear child?
LADY AGATHA: Yes, mamma.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK (affectionately): 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.
HOPPER: You don’t mind my taking Agatha off to Australia, then, Duchess?
DUCHESS OF BERWICK (indignantly): To Australia? Oh, don’t mention that dreadful vulgar place.
HOPPER: But she said she’d like to come with me.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK (severely): Did you say that, Agatha?
LADY AGATHA: Yes, mamma.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK: 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.
HOPPER: I should like to have a chat with the Duke, Duchess. He has not said a single word to me yet.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK: I think you’ll find he will have a great deal to say to you to-morrow. (Exit LADY AGATHA with MR. HOPPER.) 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.
LADY WINDERMERE: Good-night, Duchess.
Exit the DUCHESS OF BERWICK on LORD PAISLEY’S arm.
LADY PLYMDALE: 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?
LADY WINDERMERE: No!
LADY PLYMDALE: Really? Good-night, dear. (Looks at MR. DUMBY and exit.)
DUMBY: Awful manners young Hopper has!
CECIL GRAHAM: Ah! Hopper is one of Nature’s gentlemen, the worst type of gentleman I know.
DUMBY: Sensible woman, Lady Windermere. Lots of wives would have objected to Mrs. Erlynne coming. But Lady Windermere has that uncommon thing called common sense.
CECIL GRAHAM: And Windermere knows that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion.
DUMBY: Yes; dear Windermere is becoming almost modern. Never thought he would. (Bows to LADY WINDERMERE and exit)
LADY JEDBURGH: 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.
LADY WINDERMERE: I am afraid I am engaged, Lady Jedburgh.
LADY JEDBURGH: So sorry. Come, dear.
Exeunt LADY JEDBURGH and MISS GRAHAM.
Enter MRS. ERLYNNE and LORD WINDERMERE.
MRS. ERLYNNE: Charming ball it has been! Quite reminds me of old days. (Sits on sofa.) 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 –
LORD WINDERMERE (sitting L. of her): But are you –?
Exit MR. CECIL GRAHAM with rest of guests. LADY WINDERMERE watches, with a look of scorn and pain, MRS. ERLYNNE and her husband. They are unconscious of her presence.
MRS. ERLYNNE: 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.
LORD WINDERMERE: I am not called on to encourage Lord Augustus, I suppose?
MRS. ERLYNNE: Oh, no! I do the encouraging. But you will make me a handsome settlement, Windermere, won’t you?
LORD WINDERMERE (frowning): Is that what you want to talk to me about to-night?
MRS. ERLYNNE: Yes.
LORD WINDERMERE (with a gesture of impatience): I will not talk of it here.
MRS. ERLYNNE (laughing): 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.