Gerald Don’t put it like that, mother. Of course I am sorry to leave you. Why, you are the best mother in the whole world. But after all, as Lord Illingworth says, it is impossible to live in such a place as Wrockley. You don’t mind it. But I’m ambitious; I want something more than that. I want to have a career. I want to do something that will make you proud of me, and Lord Illingworth is going to help me. He is going to do everything for me.

Mrs Arbuthnot Gerald, don’t go away with Lord Illingworth. I implore you not to. Gerald, I beg you!

Gerald Mother, how changeable you are! You don’t seem to know your own mind for a single moment. An hour and a half ago in the drawing-room you agreed to the whole thing; now you turn round and make objections, and try to force me to give up my one chance in life. Yes, my one chance. You don’t suppose that men like Lord Illingworth are to be found every day, do you, mother? It is very strange that when I have had such a wonderful piece of good luck, the one person to put difficulties in my way should be my own mother. Besides, you know, mother, I love Hester Worsley. Who could help loving her? I love her more than I have ever told you, far more. And if I had a position, if I had prospects, I could—I could ask her to—Don’t you understand now, mother, what it means to me to be Lord Illingworth’s secretary? To start like this is to find a career ready for one—before one—waiting for one. If I were Lord Illingworth’s secretary I could ask Hester to be my wife. As a wretched bank clerk with a hundred a year it would be an impertinence.

Mrs Arbuthnot I fear you need have no hopes of Miss Worsley. I know her views on life. She has just told them to me.

A pause

Gerald Then I have my ambition left, at any rate. That is something—I am glad I have that! You have always tried to crush my ambition, mother—haven’t you? You have told me that the world is a wicked place, that success is not worth having, that society is shallow, and all that sort of thing—well, I don’t believe it, mother. I think the world must be delightful. I think society must be exquisite. I think success is a thing worth having. You have been wrong in all that you taught me, mother, quite wrong. Lord Illingworth is a successful man. He is a fashionable man. He is a man who lives in the world and for it. Well, I would give anything to be just like Lord Illingworth.

Mrs Arbuthnot I would sooner see you dead.

Gerald Mother, what is your objection to Lord Illingworth? Tell me—tell me right out. What is it?

Mrs Arbuthnot He is a bad man.

Gerald In what way bad? I don’t understand what you mean.

Mrs Arbuthnot I will tell you.

Gerald I suppose you think him bad, because he doesn’t believe the same things as you do. Well, men are different from women, mother. It is natural that they should have different views.

Mrs Arbuthnot It is not what Lord Illingworth believes, or what he does not believe, that makes him bad. It is what he is.

Gerald Mother, is it something you know of him? Something you actually know?

Mrs Arbuthnot It is something I know.

Gerald Something you are quite sure of?

Mrs Arbuthnot Quite sure of.