Lady Windermere’s Fan

on the map. What a curious shape it is! Just like a large packing case. However, it is a very young country, isn’t it? Hopper Wasn’t it made at the same time as the others, Duchess? The Duchess of Berwick How clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have a cleverness quite of your own. Now I mustn’t keep you. Hopper But I should like to dance with Lady Agatha, Duchess. The Duchess of Berwick Well, I hope she has a dance left. Have you a dance left, Agatha? Lady Agatha Yes, mamma. The Duchess of Berwick The next one? Lady Agatha Yes, mamma. Hopper May I have the pleasure? Lady Agatha bows. The Duchess of Berwick Mind you take great care of my little chatterbox, Mr. Hopper. Lady Agatha and Mr. Hopper pass into ballroom. 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. The Duchess of Berwick Sir James, will you take me into the ballroom? Augustus has been dining with us tonight. I really have had quite enough of dear Augustus for the moment. Sir James Royston gives the Duchess his arm and escorts her into the ballroom. Parker Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bowden. Lord and Lady Paisley. Lord Darlington. These people enter as announced. Lord Augustus Coming up to Lord Windermere. Want to speak to you particularly, dear boy. I’m worn to a shadow. Know I don’t look it. None of us men do look what we really are. Demmed good thing, too. What I want to know is this. Who is she? Where does she come from? Why hasn’t she got any demmed relations? Demmed nuisance, relations! But they make one so demmed respectable. Lord Windermere You are talking of Mrs. Erlynne, I suppose? I only met her six months ago. Till then, I never knew of her existence. Lord Augustus You have seen a good deal of her since then. Lord Windermere Coldly. Yes, I have seen a good deal of her since then. I have just seen her. Lord Augustus Egad! the women are very down on her. I have been dining with Arabella this evening! By Jove! you should have heard what she said about Mrs. Erlynne. She didn’t leave a rag on her.⁠ ⁠… Aside. Berwick and I told her that didn’t matter much, as the lady in question must have an extremely fine figure. You should have seen Arabella’s expression!⁠ ⁠… But, look here, dear boy. I don’t know what to do about Mrs. Erlynne. Egad! I might be married to her; she treats me with such demmed indifference. She’s deuced clever, too! She explains everything. Egad! she explains you. She has got any amount of explanations for you⁠—and all of them different. Lord Windermere No explanations are necessary about my friendship with Mrs. Erlynne. Lord Augustus Hem! Well, look here, dear old fellow. Do you think she will ever get into this demmed thing called Society? Would you introduce her to your wife? No use beating about the confounded bush. Would you do that? Lord Windermere Mrs. Erlynne is coming here tonight. 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 you tell me that before? It would have saved me a heap of worry and demmed 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 shakes hands with Lord Windermere. Good evening, Arthur. Why don’t you ask me how I am? I like people to ask me how I am. It shows a widespread interest in my health. Now, tonight I am not at all well. Been dining with my people. Wonder why it is one’s people are always so tedious? My father would talk morality after dinner. I told him he was old enough to know better. But my experience is that as soon as people are old enough to know better, they don’t know anything at all. Hallo, Tuppy! Hear you’re going to be married 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 twice married and once divorced, or twice divorced and once married? I say you’ve been twice divorced and once married. It seems so much more probable. Lord Augustus I have a very bad memory. I really don’t remember which. Moves away R. Lady Plymdale Lord Windermere, I’ve something most particular to ask you. Lord Windermere I am afraid⁠—if you will excuse me⁠—I must join my wife. Lady Plymdale Oh, you mustn’t dream of such a thing. It’s most dangerous nowadays for a husband to pay any attention to his wife in public. It always makes people think that he beats her when they’re alone. The world has grown so suspicious of anything that looks like a happy married life. But I’ll tell you what it is at supper. Moves towards door of ballroom. 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 said before dinner was, of course, impossible? Lady Windermere That woman is not coming here tonight! Lord Windermere R.C. Mrs. Erlynne is coming here, and if you in any way annoy or wound her, you will bring shame and sorrow on us both. Remember that! Ah, Margaret! only trust me! A wife should trust her husband! Lady Windermere C. London is full of women who trust their husbands. One can always recognise them. They look so thoroughly unhappy. I am not going to be one of them. Moves up. Lord Darlington, will you give me back my fan,