LADY WINDERMERE. I did not spy on you. I never knew of this
woman's existence till half an hour ago. Some one who pitied me
was kind enough to tell me what every one in London knows already -
your daily visits to Curzon Street, your mad infatuation, the
monstrous 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't
think 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 as
I am concerned, you may squander everything we have. But what I DO
mind is that you who have loved me, you who have taught me to love
you, should pass from the love that is given to the love that is
bought. Oh, it's horrible! [Sits on sofa.] And it is I who feel
degraded! YOU don't feel anything. I feel stained, utterly
stained. You can't realise how hideous the last six months seems
to me now - every kiss you have given me is tainted in my memory.
LORD WINDERMERE. [Crossing to her.] Don't say that, Margaret. I
never loved any one in the whole world but you.
LADY WINDERMERE. [Rises.] Who is this woman, then? Why do you
take 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 the
same 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 in
the 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 beg
you to listen to me - that as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne, she
has conducted herself well. If years ago -
LADY WINDERMERE. Oh! [Crossing R.C.] I don't want details about
her life!
LORD WINDERMERE. [C.] I am not going to give you any details
about her life. I tell you simply this - Mrs. Erlynne was once
honoured, loved, respected. She was well born, she had position -
she lost everything - threw it away, if you like. That makes it
all the more bitter. Misfortunes one can endure - they come from
outside, 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 even
less time than you have.
LADY WINDERMERE. I am not interested in her - and - you should not
mention this woman and me in the same breath. It is an error of
taste. [Sitting R. at desk.]
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you could save this woman. She wants
to get back into society, and she wants you to help her. [Crossing
to 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 I
still ask it of you, though you have discovered what I had intended
you should never have known that I have given Mrs. Erlynne a large
sum of money. I want you to send her an invitation for our party
to-night. [Standing L. of her.]
LADY WINDERMERE. You are mad! [Rises.]
LORD WINDERMERE. I entreat you. People may chatter about her, do
chatter about her, of course, but they don't know anything definite
against her. She has been to several houses - not to houses where
you would go, I admit, but still to houses where women who are in
what 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 good
woman - and that if she comes here once she will have a chance of a
happier, a surer life than she has had. She will make no further
effort to know you. Won't you help a woman who is trying to get
back?
LADY WINDERMERE. No! If a woman really repents, she never wishes
to 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 for
dinner, and don't mention the subject again this evening. Arthur
[going to him C.], you fancy because I have no father or mother
that I am alone in the world, and that you can treat me as you
choose. 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 asking
Mrs. 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 last
chance.
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 for
the women we marry - that is quite true - but you don't imagine I
would ever - oh, the suggestion is monstrous!
LADY WINDERMERE. Why should YOU be different from other men? I am
told that there is hardly a husband in London who does not waste
his 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 chasm
after chasm between us. God knows the last few minutes have thrust
us 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! [Rings
electric bell, sits and writes card.]
LADY WINDERMERE. You are going to invite this woman? [Crossing to
him.]
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. 84A
Curzon 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 insult
her.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, don't say that.
LADY WINDERMERE. I mean it.
LORD WINDERMERE. Child, if you did such a thing, there's not a
woman in London who wouldn't pity you.
LADY WINDERMERE. There is not a GOOD woman in London who would not
applaud me. We have been too lax. We must make an example. I
propose to begin to-night. [Picking up fan.] Yes, you gave me
this fan to-day; it was your birthday present. If that woman
crosses 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 want
dinner, in fact. See that everything is ready by half-past ten.
And, Parker, be sure you pronounce the names of the guests very
distinctly to-night. Sometimes you speak so fast that I miss them.
I am particularly anxious to hear the names quite clearly, so as to
