on most important business.
CECILY Oh!
ALGERNON
I shan't be away more than half an hour.
CECILY
Considering that we have been engaged since February the 14th, and
that I only met you today for the first time, I think it is rather hard that you
should leave me for so long a period as half an hour. Couldn't you make it
twenty minutes? ALGERNON I'll be back in no time. [Kisses her and rushes down the garden. ] CECILY
What an impetuous boy he is! I like his hair so much. I must enter
his proposal in my diary.
[Enter MERRIMAN.]
MERRIMAN
A Miss Fairfax has just called to see Mr. Worthing. On very impor
tant business, Miss Fairfax states.
CECILY
Isn't Mr. Worthing in his library?
MERRIMAN
Mr. Worthing went over in the direction of the Rectory some time
ago.
CECILY
Pray ask the lady to come out here; Mr. Worthing is sure to be back
soon. And you can bring tea. MERRIMAN Yes, Miss. [Goes out.] CECILY
Miss Fairfax! I suppose one of the many good elderly women who are
associated with Uncle Jack in some of his philanthropic work in London. I
don't quite like women who are interested in philanthropic work. I think it
name is Cecily Cardew.
is so forward of them. [Enter MERRIMAN.] MERRIMAN Miss Fairfax. CECILY[Enter GWENDOLEN.] [Advancing to meet her.] [Exit MERRIMAN.] Pray let me introduce myself to you. My
GWENDOLEN Cecily Cardew? [Moving to her and shaking hands.] What a very
.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, ACT 1 / 17 11
sweet name! Something tells me that we are going to be great friends. I like
you already more than I can say. My first impressions of people are never
wrong.
CECILY
How nice of you to like me so much after we have known each other
such a comparatively short time. Pray sit down. GWENDOLEN [Still standing up. | I may call you Cecily, may I not? CECILY
With pleasure!
GWENDOLEN
And you will always call me Gwendolen, won't you?
CECILY
If you wish.
GWENDOLEN
Then that is all quite settled, is it not? CECILY I hope so. [A pause. They both sit down together.] GWENDOLEN
Perhaps this might be a favorable opportunity for my mention
ing who I am. My father is Lord Bracknell. You have never heard of papa,
I suppose?
CECILY
