on bad terms with his father. [Enter Servant] Oh, here is the dear Archdeacon. [To Servant] It doesn’t matter.

Enter Sir John° and Dr Daubeny [and Mr Kelvil]. Sir John goes over to Lady Stutfield, Dr Daubeny to Lady Hunstanton

Dr Daubeny Lord Illingworth has been most entertaining. I have never enjoyed myself more. (Sees Mrs Arbuthnot) Ah, Mrs Arbuthnot.

Lady Hunstanton (to Dr Daubeny) You see I have got Mrs Arbuthnot to come to me at last.

Dr Daubeny That is a great honour, Lady Hunstanton. Mrs Daubeny will be quite jealous of you.

Lady Hunstanton Ah, I am so sorry Mrs Daubeny could not come with you tonight. Headache as usual, I suppose.

Dr Daubeny Yes, Lady Hunstanton; a perfect martyr. But she is happiest alone. She is happiest alone.

Lady Caroline (to her husband) John!

Sir John goes over° to his wife. Dr Daubeny talks to Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Arbuthnot. [Enter Lord Illingworth.] Mrs Arbuthnot watches Lord Illingworth the whole time. He has passed across the room without noticing her, and approaches Mrs Allonby, who with Lady Stutfield is standing by the door looking on to the terrace

Lord Illingworth How is the most charming woman in the world?

Mrs Allonby (taking Lady Stutfield by the hand) We are both quite well, thank you, Lord Illingworth. But what a short time you have been in the dining-room! It seems as if we had only just left.

Lord Illingworth I was bored to death. Never opened my lips the whole time. Absolutely longing to come in to you.

Mrs Allonby You should have. The American girl has been giving us a lecture.

Lord Illingworth Really? All Americans lecture, I believe. I suppose it is something in their climate. What did she lecture about?

Mrs Allonby Oh, Puritanism, of course.

Lord Illingworth I am going to convert her, am I not? How long do you give me?

Mrs Allonby A week.

Lord Illingworth A week is more than enough.

Enter Gerald and Lord Alfred

Gerald (going to Mrs Arbuthnot) Dear mother.

Mrs Arbuthnot Gerald, I don’t feel at all well. See me home, Gerald. I shouldn’t have come.

Gerald I am so sorry, mother. Certainly. But you must know Lord Illingworth first.

Goes across room

Mrs Arbuthnot Not tonight, Gerald.