LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Lord WindermereLord DarlingtonLord Augustus LortonMr. DumbyMr. Cecil GrahamMr. HopperParker, Butler

Lady WindermereThe Duchess of BerwickLady Agatha CarlisleLady PlymdaleLady StutfieldLady JedburghMrs. Cowper-CowperMrs. ErlynneRosalie, Maid

THE SCENES OF THE PLAY

ACT I. Morning-room in Lord Windermere's house. ACT II. Drawing-room in Lord Windermere's house. ACT III. Lord Darlington's rooms. ACT IV. Same as Act I. 

TIME: The PresentPLACE: London. 

The action of the play takes place within twenty-four hours, beginning on a Tuesday afternoon at five o'clock, and ending thenext day at 1. 30 p. M. 

LONDON: ST. JAMES'S THEATRE

Lessee and Manager: Mr. George AlexanderFebruary 22nd, 1892. 

Lord Windermere, Mr. George Alexander. Lord Darlington, Mr. Nutcombe Gould. Lord Augustus Lorton, Mr. H. H. Vincent. Mr. Cecil Graham, Mr. Ben Webster. Mr. Dumby, Mr. Vane-Tempest. Mr. Hopper, Mr. Alfred Holles. Parker (Butler), Mr. V. Sansbury. Lady Windermere, Miss Lily Hanbury. The Duchess of Berwick, Miss Fanny Coleman. Lady Agatha Carlisle, Miss Laura Graves. Lady Plymdale, Miss Granville. Lady Jedburgh, Miss B. Page. Lady Stutfield, Miss Madge Girdlestone. Mrs. Cowper-Cowper, Miss A. De Winton. Mrs. Erlynne, Miss Marion Terry. Rosalie (Maid), Miss Winifred Dolan. 

FIRST ACT

SCENCE

Morning-room of Lord Windermere's house in Carlton House Terrace. Doors C. And R. Bureau with books and papers R. Sofa with smalltea-table L. Window opening on to terrace L. Table R. 

[LADY WINDERMERE is at table R. , arranging roses in a blue bowl. ]

[Enter PARKER. ]

PARKER. Is your ladyship at home this afternoon?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes--who has called?

PARKER. Lord Darlington, my lady. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Hesitates for a moment. ] Show him up--and I'mat home to any one who calls. 

PARKER. Yes, my lady. 

[Exit C. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. It's best for me to see him before to-night. I'mglad he's come. 

[Enter PARKER C. ]

PARKER. Lord Darlington, [Enter LORD DARLINGTON C. ]

[Exit PARKER. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. How do you do, Lady Windermere?

LADY WINDERMERE. How do you do, Lord Darlington? No, I can'tshake hands with you. My hands are all wet with these roses. Aren't they lovely? They came up from Selby this morning. 

LORD DARLINGTON. They are quite perfect. [Sees a fan lying on thetable. ] And what a wonderful fan! May I look at it?

LADY WINDERMERE. Do. Pretty, isn't it! It's got my name on it, and everything. I have only just seen it myself. It's myhusband's birthday present to me. You know to-day is my birthday?

LORD DARLINGTON. No? Is it really?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, I'm of age to-day. Quite an important dayin my life, isn't it? That is why I am giving this party to-night. Do sit down. [Still arranging flowers. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Sitting down. ] I wish I had known it was yourbirthday, Lady Windermere. I would have covered the whole streetin front of your house with flowers for you to walk on. They aremade for you. [A short pause. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington, you annoyed me last night at theForeign Office. I am afraid you are going to annoy me again. 

LORD DARLINGTON. I, Lady Windermere?

[Enter PARKER and FOOTMAN C. , with tray and tea things. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Put it there, Parker. That will do. [Wipes herhands with her pocket-handkerchief, goes to tea-table, and sitsdown. ] Won't you come over, Lord Darlington?

[Exit PARKER C. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Takes chair and goes across L. C. ] I am quitemiserable, Lady Windermere. You must tell me what I did. [Sitsdown at table L. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Well, you kept paying me elaborate complimentsthe whole evening. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Smiling. ] Ah, nowadays we are all of us so hardup, that the only pleasant things to pay ARE compliments. They'rethe only things we CAN pay. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Shaking her head. ] No, I am talking veryseriously. You mustn't laugh, I am quite serious. I don't likecompliments, and I don't see why a man should think he is pleasinga woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things thathe doesn't mean. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, but I did mean them. [Takes tea which sheoffers him. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. [Gravely. ] I hope not. I should be sorry tohave 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 youwere what most other men are. Believe me, you are better than mostother men, and I sometimes think you pretend to be worse. 

LORD DARLINGTON. We all have our little vanities, Lady Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why do you make that your special one? [Stillseated at table L. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Still seated L. C. ] Oh, nowadays so manyconceited people go about Society pretending to be good, that Ithink it shows rather a sweet and modest disposition to pretend tobe bad. Besides, there is this to be said. If you pretend to begood, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to bebad, it doesn't. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't you WANT the world to take you seriouslythen, Lord Darlington?

LORD DARLINGTON. No, not the world. Who are the people the worldtakes seriously? All the dull people one can think of, from theBishops down to the bores. I should like YOU to take me veryseriously, Lady Windermere, YOU more than any one else in life. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why--why me?

LORD DARLINGTON. [After a slight hesitation. ] Because I think wemight be great friends. Let us be great friends. You may want afriend some day. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why do you say that?

LORD DARLINGTON. Oh!--we all want friends at times. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I think we're very good friends already, LordDarlington. We can always remain so as long as you don't -

LORD DARLINGTON. Don't what?

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't spoil it by saying extravagant silly thingsto me. You think I am a Puritan, I suppose? Well, I havesomething of the Puritan in me. I was brought up like that. I amglad of it. My mother died when I was a mere child. I livedalways with Lady Julia, my father's elder sister, you know. Shewas stern to me, but she taught me what the world is forgetting, the difference that there is between what is right and what iswrong. SHE allowed of no compromise. _I_ allow of none. 

LORD DARLINGTON. My dear Lady Windermere!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Leaning back on the sofa. ] You look on me asbeing behind the age. --Well, I am! I should be sorry to be on thesame level as an age like this. 

LORD DARLINGTON. You think the age very bad?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. Nowadays people seem to look on life as aspeculation. It is not a speculation. It is a sacrament. Itsideal is Love. Its purification is sacrifice. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Smiling. ] Oh, anything is better than beingsacrificed!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Leaning forward. ] Don't say that. 

LORD DARLINGTON. I do say it. I feel it--I know it. 

[Enter PARKER C. ]

PARKER. The men want to know if they are to put the carpets on theterrace for to-night, my lady?

LADY WINDERMERE. You don't think it will rain, Lord Darlington, doyou?

LORD DARLINGTON. I won't hear of its raining on your birthday!

LADY WINDERMERE. Tell them to do it at once, Parker. 

[Exit PARKER C. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Still seated. ] Do you think then--of course Iam only putting an imaginary instance--do you think that in thecase of a young married couple, say about two years married, if thehusband suddenly becomes the intimate friend of a woman of--well, more than doubtful character--is always calling upon her, lunchingwith her, and probably paying her bills--do you think that the wifeshould not console herself?

LADY WINDERMERE. [Frowning] Console herself?

LORD DARLINGTON. Yes, I think she should--I think she has theright. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Because the husband is vile--should the wife bevile also?

LORD DARLINGTON. Vileness is a terrible word, Lady Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. It is a terrible thing, Lord Darlington. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Do you know I am afraid that good people do agreat deal of harm in this world. Certainly the greatest harm theydo is that they make badness of such extraordinary importance. Itis absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are eithercharming or tedious. I take the side of the charming, and you, Lady Windermere, can't help belonging to them. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Now, Lord Darlington. [Rising and crossing R. , front of him. ] Don't stir, I am merely going to finish my flowers. [Goes to table R. C. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Rising and moving chair. ] And I must say Ithink you are very hard on modern life, Lady Windermere. Of coursethere is much against it, I admit. Most women, for instance, nowadays, are rather mercenary. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't talk about such people. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Well then, setting aside mercenary people, who, of course, are dreadful, do you think seriously that women who havecommitted what the world calls a fault should never be forgiven?

LADY WINDERMERE. [Standing at table. ] I think they should neverbe forgiven. 

LORD DARLINGTON. And men? Do you think that there should be thesame laws for men as there are for women?

LADY WINDERMERE. Certainly!

LORD DARLINGTON. I think life too complex a thing to be settled bythese hard and fast rules. 

LADY WINDERMERE. If we had 'these hard and fast rules, ' we shouldfind life much more simple. 

LORD DARLINGTON. You allow of no exceptions?

LADY WINDERMERE. None!

LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, what a fascinating Puritan you are, LadyWindermere!

LADY WINDERMERE. The adjective was unnecessary, Lord Darlington. 

LORD DARLINGTON. I couldn't help it. I can resist everythingexcept temptation. 

LADY WINDERMERE. You have the modern affectation of weakness. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Looking at her. ] It's only an affectation, LadyWindermere. 

[Enter PARKER C. ]

PARKER. The Duchess of Berwick and Lady Agatha Carlisle. 

[Enter the DUCHESS OF BERWICK and LADY AGATHA CARLISLE C. ]

[Exit PARKER C. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [Coming down C. , and shaking hands. ] DearMargaret, I am so pleased to see you. You remember Agatha, don'tyou? [Crossing L. C. ] How do you do, Lord Darlington? I won't letyou know my daughter, you are far too wicked. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Don't say that, Duchess. As a wicked man I am acomplete failure. Why, there are lots of people who say I havenever really done anything wrong in the whole course of my life. Of course they only say it behind my back. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Isn't he dreadful? Agatha, this is LordDarlington. Mind you don't believe a word he says. [LORDDARLINGTON crosses R. C. ] No, no tea, thank you, dear. [Crossesand sits on sofa. ] We have just had tea at Lady Markby's. Suchbad tea, too. It was quite undrinkable. I wasn't at allsurprised. Her own son-in-law supplies it. Agatha is lookingforward so much to your ball to-night, dear Margaret. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Seated L. C. ] Oh, you mustn't think it is goingto be a ball, Duchess. It is only a dance in honour of mybirthday. A small and early. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Standing L. C. ] Very small, very early, and veryselect, Duchess. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [On sofa L. ] Of course it's going to beselect. But we know THAT, dear Margaret, about YOUR house. It isreally one of the few houses in London where I can take Agatha, andwhere I feel perfectly secure about dear Berwick. I don't knowwhat society is coming to. The most dreadful people seem to goeverywhere. They certainly come to my parties--the men get quitefurious if one doesn't ask them. Really, some one should make astand against it. 

LADY WINDERMERE. _I_ will, Duchess. I will have no one in myhouse about whom there is any scandal. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [R. C. ] Oh, don't say that, Lady Windermere. Ishould never be admitted! [Sitting. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Oh, men don't matter. With women it isdifferent. We're good. Some of us are, at least. But we arepositively getting elbowed into the corner. Our husbands wouldreally forget our existence if we didn't nag at them from time totime, just to remind them that we have a perfect legal right to doso. 

LORD DARLINGTON. It's a curious thing, Duchess, about the game ofmarriage--a game, by the way, that is going out of fashion--thewives hold all the honours, and invariably lose the odd trick. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. The odd trick? Is that the husband, LordDarlington?

LORD DARLINGTON. It would be rather a good name for the modernhusband. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear Lord Darlington, how thoroughly depravedyou are!

LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington is trivial. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, don't say that, Lady Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why do you TALK so trivially about life, then?

LORD DARLINGTON. Because I think that life is far too important athing ever to talk seriously about it. [Moves up C. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. What does he mean? Do, as a concession to mypoor wits, Lord Darlington, just explain to me what you reallymean. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Coming down back of table. ] I think I hadbetter not, Duchess. Nowadays to be intelligible is to be foundout. Good-bye! [Shakes hands with DUCHESS. ] And now--[goes upstage] Lady Windermere, good-bye. I may come to-night, mayn't I?Do let me come. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Standing up stage with LORD DARLINGTON. ] Yes, certainly. But you are not to say foolish, insincere things topeople. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Smiling. ] Ah! you are beginning to reform me. It is a dangerous thing to reform any one, Lady Windermere. [Bows, and exit C. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [Who has risen, goes C. ] What a charming, wicked creature! I like him so much. I'm quite delighted he'sgone! How sweet you're looking! Where DO you get your gowns? Andnow I must tell you how sorry I am for you, dear Margaret. [Crosses to sofa and sits with LADY WINDERMERE. ] Agatha, darling!

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. [Rises. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Will you go and look over the photograph albumthat I see there?

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. [Goes to table up L. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear girl! She is so fond of photographs ofSwitzerland. Such a pure taste, I think. But I really am so sorryfor you, Margaret

LADY WINDERMERE. [Smiling. ] Why, Duchess?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Oh, on account of that horrid woman. Shedresses so well, too, which makes it much worse, sets such adreadful example. Augustus--you know my disreputable brother--sucha trial to us all--well, Augustus is completely infatuated abouther. It is quite scandalous, for she is absolutely inadmissibleinto society. Many a woman has a past, but I am told that she hasat least a dozen, and that they all fit. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Whom are you talking about, Duchess?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. About Mrs. Erlynne. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Mrs. Erlynne? I never heard of her, Duchess. And what HAS she to do with me?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. My poor child! Agatha, darling!

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Will you go out on the terrace and look at thesunset?

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. [Exit through window, L. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Sweet girl! So devoted to sunsets! Showssuch refinement of feeling, does it not? After all, there isnothing like Nature, is there?

LADY WINDERMERE. But what is it, Duchess? Why do you talk to meabout this person?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Don't you really know? I assure you we're allso distressed about it. Only last night at dear Lady Jansen'severy one was saying how extraordinary it was that, of all men inLondon, Windermere should behave in such a way. 

LADY WINDERMERE. My husband--what has HE got to do with any womanof that kind?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Ah, what indeed, dear? That is the point. Hegoes to see her continually, and stops for hours at a time, andwhile he is there she is not at home to any one. Not that manyladies call on her, dear, but she has a great many disreputable menfriends--my own brother particularly, as I told you--and that iswhat makes it so dreadful about Windermere. We looked upon HIM asbeing such a model husband, but I am afraid there is no doubt aboutit. My dear nieces--you know the Saville girls, don't you?--suchnice domestic creatures--plain, dreadfully plain, but so good--well, they're always at the window doing fancy work, and makingugly things for the poor, which I think so useful of them in thesedreadful socialistic days, and this terrible woman has taken ahouse in Curzon Street, right opposite them--such a respectablestreet, too! I don't know what we're coming to! And they tell methat Windermere goes there four and five times a week--they SEEhim. They can't help it--and although they never talk scandal, they--well, of course--they remark on it to every one. And theworst of it all is that I have been told that this woman has got agreat deal of money out of somebody, for it seems that she came toLondon six months ago without anything at all to speak of, and nowshe has this charming house in Mayfair, drives her ponies in thePark every afternoon and all--well, all--since she has known poordear Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh, I can't believe it!

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. But it's quite true, my dear. The whole ofLondon knows it. That is why I felt it was better to come and talkto you, and advise you to take Windermere away at once to Homburgor to Aix, where he'll have something to amuse him, and where youcan watch him all day long. I assure you, my dear, that on severaloccasions after I was first married, I had to pretend to be veryill, and was obliged to drink the most unpleasant mineral waters, merely to get Berwick out of town. He was so extremelysusceptible. Though I am bound to say he never gave away any largesums of money to anybody. He is far too high-principled for that!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Interrupting. ] Duchess, Duchess, it'simpossible! [Rising and crossing stage to C. ] We are only marriedtwo years. Our child is but six months old. [Sits in chair R. OfL. Table. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Ah, the dear pretty baby! How is the littledarling? Is it a boy or a girl? I hope a girl--Ah, no, I rememberit's a boy! I'm so sorry. Boys are so wicked. My boy isexcessively immoral. You wouldn't believe at what hours he comeshome. And he's only left Oxford a few months--I really don't knowwhat they teach them there. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Are ALL men bad?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Oh, all of them, my dear, all of them, withoutany exception. And they never grow any better. Men become old, but they never become good. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Windermere and I married for love. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Yes, we begin like that. It was onlyBerwick's brutal and incessant threats of suicide that made meaccept him at all, and before the year was out, he was runningafter all kinds of petticoats, every colour, every shape, everymaterial. In fact, before the honeymoon was over, I caught himwinking at my maid, a most pretty, respectable girl. I dismissedher at once without a character. --No, I remember I passed her on tomy sister; poor dear Sir George is so short-sighted, I thought itwouldn't matter. But it did, though--it was most unfortunate. [Rises. ] 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 toomuch to heart. Just take him abroad, and he'll come back to youall right. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Come back to me? [C. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [L. C. ] Yes, dear, these wicked women get ourhusbands away from us, but they always come back, slightly damaged, of course. And don't make scenes, men hate them!

LADY WINDERMERE. It is very kind of you, Duchess, to come and tellme all this. But I can't believe that my husband is untrue to me. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Pretty child! I was like that once. Now Iknow that all men are monsters. [LADY WINDERMERE rings bell. ] Theonly thing to do is to feed the wretches well. A good cook doeswonders, and that I know you have. My dear Margaret, you are notgoing to cry?

LADY WINDERMERE. You needn't be afraid, Duchess, I never cry. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. That's quite right, dear. Crying is therefuge of plain women but the ruin of pretty ones. Agatha, darling!

LADY AGATHA. [Entering L. ] Yes, mamma. [Stands back of tableL. C. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Come and bid good-bye to Lady Windermere, andthank her for your charming visit. [Coming down again. ] And bythe way, I must thank you for sending a card to Mr. Hopper--he'sthat rich young Australian people are taking such notice of just atpresent. His father made a great fortune by selling some kind offood in circular tins--most palatable, I believe--I fancy it is thething the servants always refuse to eat. But the son is quiteinteresting. 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 amother who doesn't part with a daughter every season has no realaffection. We're coming to-night, dear. [PARKER opens C. Doors. ]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. 

[Exeunt DUCHESS and LADY AGATHA C. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. How horrible! I understand now what LordDarlington meant by the imaginary instance of the couple not twoyears married. Oh! it can't be true--she spoke of enormous sums ofmoney 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. IWILL find out. [Opens drawer. ] No, it is some hideous mistake. [Rises and goes C. ] Some silly scandal! He loves ME! He lovesME! But why should I not look? I am his wife, I have a right tolook! [Returns to bureau, takes out book and examines it page bypage, smiles and gives a sigh of relief. ] I knew it! there is nota word of truth in this stupid story. [Puts book back in dranver. As the does so, starts and takes out another book. ] A second book--private--locked! [Tries to open it, but fails. Sees paper knifeon bureau, and with it cuts cover from book. Begins to start atthe first page. ] 'Mrs. Erlynne--600 pounds--Mrs. Erlynne--700pounds--Mrs. Erlynne--400 pounds. ' Oh! it is true! It is true!How horrible! [Throws book on floor. ] [Enter LORD WINDERMERE C. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Well, dear, has the fan been sent home yet?[Going R. C. Sees book. ] Margaret, you have cut open my bank book. You have no right to do such a thing!

LADY WINDERMERE. You think it wrong that you are found out, don'tyou?

LORD WINDERMERE. I think it wrong that a wife should spy on herhusband. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I did not spy on you. I never knew of thiswoman's existence till half an hour ago. Some one who pitied mewas kind enough to tell me what every one in London knows already--your daily visits to Curzon Street, your mad infatuation, themonstrous sums of money you squander on this infamous woman![Crossing L. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret! don't talk like that of Mrs. Erlynne, you don't know how unjust it is!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Turning to him. ] You are very jealous of Mrs. Erlynne's honour. I wish you had been as jealous of mine. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Your honour is untouched, Margaret. You don'tthink for a moment that--[Puts book back into desk. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. I think that you spend your money strangely. That is all. Oh, don't imagine I mind about the money. As far asI am concerned, you may squander everything we have. But what I DOmind is that you who have loved me, you who have taught me to loveyou, should pass from the love that is given to the love that isbought. Oh, it's horrible! [Sits on sofa. ] And it is I who feeldegraded! YOU don't feel anything. I feel stained, utterlystained. You can't realise how hideous the last six months seemsto me now--every kiss you have given me is tainted in my memory. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Crossing to her. ] Don't say that, Margaret. Inever loved any one in the whole world but you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Rises. ] Who is this woman, then? Why do youtake a house for her?

LORD WINDERMERE. I did not take a house for her. 

LADY WINDERMERE. You gave her the money to do it, which is thesame thing. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne -

LADY WINDERMERE. Is there a Mr. Erlynne--or is he a myth?

LORD WINDERMERE. Her husband died many years ago. She is alone inthe world. 

LADY WINDERMERE. No relations? [A pause. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. None. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Rather curious, isn't it? [L. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [L. C. ] Margaret, I was saying to you--and I begyou to listen to me--that as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne, shehas conducted herself well. If years ago -

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh! [Crossing R. C. ] I don't want details abouther life!

LORD WINDERMERE. [C. ] I am not going to give you any detailsabout her life. I tell you simply this--Mrs. Erlynne was oncehonoured, loved, respected. She was well born, she had position--she lost everything--threw it away, if you like. That makes it allthe more bitter. Misfortunes one can endure--they come fromoutside, 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 evenless time than you have. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I am not interested in her--and--you should notmention this woman and me in the same breath. It is an error oftaste. [Sitting R. At desk. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you could save this woman. She wantsto get back into society, and she wants you to help her. [Crossingto her. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Me!

LORD WINDERMERE. Yes, you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. How impertinent of her! [A pause. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, I came to ask you a great favour, and Istill ask it of you, though you have discovered what I had intendedyou should never have known that I have given Mrs. Erlynne a largesum of money. I want you to send her an invitation for our partyto-night. [Standing L. Of her. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. You are mad! [Rises. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. I entreat you. People may chatter about her, dochatter about her, of course, but they don't know anything definiteagainst her. She has been to several houses--not to houses whereyou would go, I admit, but still to houses where women who are inwhat is called Society nowadays do go. That does not content her. She wants you to receive her once. 

LADY WINDERMERE. As a triumph for her, I suppose?

LORD WINDERMERE. No; but because she knows that you are a goodwoman--and that if she comes here once she will have a chance of ahappier, a surer life than she has had. She will make no furthereffort to know you. Won't you help a woman who is trying to getback?

LADY WINDERMERE. No! If a woman really repents, she never wishesto return to the society that has made or seen her ruin. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I beg of you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Crossing to door R. ] I am going to dress fordinner, and don't mention the subject again this evening. Arthur[going to him C. ], you fancy because I have no father or motherthat I am alone in the world, and that you can treat me as youchoose. You are wrong, I have friends, many friends. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [L. C. ] Margaret, you are talking foolishly, recklessly. I won't argue with you, but I insist upon your askingMrs. Erlynne to-night. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [R. C. ] I shall do nothing of the kind. [Crossing L. C. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. You refuse? [C. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Absolutely!

LORD WINDERMERE. Ah, Margaret, do this for my sake; it is her lastchance. 

LADY WINDERMERE. What has that to do with me?

LORD WINDERMERE. How hard good women are!

LADY WINDERMERE. How weak bad men are!

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, none of us men may be good enough forthe women we marry--that is quite true--but you don't imagine Iwould ever--oh, the suggestion is monstrous!

LADY WINDERMERE. Why should YOU be different from other men? I amtold that there is hardly a husband in London who does not wastehis life over SOME shameful passion. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I am not one of them. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I am not sure of that!

LORD WINDERMERE. You are sure in your heart. But don't make chasmafter chasm between us. God knows the last few minutes have thrustus wide enough apart. Sit down and write the card. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Nothing in the whole world would induce me. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Crossing to bureau. ] Then I will! [Ringselectric bell, sits and writes card. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. You are going to invite this woman? [Crossing tohim. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Yes. [Pause. Enter PARKER. ] Parker!

PARKER. Yes, my lord. [Comes down L. C. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Have this note sent to Mrs. Erlynne at No. 84ACurzon Street. [Crossing to L. C. And giving note to PARKER. ]There is no answer!

[Exit PARKER C. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, if that woman comes here, I shall insulther. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, don't say that. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I mean it. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Child, if you did such a thing, there's not awoman in London who wouldn't pity you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. There is not a GOOD woman in London who would notapplaud me. We have been too lax. We must make an example. Ipropose to begin to-night. [Picking up fan. ] Yes, you gave methis fan to-day; it was your birthday present. If that womancrosses my threshold, I shall strike her across the face with it. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you couldn't do such a thing. 

LADY WINDERMERE. You don't know me! [Moves R. ]

[Enter PARKER. ]

Parker!

PARKER. Yes, my lady. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I shall dine in my own room. I don't wantdinner, in fact. See that everything is ready by half-past ten. And, Parker, be sure you pronounce the names of the guests verydistinctly to-night. Sometimes you speak so fast that I miss them. I am particularly anxious to hear the names quite clearly, so as tomake no mistake. You understand, Parker?

PARKER. Yes, my lady. 

LADY WINDERMERE. That will do!

[Exit PARKER C. ]

[Speaking to LORD WINDERMERE] Arthur, if that woman comes here--Iwarn you -

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you'll ruin us!

LADY WINDERMERE. Us! From this moment my life is separate fromyours. But if you wish to avoid a public scandal, write at once tothis woman, and tell her that I forbid her to come here!

LORD WINDERMERE. I will not--I cannot--she must come!

LADY WINDERMERE. Then I shall do exactly as I have said. [GoesR. ] You leave me no choice. [Exit R. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Calling after her. ] Margaret! Margaret! [Apause. ] My God! What shall I do? I dare not tell her who thiswoman really is. The shame would kill her. [Sinks down into achair and buries his face in his hands. ]

ACT DROP

SECOND ACT

SCENE

Drawing-room in Lord Windermere's house. Door R. U. Opening intoball-room, where band is playing. Door L. Through which guests areentering. Door L. U. Opens on to illuminated terrace. Palms, flowers, and brilliant lights. Room crowded with guests. LadyWindermere is receiving them. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [Up C. ] So strange Lord Windermere isn'there. Mr. Hopper is very late, too. You have kept those fivedances for him, Agatha? [Comes down. ]

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [Sitting on sofa. ] Just let me see your card. I'm so glad Lady Windermere has revived cards. --They're a mother'sonly safeguard. You dear simple little thing! [Scratches out twonames. ] No nice girl should ever waltz with such particularlyyounger sons! It looks so fast! The last two dances you mightpass on the terrace with Mr. Hopper. 

[Enter MR. DUMBY and LADY PLYMDALE from the ball-room. ]

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [Fanning herself. ] The air is so pleasantthere. 

PARKER. Mrs. Cowper-Cowper. Lady Stutfield. Sir James Royston. Mr. Guy Berkeley. 

[These people enter as announced. ]

DUMBY. Good evening, Lady Stutfield. I suppose this will be thelast ball of the season?

LADY STUTFIELD. I suppose so, Mr. Dumby. It's been a delightfulseason, hasn't it?

DUMBY. Quite delightful! Good evening, Duchess. I suppose thiswill be the last ball of the season?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. I suppose so, Mr. Dumby. It has been a verydull season, hasn't it?

DUMBY. Dreadfully dull! Dreadfully dull!

MR. COWPER-COWPER. Good evening, Mr. Dumby. I suppose this willbe the last ball of the season?

DUMBY. Oh, I think not. There'll probably be two more. [Wandersback to LADY PLYMDALE. ]

PARKER. Mr. Rufford. Lady Jedburgh and Miss Graham. Mr. Hopper. 

[These people enter as announced. ]

HOPPER. How do you do, Lady Windermere? How do you do, Duchess?[Bows to LADY AGATHA. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear Mr. Hopper, how nice of you to come soearly. We all know how you are run after in London. 

HOPPER. Capital place, London! They are not nearly so exclusivein London as they are in Sydney. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Ah! we know your value, Mr. Hopper. We wishthere were more like you. It would make life so much easier. Doyou know, Mr. Hopper, dear Agatha and I are so much interested inAustralia. It must be so pretty with all the dear little kangaroosflying about. Agatha has found it on the map. What a curiousshape it is! Just like a large packing case. However, it is avery young country, isn't it?

HOPPER. Wasn't it made at the same time as the others, Duchess?

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. How clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have acleverness quite of your own. Now I mustn't keep you. 

HOPPER. But I should like to dance with Lady Agatha, Duchess. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Well, I hope she has a dance left. Have you adance left, Agatha?

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. The next one?

LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma. 

HOPPER. May I have the pleasure? [LADY AGATHA bows. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Mind you take great care of my littlechatterbox, Mr. Hopper. 

[LADY AGATHA and MR. HOPPER pass into ball-room. ]

[Enter LORD WINDERMERE. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, I want to speak to you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. In a moment. [The music drops. ]

PARKER. Lord Augustus Lorton. 

[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Good evening, Lady Windermere. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Sir James, will you take me into the ball-room? Augustus has been dining with us to-night. I really havehad quite enough of dear Augustus for the moment. 

[SIR JAMES ROYSTON gives the DUCHESS his aim and escorts her intothe ball-room. ]

PARKER. Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Bowden. Lord and Lady Paisley. LordDarlington. 

[These people enter as announced. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Coming up to LORD WINDERMERE. ] Want to speak toyou particularly, dear boy. I'm worn to a shadow. Know I don'tlook it. None of us men do look what we really are. Demmed goodthing, too. What I want to know is this. Who is she? Where doesshe come from? Why hasn't she got any demmed relations? Demmednuisance, relations! But they make one so demmed respectable. 

LORD WINDERMERE. You are talking of Mrs. Erlynne, I suppose? Ionly met her six months ago. Till then, I never knew of herexistence. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. You have seen a good deal of her since then. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Coldly. ] Yes, I have seen a good deal of hersince then. I have just seen her. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Egad! the women are very down on her. I have beendining with Arabella this evening! By Jove! you should have heardwhat she said about Mrs. Erlynne. She didn't leave a rag on her.. . [Aside. ] Berwick and I told her that didn't matter much, asthe lady in question must have an extremely fine figure. Youshould have seen Arabella's expression! . . . But, look here, dearboy. I don't know what to do about Mrs. Erlynne. Egad! I mightbe married to her; she treats me with such demmed indifference. She's deuced clever, too! She explains everything. Egad! sheexplains you. She has got any amount of explanations for you--andall of them different. 

LORD WINDERMERE. No explanations are necessary about my friendshipwith Mrs. Erlynne. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Hem! Well, look here, dear old fellow. Do youthink she will ever get into this demmed thing called Society?Would you introduce her to your wife? No use beating about theconfounded bush. Would you do that?

LORD WINDERMERE. Mrs. Erlynne is coming here to-night. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Your wife has sent her a card?

LORD WINDERMERE. Mrs. Erlynne has received a card. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Then she's all right, dear boy. But why didn't youtell me that before? It would have saved me a heap of worry anddemmed misunderstandings!

[LADY AGATHA and MR. HOPPER cross and exit on terrace L. U. E. ]

PARKER. Mr. Cecil Graham!

[Enter MR. CECIL GRAHAM. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. [Bows to LADY WINDERMERE, passes over and shakeshands with LORD WINDERMERE. ] Good evening, Arthur. Why don't youask me how I am? I like people to ask me how I am. It shows awide-spread interest in my health. Now, to-night I am not at allwell. Been dining with my people. Wonder why it is one's peopleare always so tedious? My father would talk morality after dinner. I told him he was old enough to know better. But my experience isthat as soon as people are old enough to know better, they don'tknow anything at all. Hallo, Tuppy! Hear you're going to bemarried again; thought you were tired of that game. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. You're excessively trivial, my dear boy, excessively trivial!

CECIL GRAHAM. By the way, Tuppy, which is it? Have you been twicemarried and once divorced, or twice divorced and once married? Isay you've been twice divorced and once married. It seems so muchmore probable. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. I have a very bad memory. I really don't rememberwhich. [Moves away R. ]

LADY PLYMDALE. Lord Windermere, I've something most particular toask you. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I am afraid--if you will excuse me--I must joinmy wife. 

LADY PLYMDALE. Oh, you mustn't dream of such a thing. It's mostdangerous nowadays for a husband to pay any attention to his wifein public. It always makes people think that he beats her whenthey're alone. The world has grown so suspicious of anything thatlooks like a happy married life. But I'll tell you what it is atsupper. [Moves towards door of ball-room. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [C. ] Margaret! I MUST speak to you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Will you hold my fan for me, Lord Darlington?Thanks. [Comes down to him. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Crossing to her. ] Margaret, what you saidbefore dinner was, of course, impossible?

LADY WINDERMERE. That woman is not coming here to-night!

LORD WINDERMERE. [R. C. ] Mrs. Erlynne is coming here, and if youin any way annoy or wound her, you will bring shame and sorrow onus both. Remember that! Ah, Margaret! only trust me! A wifeshould trust her husband!

LADY WINDERMERE. [C. ] London is full of women who trust theirhusbands. One can always recognise them. They look so thoroughlyunhappy. I am not going to be one of them. [Moves up. ] LordDarlington, will you give me back my fan, please? Thanks. . . . Auseful thing a fan, isn't it? . . . I want a friend to-night, LordDarlington: I didn't know I would want one so soon. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Lady Windermere! I knew the time would come someday; but why to-night?

LORD WINDERMERE. I WILL tell her. I must. It would be terribleif there were any scene. Margaret . . . 

PARKER. Mrs. Erlynne!

[LORD WINDERMERE starts. MRS. ERLYNNE enters, very beautifullydressed and very dignified. LADY WINDERMERE clutches at her fan, then lets it drop on the door. She bows coldly to MRS. ERLYNNE, who bows to her sweetly in turn, and sails into the room. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. You have dropped your fan, Lady Windermere. [Picks it up and hands it to her. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [C. ] How do you do, again, Lord Windermere? Howcharming your sweet wife looks! Quite a picture!

LORD WINDERMERE. [In a low voice. ] It was terribly rash of you tocome!

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Smiling. ] The wisest thing I ever did in my life. And, by the way, you must pay me a good deal of attention thisevening. I am afraid of the women. You must introduce me to someof them. The men I can always manage. How do you do, LordAugustus? You have quite neglected me lately. I have not seen yousince yesterday. I am afraid you're faithless. Every one told meso. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [R. ] Now really, Mrs. Erlynne, allow me toexplain. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [R. C. ] No, dear Lord Augustus, you can't explainanything. It is your chief charm. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Ah! if you find charms in me, Mrs. Erlynne -

[They converse together. LORD WINDERMERE moves uneasily about theroom watching MRS. ERLYNNE. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [To LADY WINDERMERE. ] How pale you are!

LADY WINDERMERE. Cowards are always pale!

LORD DARLINGTON. You look faint. Come out on the terrace. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. [To PARKER. ] Parker, send my cloak out. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Crossing to her. ] Lady Windermere, how beautifullyyour terrace is illuminated. Reminds me of Prince Doria's at Rome. 

[LADY WINDERMERE bows coldly, and goes off with LORD DARLINGTON. ]

Oh, how do you do, Mr. Graham? Isn't that your aunt, LadyJedburgh? I should so much like to know her. 

CECIL GRAHAM. [After a moment's hesitation and embarrassment. ]Oh, certainly, if you wish it. Aunt Caroline, allow me tointroduce Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. So pleased to meet you, Lady Jedburgh. [Sits besideher on the sofa. ] Your nephew and I are great friends. I am somuch interested in his political career. I think he's sure to be awonderful success. He thinks like a Tory, and talks like aRadical, and that's so important nowadays. He's such a brillianttalker, too. But we all know from whom he inherits that. LordAllandale was saying to me only yesterday, in the Park, that Mr. Graham talks almost as well as his aunt. 

LADY JEDBURGH. [R. ] Most kind of you to say these charming thingsto me! [MRS. ERLYNNE smiles, and continues conversation. ]

DUMBY. [To CECIL GRAHAM. ] Did you introduce Mrs. Erlynne to LadyJedburgh?

CECIL GRAHAM. Had to, my dear fellow. Couldn't help it! Thatwoman can make one do anything she wants. How, I don't know. 

DUMBY. Hope to goodness she won't speak to me! [Saunters towardsLADY PLYMDALE. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [C. To LADY JEDBURGH. ] On Thursday? With greatpleasure. [Rises, and speaks to LORD WINDERMERE, laughing. ] Whata bore it is to have to be civil to these old dowagers! But theyalways insist on it!

LADY PLYMDALE. [To MR. DUMBY. ] Who is that well-dressed womantalking to Windermere?

DUMBY. Haven't got the slightest idea! Looks like an edition deluxe of a wicked French novel, meant specially for the Englishmarket. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. So that is poor Dumby with Lady Plymdale? I hearshe is frightfully jealous of him. He doesn't seem anxious tospeak to me to-night. I suppose he is afraid of her. Those straw-coloured women have dreadful tempers. Do you know, I think I'lldance with you first, Windermere. [LORD WINDERMERE bits his lipand frowns. ] It will make Lord Augustus so jealous! LordAugustus! [LORD AUGUSTUS comes down. ] Lord Windermere insists onmy dancing with him first, and, as it's his own house, I can't wellrefuse. You know I would much sooner dance with you. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [With a low bow. ] I wish I could think so, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS ERLYNNE. You know it far too well. I can fancy a persondancing through life with you and finding it charming. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Placing his hand on his white waistcoat. ] Oh, thank you, thank you. You are the most adorable of all ladies!

MRS. ERLYNNE. What a nice speech! So simple and so sincere! Justthe sort of speech I like. Well, you shall hold my bouquet. [Goestowards ball-room on LORD WINDERMERE'S arm. ] Ah, Mr. Dumby, howare you? I am so sorry I have been out the last three times youhave called. Come and lunch on Friday. 

DUMBY. [With perfect nonchalance. ] Delighted!

[LADY PLYMDALE glares with indignation at MR. DUMBY. LORD AUGUSTUSfollows MRS. ERLYNNE and LORD WINDERMERE into the ball-room holdingbouquet]

LADY PLYMDALE. [To MR. DUMBY. ] What an absolute brute you are! Inever can believe a word you say! Why did you tell me you didn'tknow 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?

DUMBY. My dear Laura, I wouldn't dream of going!

LADY PLYMDALE. You haven't told me her name yet! Who is she?

DUMBY. [Coughs slightly and smooths his hair. ] She's a Mrs. Erlynne. 

LADY PLYMDALE. That woman!

DUMBY. Yes; that is what every one calls her. 

LADY PLYMDALE. How very interesting! How intensely interesting!I really must have a good stare at her. [Goes to door of ball-roomand looks in. ] I have heard the most shocking things about her. They say she is ruining poor Windermere. And Lady Windermere, whogoes 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!

DUMBY. Why?

LADY PLYMDALE. Because I want you to take my husband with you. Hehas been so attentive lately, that he has become a perfectnuisance. Now, this woman is just the thing for him. He'll danceattendance 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 thebasis of other people's marriages. 

DUMBY. What a mystery you are!

LADY PLYMDALE. [Looking at him. ] I wish YOU were!

DUMBY. I am--to myself. I am the only person in the world Ishould like to know thoroughly; but I don't see any chance of itjust at present. 

[They pass into the ball-room, and LADY WINDERMERE and LORDDARLINGTON enter from the terrace. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. Her coming here is monstrous, unbearable. I know now what you meant to-day at tea-time. Why didn't you tellme right out? You should have!

LORD DARLINGTON. I couldn't! A man can't tell these things aboutanother man! But if I had known he was going to make you ask herhere to-night, I think I would have told you. That insult, at anyrate, you would have been spared. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I did not ask her. He insisted on her coming--against my entreaties--against my commands. Oh! the house istainted for me! I feel that every woman here sneers at me as shedances by with my husband. What have I done to deserve this? Igave him all my life. He took it--used it--spoiled it! I amdegraded in my own eyes; and I lack courage--I am a coward! [Sitsdown on sofa. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. If I know you at all, I know that you can't livewith a man who treats you like this! What sort of life would youhave with him? You would feel that he was lying to you everymoment of the day. You would feel that the look in his eyes wasfalse, his voice false, his touch false, his passion false. Hewould come to you when he was weary of others; you would have tocomfort 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 maskof his real life, the cloak to hide his secret. 

LADY WINDERMERE. You are right--you are terribly right. But wheream I to turn? You said you would be my friend, Lord Darlington. --Tell me, what am I to do? Be my friend now. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Between men and women there is no friendshippossible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but nofriendship. I love you -

LADY WINDERMERE. No, no! [Rises. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. Yes, I love you! You are more to me thananything in the whole world. What does your husband give you?Nothing. Whatever is in him he gives to this wretched woman, whomhe has thrust into your society, into your home, to shame youbefore every one. I offer you my life -

LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington!

LORD DARLINGTON. My life--my whole life. Take it, and do with itwhat you will. . . . I love you--love you as I have never loved anyliving thing. From the moment I met you I loved you, loved youblindly, adoringly, madly! You did not know it then--you know itnow! Leave this house to-night. I won't tell you that the worldmatters nothing, or the world's voice, or the voice of society. They matter a great deal. They matter far too much. But there aremoments 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. Youhave that moment now. Choose! Oh, my love, choose. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Moving slowly away from him, and looking at himwith startled eyes. ] I have not the courage. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Following her. ] Yes; you have the courage. There may be six months of pain, of disgrace even, but when you nolonger 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 thatbelongs by right to you. Oh! go--go out of this house, with headerect, with a smile upon your lips, with courage in your eyes. AllLondon 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 aman to abandon his wife for a shameless woman. It is wrong for awife to remain with a man who so dishonours her. You said once youwould make no compromise with things. Make none now. Be brave!Be yourself!

LADY WINDERMERE. I am afraid of being myself. Let me think! Letme wait! My husband may return to me. [Sits down on sofa. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. And you would take him back! You are not what Ithought you were. You are just the same as every other woman. Youwould stand anything rather than face the censure of a world, whosepraise you would despise. In a week you will be driving with thiswoman in the Park. She will be your constant guest--your dearestfriend. You would endure anything rather than break with one blowthis monstrous tie. You are right. You have no courage; none!

LADY WINDERMERE. Ah, give me time to think. I cannot answer younow. [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! [Apause. ]

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 timeI shall ever look on you. You will never see me again. For onemoment our lives met--our souls touched. They must never meet ortouch 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 PAISLEYlaughing and talking. Other guests come on from ball-room. ]

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear Margaret, I've just been having such adelightful chat with Mrs. Erlynne. I am so sorry for what I saidto you this afternoon about her. Of course, she must be all rightif YOU invite her. A most attractive woman, and has such sensibleviews on life. Told me she entirely disapproved of people marryingmore than once, so I feel quite safe about poor Augustus. Can'timagine why people speak against her. It's those horrid nieces ofmine--the Saville girls--they're always talking scandal. Still, Ishould go to Homburg, dear, I really should. She is just a littletoo attractive. But where is Agatha? Oh, there she is: [LADYAGATHA and MR. HOPPER enter from terrace L. U. E. ] Mr. Hopper, I amvery, very angry with you. You have taken Agatha out on theterrace, and she is so delicate. 

HOPPER. Awfully sorry, Duchess. We went out for a moment and thengot 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 alwayssay the right thing. Mr. Hopper! James! Agatha has told meeverything. 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'tmention 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 thingspossible. I think on the whole that Grosvenor Square would be amore healthy place to reside in. There are lots of vulgar peoplelive in Grosvenor Square, but at any rate there are no horridkangaroos 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 tosay a few words to you, I am sure. 

HOPPER. I should like to have a chat with the Duke, Duchess. Hehas not said a single word to me yet. 

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. I think you'll find he will have a great dealto say to you to-morrow. [Exit LADY AGATHA with MR. HOPPER. ] Andnow 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 ofthe 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 yourhusband has been dancing with! I should be quite jealous if I wereyou! Is she a great friend of yours?

LADY WINDERMERE. No!

LADY PLYMDALE. Really? Good-night, dear. [Looks at MR. DUMBY andexit. ]

DUMBY. Awful manners young Hopper has!

CECIL GRAHAM. Ah! Hopper is one of Nature's gentlemen, the worsttype of gentleman I know. 

DUMBY. Sensible woman, Lady Windermere. Lots of wives would haveobjected to Mrs. Erlynne coming. But Lady Windermere has thatuncommon thing called common sense. 

CECIL GRAHAM. And Windermere knows that nothing looks so likeinnocence as an indiscretion. 

DUMBY. Yes; dear Windermere is becoming almost modern. Neverthought he would. [Bows to LADY WINDERMERE and exit. ]

LADY JEDBURGH. Good night, Lady Windermere. What a fascinatingwoman Mrs. Erlynne is! She is coming to lunch on Thursday, won'tyou 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 andMISS GRAHAM. ]

[Enter MRS. ERLYNNE and LORD WINDERMERE. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Charming ball it has been! Quite reminds me of olddays. [Sits on sofa. ] And I see that there are just as many foolsin society as there used to be. So pleased to find that nothinghas altered! Except Margaret. She's grown quite pretty. The lasttime I saw her--twenty years ago, she was a fright in flannel. Positive fright, I assure you. The dear Duchess! and that sweetLady 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 WINDERMEREwatches, with a look of scorn and pain, MRS. ERLYNNE and herhusband. 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 onproposing. Poor Augustus, you know how he repeats himself. Such abad 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'llmake him an admirable wife, as wives go. And there is a great dealof good in Lord Augustus. Fortunately it is all on the surface. Just where good qualities should be. Of course you must help me inthis matter. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I am not called on to encourage Lord Augustus, Isuppose?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh, no! I do the encouraging. But you will make mea handsome settlement, Windermere, won't you?

LORD WINDERMERE. [Frowning. ] Is that what you want to talk to meabout to-night?

MRS ERLYNNE. Yes. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [With a gesture of impatience. ] I will not talkof 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. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Won't to-morrow do as well?

MRS. ERLYNNE. 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 thatI had--well, what shall I say?--2000 pounds a year left to me by athird cousin--or a second husband--or some distant relative of thatkind. It would be an additional attraction, wouldn't it? You havea delightful opportunity now of paying me a compliment, Windermere. But you are not very clever at paying compliments. I am afraidMargaret doesn't encourage you in that excellent habit. It's agreat mistake on her part. When men give up saying what ischarming, they give up thinking what is charming. But seriously, what do you say to 2000 pounds? 2500 pounds, I think. In modernlife margin is everything. Windermere, don't you think the worldan intensely amusing place? I do!

[Exit on terrace with LORD WINDERMERE. Music strikes up in ball-room. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. To stay in this house any longer is impossible. To-night a man who loves me offered me his whole life. I refusedit. It was foolish of me. I will offer him mine now. I will givehim mine. I will go to him! [Puts on cloak and goes to the door, then turns back. Sits down at table and writes a letter, puts itinto an envelope, and leaves it on table. ] Arthur has neverunderstood me. When he reads this, he will. He may do as hechooses 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. 

[Exit. ]

[PARKER enters L. And crosses towards the ball-room R. Enter MRS. ERLYNNE. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Is Lady Windermere in the ball-room?

PARKER. Her ladyship has just gone out. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Gone out? She's not on the terrace?

PARKER. No, madam. Her ladyship has just gone out of the house. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Starts, and looks at the servant with a puzzledexpression in her face. ] Out of the house?

PARKER. Yes, madam--her ladyship told me she had left a letter forhis lordship on the table. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. A letter for Lord Windermere?

PARKER. Yes, madam. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Thank you. 

[Exit PARKER. The music in the ball-room stops. ] Gone out of herhouse! A letter addressed to her husband! [Goes over to bureauand looks at letter. Takes it up and lays it down again with ashudder of fear. ] No, no! It would be impossible! Life doesn'trepeat its tragedies like that! Oh, why does this horrible fancycome across me? Why do I remember now the one moment of my life Imost wish to forget? Does life repeat its tragedies? [Tearsletter open and reads it, then sinks down into a chair with agesture of anguish. ] Oh, how terrible! The same words that twentyyears ago I wrote to her father! and how bitterly I have beenpunished for it! No; my punishment, my real punishment is to-night, is now! [Still seated R. ]

[Enter LORD WINDERMERE L. U. E. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Have you said good-night to my wife? [Comes C. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Crushing letter in her hand. ] Yes. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Where is she?

MRS. ERLYNNE. She is very tired. She has gone to bed. She saidshe had a headache. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I must go to her. You'll excuse me?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Rising hurriedly. ] Oh, no! It's nothing serious. She's only very tired, that is all. Besides, there are peoplestill in the supper-room. She wants you to make her apologies tothem. She said she didn't wish to be disturbed. [Drops letter. ]She asked me to tell you!

LORD WINDERMERE. [Picks up letter. ] You have dropped something. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh yes, thank you, that is mine. [Puts out her handto take it. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Still looking at letter. ] But it's my wife'shandwriting, isn't it?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Takes the letter quickly. ] Yes, it's--an address. Will you ask them to call my carriage, please?

LORD WINDERMERE. Certainly. 

[Goes L. And Exit. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Thanks! What can I do? What can I do? I feel apassion awakening within me that I never felt before. What can itmean? The daughter must not be like the mother--that would beterrible. How can I save her? How can I save my child? A momentmay ruin a life. Who knows that better than I? Windermere must begot out of the house; that is absolutely necessary. [Goes L. ] Buthow shall I do it? It must be done somehow. Ah!

[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS R. U. E. Carrying bouquet. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Dear lady, I am in such suspense! May I not havean answer to my request?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lord Augustus, listen to me. You are to take LordWindermere down to your club at once, and keep him there as long aspossible. You understand?

LORD AUGUSTUS. But you said you wished me to keep early hours!

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Nervously. ] Do what I tell you. Do what I tellyou. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. And my reward?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Your reward? Your reward? Oh! ask me that to-morrow. But don't let Windermere out of your sight to-night. Ifyou 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 keepWindermere at your club, and don't let him come back to-night. 

[Exit L. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Well, really, I might be her husband already. Positively I might. [Follows her in a bewildered manner. ]

ACT DROP. 

THIRD ACT

SCENE

Lord Darlington's Rooms. A large sofa is in front of fireplace R. At the back of the stage a curtain is drawn across the window. Doors L. And R. Table R. With writing materials. Table C. Withsyphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame. Table L. With cigar andcigarette box. Lamps lit. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Standing by the fireplace. ] Why doesn't hecome? This waiting is horrible. He should be here. Why is he nothere, to wake by passionate words some fire within me? I am cold--cold as a loveless thing. Arthur must have read my letter by thistime. If he cared for me, he would have come after me, would havetaken me back by force. But he doesn't care. He's entrammelled bythis woman--fascinated by her--dominated by her. If a woman wantsto 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 themand they fawn and are faithful. How hideous life is! . . . Oh! itwas mad of me to come here, horribly mad. And yet, which is theworst, I wonder, to be at the mercy of a man who loves one, or thewife of a man who in one's own house dishonours one? What womanknows? 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? Lipsthat 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--Arthurwould not take me back! That fatal letter! No! Lord Darlingtonleaves England to-morrow. I will go with him--I have no choice. [Sits down for a few moments. Then starts up and puts on hercloak. ] No, no! I will go back, let Arthur do with me what hepleases. I can't wait here. It has been madness my coming. Imust go at once. As for Lord Darlington--Oh! here he is! Whatshall 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! [Hides herface in her hands. ]

[Enter MRS. ERLYNNE L. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lady Windermere! [LADY WINDERMERE starts and looksup. Then recoils in contempt. ] Thank Heaven I am in time. Youmust go back to your husband's house immediately. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Must?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Authoritatively. ] Yes, you must! There is not asecond to be lost. Lord Darlington may return at any moment. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't come near me!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh! You are on the brink of ruin, you are on thebrink of a hideous precipice. You must leave this place at once, my carriage is waiting at the corner of the street. You must comewith me and drive straight home. 

[LADY WINDERMERE throws off her cloak and flings it on the sofa. ]

What are you doing?

LADY WINDERMERE. Mrs. Erlynne--if you had not come here, I wouldhave gone back. But now that I see you, I feel that nothing in thewhole world would induce me to live under the same roof as LordWindermere. You fill me with horror. There is something about youthat stirs the wildest--rage within me. And I know why you arehere. My husband sent you to lure me back that I might serve as ablind to whatever relations exist between you and him. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh! You don't think that--you can't. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Go back to my husband, Mrs. Erlynne. He belongsto you and not to me. I suppose he is afraid of a scandal. Menare such cowards. They outrage every law of the world, and areafraid of the world's tongue. But he had better prepare himself. He shall have a scandal. He shall have the worst scandal there hasbeen in London for years. He shall see his name in every vilepaper, mine on every hideous placard. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. No--no -

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes! he shall. Had he come himself, I admit Iwould have gone back to the life of degradation you and he hadprepared for me--I was going back--but to stay himself at home, andto send you as his messenger--oh! it was infamous--infamous. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [C. ] Lady Windermere, you wrong me horribly--youwrong your husband horribly. He doesn't know you are here--hethinks you are safe in your own house. He thinks you are asleep inyour own room. He never read the mad letter you wrote to him!

LADY WINDERMERE. [R. ] Never read it!

MRS. ERLYNNE. No--he knows nothing about it. 

LADY WINDERMERE. How simple you think me! [Going to her. ] Youare lying to me!

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Restraining herself. ] I am not. I am telling youthe truth. 

LADY WINDERMERE. If my husband didn't read my letter, how is itthat you are here? Who told you I had left the house you wereshameless enough to enter? Who told you where I had gone to? Myhusband told you, and sent you to decoy me back. [Crosses L. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [R. C. ] Your husband has never seen the letter. I--saw it, I opened it. I--read it. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Turning to her. ] You opened a letter of mine tomy husband? You wouldn't dare!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Dare! Oh! to save you from the abyss into which youare falling, there is nothing in the world I would not dare, nothing in the whole world. Here is the letter. Your husband hasnever read it. He never shall read it. [Going to fireplace. ] Itshould never have been written. [Tears it and throws it into thefire. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. [With infinite contempt in her voice and look. ]How do I know that that was my letter after all? You seem to thinkthe commonest device can take me in!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh! why do you disbelieve everything I tell you?What object do you think I have in coming here, except to save youfrom utter ruin, to save you from the consequence of a hideousmistake? That letter that is burnt now WAS your letter. I swearit to you!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Slowly. ] You took good care to burn it before Ihad examined it. I cannot trust you. You, whose whole life is alie, could you speak the truth about anything? [Sits down. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Hurriedly. ] Think as you like about me--say whatyou choose against me, but go back, go back to the husband youlove. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Sullenly. ] I do NOT love him!

MRS. ERLYNNE. You do, and you know that he loves you. 

LADY WINDERMERE. He does not understand what love is. Heunderstands it as little as you do--but I see what you want. Itwould 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 whohas neither mercy nor pity in her, a woman whom it is an infamy tomeet, a degradation to know, a vile woman, a woman who comesbetween husband and wife!

MRS. ERLYNNE. [With a gesture of despair. ] Lady Windermere, LadyWindermere, don't say such terrible things. You don't know howterrible they are, how terrible and how unjust. Listen, you mustlisten! Only go back to your husband, and I promise you never tocommunicate with him again on any pretext--never to see him--neverto have anything to do with his life or yours. The money that hegave me, he gave me not through love, but through hatred, not inworship, but in contempt. The hold I have over him -

LADY WINDERMERE. [Rising. ] Ah! you admit you have a hold!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes, and I will tell you what it is. It is his lovefor you, Lady Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. You expect me to believe that?

MRS. ERLYNNE. You must believe it! It is true. It is his lovefor 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. 

LADY WINDERMERE. What do you mean? You are insolent! What have Ito do with you?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Humbly. ] Nothing. I know it--but I tell you thatyour husband loves you--that you may never meet with such loveagain in your whole life--that such love you will never meet--andthat if you throw it away, the day may come when you will starvefor love and it will not be given to you, beg for love and it willbe denied you--Oh! Arthur loves you!

LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur? And you tell me there is nothing betweenyou?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lady Windermere, before Heaven your husband isguiltless of all offence towards you! And I--I tell you that hadit ever occurred to me that such a monstrous suspicion would haveentered your mind, I would have died rather than have crossed yourlife or his--oh! died, gladly died! [Moves away to sofa R. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. You talk as if you had a heart. Women like youhave no hearts. Heart is not in you. You are bought and sold. [Sits L. C. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Starts, with a gesture of pain. Then restrainsherself, and comes over to where LADY WINDERMERE is sitting. Asshe speaks, she stretches out her hands towards her, but does notdare to touch her. ] Believe what you choose about me. I am notworth a moment's sorrow. But don't spoil your beautiful young lifeon my account! You don't know what may be in store for you, unlessyou leave this house at once. You don't know what it is to fallinto the pit, to be despised, mocked, abandoned, sneered at--to bean outcast! to find the door shut against one, to have to creep inby hideous byways, afraid every moment lest the mask should bestripped from one's face, and all the while to hear the laughter, the horrible laughter of the world, a thing more tragic than allthe tears the world has ever shed. You don't know what it is. Onepays for one's sin, and then one pays again, and all one's life onepays. You must never know that. --As for me, if suffering be anexpiation, then at this moment I have expiated all my faults, whatever they have been; for to-night you have made a heart in onewho had it not, made it and broken it. --But let that pass. I mayhave 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 thekind of brains that enables a woman to get back. You have neitherthe wit nor the courage. You couldn't stand dishonour! No! Goback, Lady Windermere, to the husband who loves you, whom you love. You have a child, Lady Windermere. Go back to that child who evennow, in pain or in joy, may be calling to you. [LADY WINDERMERErises. ] God gave you that child. He will require from you thatyou make his life fine, that you watch over him. What answer willyou make to God if his life is ruined through you? Back to yourhouse, Lady Windermere--your husband loves you! He has neverswerved for a moment from the love he bears you. But even if hehad a thousand loves, you must stay with your child. If he washarsh to you, you must stay with your child. If he ill-treatedyou, you must stay with your child. If he abandoned you, yourplace is with your child. 

[LADY WINDERMERE bursts into tears and buries her face in herhands. ]

[Rushing to her. ] Lady Windermere!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Holding out her hands to her, helplessly, as achild might do. ] Take me home. Take me home. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Is about to embrace her. Then restrains herself. There is a look of wonderful joy in her face. ] Come! Where isyour cloak? [Getting it from sofa. ] Here. Put it on. Come atonce!

[They go to the door. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. Stop! Don't you hear voices?

MRS. ERLYNNE. No, no! There was no one!

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, there is! Listen! Oh! that is my husband'svoice! He is coming in! Save me! Oh, it's some plot! You havesent for him. 

[Voices outside. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Silence! I'm here to save you, if I can. But Ifear it is too late! There! [Points to the curtain across thewindow. ] The first chance you have, slip out, if you ever get achance!

LADY WINDERMERE. But you?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh! never mind me. I'll face them. 

[LADY WINDERMERE hides herself behind the curtain. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Outside. ] Nonsense, dear Windermere, you must notleave me!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lord Augustus! Then it is I who am lost![Hesitates for a moment, then looks round and sees door R. , andexits through it. ]

 [Enter LORD DARLINGTON, MR. DUMBY, LORD WINDERMERE, LORD AUGUSTUSLORTON, and MR. CECIL GRAHAM. 

DUMBY. What a nuisance their turning us out of the club at thishour! It's only two o'clock. [Sinks into a chair. ] The livelypart of the evening is only just beginning. [Yawns and closes hiseyes. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. It is very good of you, Lord Darlington, allowingAugustus to force our company on you, but I'm afraid I can't staylong. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Really! I am so sorry! You'll take a cigar, won't you?

LORD WINDERMERE. Thanks! [Sits down. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. [To LORD WINDERMERE. ] My dear boy, you must notdream of going. I have a great deal to talk to you about, ofdemmed importance, too. [Sits down with him at L. Table. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. Oh! We all know what that is! Tuppy can't talkabout anything but Mrs. Erlynne. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Well, that is no business of yours, is it, Cecil?

CECIL GRAHAM. None! That is why it interests me. My own businessalways bores me to death. I prefer other people's. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Have something to drink, you fellows. Cecil, you'll have a whisky and soda?

CECIL GRAHAM. Thanks. [Goes to table with LORD DARLINGTON. ] Mrs. Erlynne looked very handsome to-night, didn't she?

LORD DARLINGTON. I am not one of her admirers. 

CECIL GRAHAM. I usen't to be, but I am now. Why! she actuallymade me introduce her to poor dear Aunt Caroline. I believe she isgoing to lunch there. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [In Purple. ] No?

CECIL GRAHAM. She is, really. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Excuse me, you fellows. I'm going away to-morrow. And I have to write a few letters. [Goes to writing tableand sits down. ]

DUMBY. Clever woman, Mrs. Erlynne. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Hallo, Dumby! I thought you were asleep. 

DUMBY. I am, I usually am!

LORD AUGUSTUS. A very clever woman. Knows perfectly well what ademmed fool I am--knows it as well as I do myself. 

[CECIL GRAHAM comes towards him laughing. ]

Ah, you may laugh, my boy, but it is a great thing to come across awoman who thoroughly understands one. 

DUMBY. It is an awfully dangerous thing. They always end bymarrying one. 

CECIL GRAHAM. But I thought, Tuppy, you were never going to seeher again! Yes! you told me so yesterday evening at the club. Yousaid you'd heard -

[Whispering to him. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Oh, she's explained that. 

CECIL GRAHAM. And the Wiesbaden affair?

LORD AUGUSTUS. She's explained that too. 

DUMBY. And her income, Tuppy? Has she explained that?

LORD AUGUSTUS. [In a very serious voice. ] She's going to explainthat to-morrow. 

[CECIL GRAHAM goes back to C. Table. ]

DUMBY. Awfully commercial, women nowadays. Our grandmothers threwtheir caps over the mills, of course, but, by Jove, theirgranddaughters only throw their caps over mills that can raise thewind for them. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. You want to make her out a wicked woman. She isnot!

CECIL GRAHAM. Oh! Wicked women bother one. Good women bore one. That is the only difference between them. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Puffing a cigar. ] Mrs. Erlynne has a futurebefore her. 

DUMBY. Mrs. Erlynne has a past before her. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. I prefer women with a past. They're always sodemmed amusing to talk to. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Well, you'll have lots of topics of conversationwith HER, Tuppy. [Rising and going to him. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. You're getting annoying, dear-boy; you're gettingdemmed annoying. 

CECIL GRAHAM. [Puts his hands on his shoulders. ] Now, Tuppy, you've lost your figure and you've lost your character. Don't loseyour temper; you have only got one. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. My dear boy, if I wasn't the most good-natured manin London -

CECIL GRAHAM. We'd treat you with more respect, wouldn't we, Tuppy? [Strolls away. ]

DUMBY. The youth of the present day are quite monstrous. Theyhave absolutely no respect for dyed hair. [LORD AUGUSTUS looksround angrily. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. Mrs. Erlynne has a very great respect for dearTuppy. 

DUMBY. Then Mrs. Erlynne sets an admirable example to the rest ofher sex. It is perfectly brutal the way most women nowadays behaveto men who are not their husbands. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Dumby, you are ridiculous, and Cecil, you letyour tongue run away with you. You must leave Mrs. Erlynne alone. You don't really know anything about her, and you're always talkingscandal against her. 

CECIL GRAHAM. [Coming towards him L. C. ] My dear Arthur, I nevertalk scandal. _I_ only talk gossip. 

LORD WINDERMERE. What is the difference between scandal andgossip?

CECIL GRAHAM. Oh! gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality. Now, I nevermoralise. A man who moralises is usually a hypocrite, and a womanwho moralises is invariably plain. There is nothing in the wholeworld so unbecoming to a woman as a Nonconformist conscience. Andmost women know it, I'm glad to say. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. Just my sentiments, dear boy, just my sentiments. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Sorry to hear it, Tuppy; whenever people agree withme, I always feel I must be wrong. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. My dear boy, when I was your age -

CECIL GRAHAM. But you never were, Tuppy, and you never will be. [Goes up C. ] I say, Darlington, let us have some cards. You'llplay, Arthur, won't you?

LORD WINDERMERE. No, thanks, Cecil. 

DUMBY. [With a sigh. ] Good heavens! how marriage ruins a man!It's as demoralising as cigarettes, and far more expensive. 

CECIL GRAHAM. You'll play, of course, Tuppy?

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Pouring himself out a brandy and soda at table. ]Can't, dear boy. Promised Mrs. Erlynne never to play or drinkagain. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Now, my dear Tuppy, don't be led astray into thepaths of virtue. Reformed, you would be perfectly tedious. Thatis the worst of women. They always want one to be good. And if weare good, when they meet us, they don't love us at all. They liketo find us quite irretrievably bad, and to leave us quiteunattractively good. 

LORD DARLINGTON. [Rising from R. Table, where he has been writingletters. ] They always do find us bad!

DUMBY. I don't think we are bad. I think we are all good, exceptTuppy. 

LORD DARLINGTON. No, we are all in the gutter, but some of us arelooking at the stars. [Sits down at C. Table. ]

DUMBY. We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at thestars? Upon my word, you are very romantic to-night, Darlington. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Too romantic! You must be in love. Who is thegirl?

LORD DARLINGTON. The woman I love is not free, or thinks sheisn't. [Glances instinctively at LORD WINDERMERE while he speaks. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. A married woman, then! Well, there's nothing in theworld like the devotion of a married woman. It's a thing nomarried man knows anything about. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Oh! she doesn't love me. She is a good woman. She is the only good woman I have ever met in my life. 

CECIL GRAHAM. The only good woman you have ever met in your life?

LORD DARLINGTON. Yes!

CECIL GRAHAM. [Lighting a cigarette. ] Well, you are a luckyfellow! Why, I have met hundreds of good women. I never seem tomeet any but good women. The world is perfectly packed with goodwomen. To know them is a middle-class education. 

LORD DARLINGTON. This woman has purity and innocence. She haseverything we men have lost. 

CECIL GRAHAM. My dear fellow, what on earth should we men do goingabout with purity and innocence? A carefully thought-outbuttonhole is much more effective. 

DUMBY. She doesn't really love you then?

LORD DARLINGTON. No, she does not!

DUMBY. I congratulate you, my dear fellow. In this world thereare only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and theother is getting it. The last is much the worst; the last is areal 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?

CECIL GRAHAM. A woman who didn't love me? Oh, all my life!

DUMBY. So could I. But it's so difficult to meet one. 

LORD DARLINGTON. How can you be so conceited, DUMBY?

DUMBY. I didn't say it as a matter of conceit. I said it as amatter of regret. I have been wildly, madly adored. I am sorry Ihave. It has been an immense nuisance. I should like to beallowed a little time to myself now and then. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Looking round. ] Time to educate yourself, Isuppose. 

DUMBY. No, time to forget all I have learned. That is much moreimportant, dear Tuppy. [LORD AUGUSTUS moves uneasily in hischair. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. What cynics you fellows are!

CECIL GRAHAM. What is a cynic? [Sitting on the back of the sofa. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. A man who knows the price of everything and thevalue of nothing. 

CECIL GRAHAM. And a sentimentalist, my dear Darlington, is a manwho sees an absurd value in everything, and doesn't know the marketprice of any single thing. 

LORD DARLINGTON. You always amuse me, Cecil. You talk as if youwere a man of experience. 

CECIL GRAHAM. I am. [Moves up to front off fireplace. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. You are far too young!

CECIL GRAHAM. That is a great error. Experience is a question ofinstinct about life. I have got it. Tuppy hasn't. Experience isthe name Tuppy gives to his mistakes. That is all. [LORD AUGUSTUSlooks round indignantly. ]

DUMBY. Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes. 

CECIL GRAHAM. [Standing with his back to the fireplace. ] Oneshouldn't commit any. [Sees LADY WINDERMERE'S fan on sofa. ]

DUMBY. Life would be very dull without them. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Of course you are quite faithful to this woman youare in love with, Darlington, to this good woman?

LORD DARLINGTON. Cecil, if on really loves a woman, all otherwomen in the world become absolutely meaningless to one. Lovechanges one--_I_ am changed. 

CECIL GRAHAM. Dear me! How very interesting! Tuppy, I want totalk to you. [LORD AUGUSTUS takes no notice. ]

DUMBY. It's no use talking to Tuppy. You might just as well talkto a brick wall. 

CECIL GRAHAM. But I like talking to a brick wall--it's the onlything in the world that never contradicts me! Tuppy!

LORD AUGUSTUS. Well, what is it? What is it? [Rising and goingover to CECIL GRAHAM. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. Come over here. I want you particularly. [Aside. ]Darlington has been moralising and talking about the purity oflove, and that sort of thing, and he has got some woman in hisrooms all the time. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. No, really! really!

CECIL GRAHAM. [In a low voice. ] Yes, here is her fan. [Points tothe fan. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Chuckling. ] By Jove! By Jove!

LORD WINDERMERE. [Up by door. ] I am really off now, LordDarlington. I am sorry you are leaving England so soon. Pray callon us when you come back! My wife and I will be charmed to seeyou!

LORD DARLINGTON. [Up sage with LORD WINDERMERE. ] I am afraid Ishall be away for many years. Good-night!

CECIL GRAHAM. Arthur!

LORD WINDERMERE. What?

CECIL GRAHAM. I want to speak to you for a moment. No, do come!

LORD WINDERMERE. [Putting on his coat. ] I can't--I'm off!

CECIL GRAHAM. It is something very particular. It will interestyou enormously. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Smiling. ] It is some of your nonsense, Cecil. 

CECIL GRAHAM. It isn't! It isn't really. 

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Going to him. ] My dear fellow, you mustn't goyet. I have a lot to talk to you about. And Cecil has somethingto show you. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Walking over. ] Well, what is it?

CECIL GRAHAM. Darlington has got a woman here in his rooms. Hereis her fan. Amusing, isn't it? [A pause. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Good God! [Seizes the fan--DUMBY rises. ]

CECIL GRAHAM. What is the matter?

LORD WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington!

LORD DARLINGTON. [Turning round. ] Yes!

LORD WINDERMERE. What is my wife's fan doing here in your rooms?Hands off, Cecil. Don't touch me. 

LORD DARLINGTON. Your wife's fan?

LORD WINDERMERE. Yes, here it is!

LORD DARLINGTON. [Walking towards him. ] I don't know!

LORD WINDERMERE. You must know. I demand an explanation. Don'thold me, you fool. [To CECIL GRAHAM. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. [Aside. ] She is here after all!

LORD WINDERMERE. Speak, sir! Why is my wife's fan here? Answerme! By God! I'll search your rooms, and if my wife's here, I'll--[Moves. ]

LORD DARLINGTON. You shall not search my rooms. You have no rightto do so. I forbid you!

LORD WINDERMERE. You scoundrel! I'll not leave your room till Ihave searched every corner of it! What moves behind that curtain?[Rushes towards the curtain C. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Enters behind R. ] Lord Windermere!

LORD WINDERMERE. Mrs. Erlynne!

[Every one starts and turns round. LADY WINDERMERE slips out frombehind the curtain and glides from the room L. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. I am afraid I took your wife's fan in mistake for myown, when I was leaving your house to-night. I am so sorry. [Takes fan from him. LORD WINDERMERE looks at her in contempt. LORD DARLINGTON in mingled astonishment and anger. LORD AUGUSTUSturns away. The other men smile at each other. ]

ACT DROP. 

FOURTH ACT

SCENE--Same as in Act I. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Lying on sofa. ] How can I tell him? I can'ttell him. It would kill me. I wonder what happened after Iescaped from that horrible room. Perhaps she told them the truereason of her being there, and the real meaning of that--fatal fanof mine. Oh, if he knows--how can I look him in the face again?He would never forgive me. [Touches bell. ] How securely onethinks one lives--out of reach of temptation, sin, folly. And thensuddenly--Oh! Life is terrible. It rules us, we do not rule it. 

[Enter ROSALIE R. ]

ROSALIE. Did your ladyship ring for me?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. Have you found out at what time LordWindermere came in last night?

ROSALIE. His lordship did not come in till five o'clock. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Five o'clock? He knocked at my door thismorning, didn't he?

ROSALIE. Yes, my lady--at half-past nine. I told him yourladyship was not awake yet. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Did he say anything?

ROSALIE. Something about your ladyship's fan. I didn't quitecatch what his lordship said. Has the fan been lost, my lady? Ican'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. 

LADY WINDERMERE. It doesn't matter. Tell Parker not to trouble. That will do. 

[Exit ROSALIE. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. [Rising. ] She is sure to tell him. I can fancya person doing a wonderful act of self-sacrifice, doing itspontaneously, recklessly, nobly--and afterwards finding out thatit costs too much. Why should she hesitate between her ruin andmine? . . . How strange! I would have publicly disgraced her in myown house. She accepts public disgrace in the house of another tosave me. . . . There is a bitter irony in things, a bitter irony inthe way we talk of good and bad women. . . . Oh, what a lesson! andwhat a pity that in life we only get our lessons when they are ofno use to us! For even if she doesn't tell, I must. Oh! the shameof it, the shame of it. To tell it is to live through it allagain. Actions are the first tragedy in life, words are thesecond. Words are perhaps the worst. Words are merciless. . . Oh![Starts as LORD WINDERMERE enters. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Kisses her. ] Margaret--how pale you look!

LADY WINDERMERE. I slept very badly. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Sitting on sofa with her. ] I am so sorry. Icame in dreadfully late, and didn't like to wake you. You arecrying, dear. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, I am crying, for I have something to tellyou, Arthur. 

LORD WINDERMERE. My dear child, you are not well. You've beendoing too much. Let us go away to the country. You'll be allright at Selby. The season is almost over. There is no usestaying on. Poor darling! We'll go away to-day, if you like. [Rises. ] We can easily catch the 3. 40. I'll send a wire toFannen. [Crosses and sits down at table to write a telegram. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. 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. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Rising and leaning over sofa. ] Kind to you?

LADY WINDERMERE. Far more than that. [Rises and goes to him. ] Iwill tell you, Arthur, but only love me, love me as you used tolove me. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Used to? You are not thinking of that wretchedwoman who came here last night? [Coming round and sitting R. Ofher. ] You don't still imagine--no, you couldn't. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I don't. I know now I was wrong and foolish. 

LORD WINDERMERE. It was very good of you to receive her lastnight--but you are never to see her again. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why do you say that? [A pause. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Holding her hand. ] Margaret, I thought Mrs. Erlynne was a woman more sinned against than sinning, as the phrasegoes. I thought she wanted to be good, to get back into a placethat 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--asbad as a woman can be. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, Arthur, don't talk so bitterly about anywoman. I don't think now that people can be divided into the goodand the bad as though they were two separate races or creations. What are called good women may have terrible things in them, madmoods of recklessness, assertion, jealousy, sin. Bad women, asthey are termed, may have in them sorrow, repentance, pity, sacrifice. And I don't think Mrs. Erlynne a bad woman--I knowshe's not. 

LORD WINDERMERE. My dear child, the woman's impossible. No matterwhat harm she tries to do us, you must never see her again. She isinadmissible anywhere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. But I want to see her. I want her to come here. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Never!

LADY WINDERMERE. She came here once as YOUR guest. She must comenow as MINE. That is but fair. 

LORD WINDERMERE. She should never have come here. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Rising. ] It is too late, Arthur, to say thatnow. [Moves away. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Rising. ] Margaret, if you knew where Mrs. Erlynne went last night, after she left this house, you would notsit in the same room with her. It was absolutely shameless, thewhole thing. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, I can't bear it any longer. I must tellyou. Last night -

[Enter PARKER with a tray on which lie LADY WINDERMERE'S fan and acard. ]

PARKER. Mrs. Erlynne has called to return your ladyship's fanwhich she took away by mistake last night. Mrs. Erlynne haswritten a message on the card. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh, ask Mrs. Erlynne to be kind enough to comeup. [Reads card. ] Say I shall be very glad to see her. [ExitPARKER. ] She wants to see me, Arthur. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Takes card and looks at it. ] Margaret, I BEGyou not to. Let me see her first, at any rate. She's a verydangerous woman. She is the most dangerous woman I know. Youdon't realise what you're doing. 

LADY WINDERMERE. It is right that I should see her. 

LORD WINDERMERE. My child, you may be on the brink of a greatsorrow. Don't go to meet it. It is absolutely necessary that Ishould see her before you do. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Why should it be necessary?

[Enter PARKER. ]

PARKER. Mrs. Erlynne. 

[Enter MRS. ERLYNNE. ]

[Exit PARKER. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. How do you do, Lady Windermere? [To LORDWINDERMERE. ] How do you do? Do you know, Lady Windermere, I am sosorry about your fan. I can't imagine how I made such a sillymistake. Most stupid of me. And as I was driving in yourdirection, I thought I would take the opportunity of returning yourproperty in person with many apologies for my carelessness, and ofbidding you good-bye. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Good-bye? [Moves towards sofa with MRS. ERLYNNEand sits down beside her. ] Are you going away, then, Mrs. Erlynne?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes; I am going to live abroad again. The Englishclimate doesn't suit me. My--heart is affected here, and that Idon't like. I prefer living in the south. London is too full offogs and--and serious people, Lord Windermere. Whether the fogsproduce the serious people or whether the serious people producethe fogs, I don't know, but the whole thing rather gets on mynerves, and so I'm leaving this afternoon by the Club Train. 

LADY WINDERMERE. This afternoon? But I wanted so much to come andsee you. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. How kind of you! But I am afraid I have to go. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Shall I never see you again, Mrs. Erlynne?

MRS. ERLYNNE. I am afraid not. Our lives lie too far apart. Butthere is a little thing I would like you to do for me. I want aphotograph of you, Lady Windermere--would you give me one? Youdon't know how gratified I should be. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh, with pleasure. There is one on that table. I'll show it to you. [Goes across to the table. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. [Coming up to MRS. ERLYNNE and speaking in a lowvoice. ] It is monstrous your intruding yourself here after yourconduct last night. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [With an amused smile. ] My dear Windermere, mannersbefore morals!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Returning. ] I'm afraid it is very flattering--Iam not so pretty as that. [Showing photograph. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. You are much prettier. But haven't you got one ofyourself with your little boy?

LADY WINDERMERE. I have. Would you prefer one of those?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I'll go and get it for you, if you'll excuse mefor a moment. I have one upstairs. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. So sorry, Lady Windermere, to give you so muchtrouble. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Moves to door R. ] No trouble at all, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Thanks so much. 

[Exit LADY WINDERMERE R. ] You seem rather out of temper thismorning, Windermere. Why should you be? Margaret and I get oncharmingly together. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I can't bear to see you with her. Besides, youhave not told me the truth, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. I have not told HER the truth, you mean. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Standing C. ] I sometimes wish you had. Ishould have been spared then the misery, the anxiety, the annoyanceof the last six months. But rather than my wife should know--thatthe mother whom she was taught to consider as dead, the mother whomshe has mourned as dead, is living--a divorced woman, going aboutunder an assumed name, a bad woman preying upon life, as I know younow to be--rather than that, I was ready to supply you with moneyto pay bill after bill, extravagance after extravagance, to riskwhat occurred yesterday, the first quarrel I have ever had with mywife. 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 thosesweet lips of hers were on your account, and I hate to see you nexther. You sully the innocence that is in her. [Moves L. C. ] Andthen I used to think that with all your faults you were frank andhonest. You are not. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Why do you say that?

LORD WINDERMERE. You made me get you an invitation to my wife'sball. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. For my daughter's ball--yes. 

LORD WINDERMERE. You came, and within an hour of your leaving thehouse you are found in a man's rooms--you are disgraced beforeevery one. [Goes up stage C. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Turning round on her. ] Therefore I have a rightto look upon you as what you are--a worthless, vicious woman. Ihave the right to tell you never to enter this house, never toattempt to come near my wife -

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Coldly. ] My daughter, you mean. 

LORD WINDERMERE. 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. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Rising. ] Do you count that to his credit, LordWindermere--or to mine?

LORD WINDERMERE. To his, now that I know you. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Take care--you had better be careful. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Oh, I am not going to mince words for you. Iknow you thoroughly. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Looks steadily at him. ] I question that. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I DO know you. For twenty years of your life youlived without your child, without a thought of your child. One dayyou read in the papers that she had married a rich man. You sawyour hideous chance. You knew that to spare her the ignominy oflearning that a woman like you was her mother, I would endureanything. You began your blackmailing, MRS. ERLYNNE. [Shrugging her shoulders. ] Don't use ugly words, Windermere. They are vulgar. I saw my chance, it is true, andtook it. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Yes, you took it--and spoiled it all last nightby being found out. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [With a strange smile. ] You are quite right, Ispoiled it all last night. 

LORD WINDERMERE. And as for your blunder in taking my wife's fanfrom here and then leaving it about in Darlington's rooms, it isunpardonable. I can't bear the sight of it now. I shall never letmy wife use it again. The thing is soiled for me. You should havekept it and not brought it back. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. I think I shall keep it. [Goes up. ] It's extremelypretty. [Takes up fan. ] I shall ask Margaret to give it to me. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I hope my wife will give it you. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh, I'm sure she will have no objection. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I wish that at the same time she would give you aminiature she kisses every night before she prays--It's theminiature of a young innocent-looking girl with beautiful DARKhair. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Ah, yes, I remember. How long ago that seems![Goes to sofa and sits down. ] It was done before I was married. Dark hair and an innocent expression were the fashion then, Windermere! [A pause. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. What do you mean by coming here this morning?What is your object? [Crossing L. C. And sitting. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. [With a note of irony in her voice. ] To bid good-bye to my dear daughter, of course. [LORD WINDERMERE bites hisunder lip in anger. MRS. ERLYNNE looks at him, and her voice andmanner become serious. In her accents at she talks there is a noteof deep tragedy. For a moment she reveals herself. ] Oh, don'timagine I am going to have a pathetic scene with her, weep on herneck and tell her who I am, and all that kind of thing. I have noambition to play the part of a mother. Only once in my life like Iknown a mother's feelings. That was last night. They wereterrible--they made me suffer--they made me suffer too much. Fortwenty years, as you say, I have lived childless, --I want to livechildless still. [Hiding her feelings with a trivial laugh. ]Besides, my dear Windermere, how on earth could I pose as a motherwith a grown-up daughter? Margaret is twenty-one, and I have neveradmitted 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 amconcerned, let your wife cherish the memory of this dead, stainlessmother. Why should I interfere with her illusions? I find it hardenough to keep my own. I lost one illusion last night. I thoughtI 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 onelook old. [Takes up hand-mirror from table and looks into it. ]And it spoils one's career at critical moments. 

LORD WINDERMERE. You fill me with horror--with absolute horror. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Rising. ] I suppose, Windermere, you would like meto retire into a convent, or become a hospital nurse, or somethingof that kind, as people do in silly modern novels. That is stupidof you, Arthur; in real life we don't do such things--not as longas we have any good looks left, at any rate. No--what consoles onenowadays is not repentance, but pleasure. Repentance is quite outof date. And besides, if a woman really repents, she has to go toa bad dressmaker, otherwise no one believes in her. And nothing inthe world would induce me to do that. No; I am going to passentirely out of your two lives. My coming into them has been amistake--I discovered that last night. 

LORD WINDERMERE. A fatal mistake. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Smiling. ] Almost fatal. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I am sorry now I did not tell my wife the wholething at once. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. I regret my bad actions. You regret your good ones--that is the difference between us. 

LORD WINDERMERE. I don't trust you. I WILL tell my wife. It'sbetter for her to know, and from me. It will cause her infinitepain--it will humiliate her terribly, but it's right that sheshould know. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. You propose to tell her?

LORD WINDERMERE. I am going to tell her. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Going up to him. ] If you do, I will make my nameso infamous that it will mar every moment of her life. It willruin her, and make her wretched. If you dare to tell her, there isno depth of degradation I will not sink to, no pit of shame I willnot enter. You shall not tell her--I forbid you. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Why?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [After a pause. ] If I said to you that I cared forher, perhaps loved her even--you would sneer at me, wouldn't you?

LORD WINDERMERE. I should feel it was not true. A mother's lovemeans devotion, unselfishness, sacrifice. What could you know ofsuch things?

MRS. ERLYNNE. You are right. What could I know of such things?Don't let us talk any more about it--as for telling my daughter whoI am, that I do not allow. It is my secret, it is not yours. If Imake up my mind to tell her, and I think I will, I shall tell herbefore I leave the house--if not, I shall never tell her. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Angrily. ] Then let me beg of you to leave ourhouse at once. I will make your excuses to Margaret. 

[Enter LADY WINDERMERE R. She goes over to MRS. ERLYNNE with thephotograph in her hand. LORD WINDERMERE moves to back of sofa, andanxiously watches MRS. ERLYNNE as the scene progresses. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. I am so sorry, Mrs. Erlynne, to have kept youwaiting. I couldn't find the photograph anywhere. At last Idiscovered it in my husband's dressing-room--he had stolen it. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Takes the photograph from her and looks at it. ] Iam not surprised--it is charming. [Goes over to sofa with LADYWINDERMERE, and sits down beside her. Looks again at thephotograph. ] And so that is your little boy! What is he called?

LADY WINDERMERE. Gerard, after my dear father. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Laying the photograph down. ] Really?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. If it had been a girl, I would have calledit after my mother. My mother had the same name as myself, Margaret. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. My name is Margaret too. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Indeed!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes. [Pause. ] You are devoted to your mother'smemory, Lady Windermere, your husband tells me. 

LADY WINDERMERE. We all have ideals in life. At least we allshould have. Mine is my mother. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Ideals are dangerous things. Realities are better. They wound, but they're better. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Shaking her head. ] If I lost my ideals, Ishould lose everything. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Everything?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. [Pause. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Did your father often speak to you of your mother?

LADY WINDERMERE. No, it gave him too much pain. He told me how mymother had died a few months after I was born. His eyes filledwith tears as he spoke. Then he begged me never to mention hername 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 ruinedlife know, MRS. ERLYNNE. [Rising. ] I am afraid I must go now, LadyWindermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Rising. ] Oh no, don't. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. I think I had better. My carriage must have comeback by this time. I sent it to Lady Jedburgh's with a note. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, would you mind seeing if Mrs. Erlynne'scarriage has come back?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Pray don't trouble, Lord Windermere. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, Arthur, do go, please. 

[LORD WINDERMERE hesitated for a moment and looks at MRS. ERLYNNE. She remains quite impassive. He leaves the room. ]

[To MRS. ERLYNNE. ] Oh! What am I to say to you? You saved melast night? [Goes towards her. ]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Hush--don't speak of it. 

LADY WINDERMERE. I must speak of it. I can't let you think that Iam going to accept this sacrifice. I am not. It is too great. Iam going to tell my husband everything. It is my duty. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. It is not your duty--at least you have duties toothers besides him. You say you owe me something?

LADY WINDERMERE. I owe you everything. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Then pay your debt by silence. That is the only wayin which it can be paid. Don't spoil the one good thing I havedone in my life by telling it to any one. Promise me that whatpassed last night will remain a secret between us. You must notbring misery into your husband's life. Why spoil his love? Youmust not spoil it. Love is easily killed. Oh! how easily love iskilled. Pledge me your word, Lady Windermere, that you will nevertell him. I insist upon it. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [With bowed head. ] It is your will, not mine. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. Yes, it is my will. And never forget your child--Ilike to think of you as a mother. I like you to think of yourselfas one. 

LADY WINDERMERE. [Looking up. ] I always will now. Only once inmy life I have forgotten my own mother--that was last night. Oh, if I had remembered her I should not have been so foolish, sowicked. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [With a slight shudder. ] Hush, last night is quiteover. 

[Enter LORD WINDERMERE. ]

LORD WINDERMERE. Your carriage has not come back yet, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. It makes no matter. I'll take a hansom. There isnothing in the world so respectable as a good Shrewsbury andTalbot. And now, dear Lady Windermere, I am afraid it is reallygood-bye. [Moves up C. ] Oh, I remember. You'll think me absurd, but do you know I've taken a great fancy to this fan that I wassilly enough to run away with last night from your ball. Now, Iwonder would you give it to me? Lord Windermere says you may. Iknow it is his present. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh, certainly, if it will give you any pleasure. But it has my name on it. It has 'Margaret' on it. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. But we have the same Christian name. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Oh, I forgot. Of course, do have it. What awonderful chance our names being the same!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Quite wonderful. Thanks--it will always remind meof you. [Shakes hands with her. ]

[Enter PARKER. ]

PARKER. Lord Augustus Lorton. Mrs. Erlynne's carriage has come. 

[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Good morning, dear boy. Good morning, LadyWindermere. [Sees MRS. ERLYNNE. ] Mrs. Erlynne!

MRS. ERLYNNE. How do you do, Lord Augustus? Are you quite wellthis morning?

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Coldly. ] Quite well, thank you, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. You don't look at all well, Lord Augustus. You stopup too late--it is so bad for you. You really should take morecare of yourself. Good-bye, Lord Windermere. [Goes towards doorwith a bow to LORD AUGUSTUS. Suddenly smiles and looks back athim. ] Lord Augustus! Won't you see me to my carriage? You mightcarry the fan. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Allow me!

MRS. ERLYNNE. No; I want Lord Augustus. I have a special messagefor the dear Duchess. Won't you carry the fan, Lord Augustus?

LORD AUGUSTUS. If you really desire it, Mrs. Erlynne. 

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Laughing. ] Of course I do. You'll carry it sogracefully. You would carry off anything gracefully, dear LordAugustus. 

[When she reaches the door she looks back for a moment at LADYWINDERMERE. Their eyes meet. Then she turns, and exit C. Followedby LORD AUGUSTUS. ]

LADY WINDERMERE. You will never speak against Mrs. Erlynne again, Arthur, will you?

LORD WINDERMERE. [Gravely. ] She is better than one thought her. 

LADY WINDERMERE. She is better than I am. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Smiling as he strokes her hair. ] Child, you andshe belong to different worlds. Into your world evil has neverentered. 

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't say that, Arthur. There is the same worldfor all of us, and good and evil, sin and innocence, go through ithand in hand. To shut one's eyes to half of life that one may livesecurely is as though one blinded oneself that one might walk withmore safety in a land of pit and precipice. 

LORD WINDERMERE. [Moves down with her. ] Darling, why do you saythat?

LADY WINDERMERE. [Sits on sofa. ] Because I, who had shut my eyesto life, came to the brink. And one who had separated us -

LORD WINDERMERE. We were never separated. 

LADY WINDERMERE. We never must be again. O Arthur, don't love meless, and I will trust you more. I will trust you absolutely. Letus go to Selby. In the Rose Garden at Selby the roses are whiteand red. 

[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS C. ]

LORD AUGUSTUS. Arthur, she has explained everything!

[LADY WINDERMERE looks horribly frightened at this. LORDWINDERMERE starts. LORD AUGUSTUS takes WINDERMERE by the arm andbrings him to front of stage. He talks rapidly and in a low voice. LADY WINDERMERE stands watching them in terror. ] My dear fellow, she has explained every demmed thing. We all wronged herimmensely. It was entirely for my sake she went to Darlington'srooms. Called first at the Club--fact is, wanted to put me out ofsuspense--and being told I had gone on--followed--naturallyfrightened when she heard a lot of us coming in--retired to anotherroom--I assure you, most gratifying to me, the whole thing. We allbehaved brutally to her. She is just the woman for me. Suits medown to the ground. All the conditions she makes are that we liveentirely out of England. A very good thing too. Demmed clubs, demmed climate, demmed cooks, demmed everything. Sick of it all!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Frightened. ] Has Mrs. Erlynne--?

LORD AUGUSTUS. [Advancing towards her with a low bow. ] Yes, LadyWindermere-- Mrs. Erlynne has done me the honour of accepting myhand. 

LORD WINDERMERE. Well, you are certainly marrying a very cleverwoman!

LADY WINDERMERE. [Taking her husband's hand. ] Ah, you're marryinga very good woman!

CURTAIN