Lord Goring I was.

Mabel Chiltern I wish I had brought you up!

Lord Goring I am so sorry you didn’t.

Mabel Chiltern It is too late now, I suppose?

Lord Goring (smiling) I am not so sure.

Mabel Chiltern Will you ride tomorrow morning?

Lord Goring Yes, at ten.

Mabel Chiltern Don’t forget.

Lord Goring Of course I shan’t. By the way, Lady Chiltern, there is no list of your guests in The Morning Post° of today. It has apparently been crowded out by the County Council, or the Lambeth Conference, or something equally boring. Could you let me have a list? I have a particular reason for asking you.

Lady Chiltern I am sure Mr Trafford will be able to give you one.

Lord Goring Thanks, so much.

Mabel Chiltern Tommy is the most useful person in London.

Lord Goring (turning to her) And who is the most ornamental?

Mabel Chiltern (triumphantly) I am.

Lord Goring How clever of you to guess it! (Takes up his hat and cane) Good-bye, Lady Chiltern! You will remember what I said to you, won’t you?

Lady Chiltern Yes; but I don’t know why you said it to me.

Lord Goring I hardly know myself. Good-bye, Miss Mabel!

Mabel Chiltern (with a little moue° of disappointment) I wish you were not going. I have had four wonderful adventures this morning; four and a half, in fact. You might stop and listen to some of them.

Lord Goring How very selfish of you to have four and a half! There won’t be any left for me.

Mabel Chiltern I don’t want you to have any. They would not be good for you.

Lord Goring That is the first unkind thing you have ever said to me. How charmingly you said it! Ten tomorrow.

Mabel Chiltern Sharp.

Lord Goring Quite sharp. But don’t bring Mr Trafford.

Mabel Chiltern (with a little toss of the head) Of course I shan’t bring Tommy Trafford. Tommy Trafford is in great disgrace.

Lord Goring I am delighted to hear it.

Bows and goes out