Lord Illingworth enters at back of stage. Hester breaks from Gerald’s arms and points to him

Gerald (he is quite beside himself with rage and indignation) Lord Illingworth, you have insulted the purest thing on God’s earth,° a thing as pure as my own mother. You have insulted the woman I love most in the world with my own mother. As there is a God in Heaven, I will kill you!

Mrs Arbuthnot (rushing across and catching hold of him) No! no!

Gerald (thrusting her back) Don’t hold me, mother. Don’t hold me—I’ll kill him!

Mrs Arbuthnot Gerald!

Gerald Let me go, I say!

Mrs Arbuthnot Stop, Gerald, stop! He is your own father!

Gerald clutches his mother’s hands and looks into her face. She sinks slowly on the ground in shame. Hester steals towards the door. Lord Illingworth frowns and bites his lip. After a time Gerald raises his mother up, puts his arm round her, and leads her from the room

Act Drop