Lady Windermere’s Fan

modest disposition to pretend to be bad. Besides, there is this to be said. If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn’t. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism. Lady Windermere Don’t you want the world to take you seriously then, Lord Darlington? Lord Darlington No, not the world. Who are the people the world takes seriously? All the dull people one can think of, from the Bishops down to the bores. I should like you to take me very seriously, Lady Windermere, you more than anyone else in life. Lady Windermere Why⁠—why me? Lord Darlington After a slight hesitation. Because I think we might be great friends. Let us be great friends. You may want a friend 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, Lord Darlington. 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 things to me. You think I am a Puritan, I suppose? Well, I have something of the Puritan in me. I was brought up like that. I am glad of it. My mother died when I was a mere child. I lived always with Lady Julia, my father’s elder sister, you know. She was stern to me, but she taught me what the world is forgetting, the difference that there is between what is right and what is wrong. 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 as being behind the age.⁠—Well, I am! I should be sorry to be on the same 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 a speculation. It is not a speculation. It is a sacrament. Its ideal is Love. Its purification is sacrifice. Lord Darlington Smiling. Oh, anything is better than being sacrificed! 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 the terrace for tonight, my lady? Lady Windermere You don’t think it will rain, Lord Darlington, do you? 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 I am only putting an imaginary instance⁠—do you think that in the case of a young married couple, say about two years married, if the husband suddenly becomes the intimate friend of a woman of⁠—well, more than doubtful character⁠—is always calling upon her, lunching with her, and probably paying her bills⁠—do you think that the wife should not console herself? Lady Windermere Frowning. Console herself? Lord Darlington Yes, I think she should⁠—I think she has the right. Lady Windermere Because the husband is vile⁠—should the wife be vile 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 a great deal of harm in this world. Certainly the greatest harm they do is that they make badness of such extraordinary importance. It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious. I take the side of the charming, and you, Lady Windermere, can’t help belonging to them. 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 I think you are very hard on modern life, Lady Windermere. Of course there is much against it, I admit. Most women, for instance, nowadays, are rather mercenary. 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 have committed what the world calls a fault should never be forgiven? Lady Windermere Standing at table. I think they should never be forgiven. Lord Darlington And men? Do you think that there should be the same laws for men as there are for women? Lady Windermere Certainly! Lord Darlington I think life too complex a thing to be settled by these hard and fast rules. Lady Windermere If we had “these hard and fast rules,” we should find life much more simple. Lord Darlington You allow of no exceptions? Lady Windermere None! Lord Darlington Ah, what a fascinating Puritan you are, Lady Windermere! Lady Windermere The adjective was unnecessary, Lord Darlington. Lord Darlington I couldn’t help it. I can resist everything except temptation. Lady Windermere You have the modern affectation of weakness. Lord Darlington Looking at her. It’s only an affectation, Lady Windermere. Enter Parker C. Parker The Duchess of Berwick and Lady Agatha Carlisle. Enter the The Duchess of Berwick and Lady Agatha Carlisle C. Exit Parker C. The Duchess of Berwick Coming down C., and shaking hands. Dear Margaret, I am so pleased to see you. You remember Agatha, don’t you? Crossing L.C. How do you do, Lord Darlington? I won’t let you know my daughter, you are far too wicked. Lord Darlington Don’t say that, Duchess. As a wicked man I am a complete failure. Why, there are lots of people who say I have never really done anything wrong in the whole course of my life. Of course they only say it behind my back. The Duchess of Berwick Isn’t he dreadful? Agatha, this is Lord Darlington. Mind you don’t believe a word he says. Lord Darlington crosses R.C. No, no tea, thank you, dear. Crosses and sits on sofa. We have just had tea