Mrs Erlynne (laughing) Of course I do. You’ll carry it so gracefully. You would carry off anything gracefully, dear Lord Augustus.

When she reaches the door she looks back for a moment at Lady Windermere. Their eyes meet. Then she turns, and exit C. followed by Lord Augustus [Exit Parker]

Lady windermere You will never speak against Mrs Erlynne again, Arthur, will you?

Lord Windermere (gravely) She is better than one thought her.

Lady windermere She is better than I am.

Lord Windermere (smiling as he strokes her hair) Child, you and she belong to different worlds. Into your world evil has never entered.

Lady windermere Don’t say that, Arthur. There is the same world for all of us, and good and evil, sin and innocence, go through it hand in hand. To shut one’s eyes to half of life that one may live securely is as though one blinded oneself that one might walk with more safety in a land of pit and precipice.

Lord Windermere (moves down with her) Darling, why do you say that?

Lady windermere (sits on sofa)° Because I, who had shut my eyes to life, came to the brink. And one who had separated us—

Lord Windermere We were never separated.

Lady windermere We never must be again. Oh Arthur, don’t love me less, and I will trust you more. I will trust you absolutely. Let us go to Selby. In the Rose Garden at Selby the roses are white and red.°

Enter Lord Augustus C.

Lord Augustus Arthur, she has explained everything. (Lady Windermere looks horribly frightened at this. Lord Windermere starts. Lord Augustus takes Windermere by the arm and brings him to front of stage. He talks rapidly and in a low voice. Lady Windermere stands watching them in terror) My dear fellow, she has explained every demmed thing. We all wronged her immensely. It was entirely for my sake she went to Darlington’s rooms. Called first at the Club—fact is, wanted to put me out of suspense—and being told I had gone on—followed—naturally frightened when she heard a lot of us coming in—retired to another room—I assure you, most gratifying to me, the whole thing. We all behaved brutally to her. She is just the woman for me. Suits me down to the ground. All the conditions she makes are that we live entirely out of England. A very good thing too. Demmed clubs, demmed climate, demmed cooks, demmed everything. Sick of it all!

Lady windermere (frightened) Has Mrs Erlynne—?

Lord Augustus (advancing towards her with a low bow). Yes, Lady Windermere—Mrs Erlynne has done me the honour of accepting my hand.

Lord Windermere Well, you are certainly marrying a very clever woman!

Lady windermere (taking her husband’s hand) Ah, you’re marrying a very good woman!°

Curtain