Mrs Erlynne My name is Margaret too.

Lady windermere Indeed!

Mrs Erlynne Yes. (Pause) You are devoted to your mother’s memory, Lady Windermere, your husband tells me.

Lady windermere We all have ideals in life. At least we all should 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, I should 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 my mother had died a few months after I was born. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke. Then he begged me never to mention her name 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 ruined life I know.

Mrs Erlynne (rising) I am afraid I must go now, Lady Windermere.

Lady windermere (rising) Oh no, don’t.

Mrs Erlynne I think I had better. My carriage must have come back by this time. I sent it to Lady Jedburgh’s with a note.

Lady windermere Arthur, would you mind seeing if Mrs Erlynne’s carriage has come back?

Mrs Erlynne Pray don’t trouble, Lord Windermere.

Lady windermere Yes, Arthur, do go, please.

Lord Windermere hesitates 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 me last 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 I am going to accept this sacrifice. I am not. It is too great. I am going to tell my husband everything. It is my duty.

Mrs Erlynne It is not your duty—at least you have duties to others 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 way in which it can be paid. Don’t spoil the one good thing I have done in my life by telling it to anyone. Promise me that what passed last night will remain a secret between us. You must not bring misery into your husband’s life. Why spoil his love?