Dr Daubeny She used to be quite remarkable for her memory, but since her last attack she recalls chiefly the events of her early childhood. But she finds great pleasure in such retrospections, great pleasure.

Enter Lady Stutfield and Mr Kelvil

Lady Hunstanton Ah! dear Lady Stutfield! and what has Mr Kelvil been talking to you about?

Lady Stutfield About Bimetallism,° as well as I remember.

Lady Hunstanton Bimetallism! Is that quite a nice subject? However, I know people discuss everything very freely nowadays. What did Sir John talk to you about, dear Mrs Allonby?

Mrs Allonby About Patagonia.°

Lady Hunstanton Really? What a remote topic! But very improving, I have no doubt.

Mrs Allonby He has been most interesting on the subject of Patagonia. Savages seem to have quite the same views as cultured people on almost all subjects. They are excessively advanced.

Lady Hunstanton What do they do?

Mrs Allonby Apparently everything.

Lady Hunstanton Well, it is very gratifying, dear Archdeacon, is it not, to find that Human Nature is permanently one.—On the whole, the world is the same world, is it not?

Lord Illingworth The world is simply divided into two classes—those who believe the incredible, like the public—and those who do the improbable—

Mrs Allonby Like yourself?

Lord Illingworth Yes; I am always astonishing myself. It is the only thing that makes life worth living.

Lady Stutfield And what have you been doing lately that astonishes you?

Lord Illingworth I have been discovering all kinds of beautiful qualities in my own nature.

Mrs Allonby Ah! don’t become quite perfect all at once. Do it gradually!

Lord Illingworth I don’t intend to grow perfect at all. At least, I hope I shan’t. It would be most inconvenient. Women love us for our defects. If we have enough of them, they will forgive us everything, even our gigantic intellects.

Mrs Allonby It is premature to ask us to forgive analysis. We forgive adoration; that is quite as much as should be expected from us.

Enter Lord Alfred [Rufford]. He joins Lady Stutfield

Lady Hunstanton Ah! we women should forgive everything, shouldn’t we, dear Mrs Arbuthnot? I am sure you agree with me in that.

Mrs Arbuthnot I do not, Lady Hunstanton. I think there are many things women should never forgive.

Lady Hunstanton What sort of things?

Mrs Arbuthnot The ruin of another woman’s life.