Cecily I don’t think so.

Gwendolen Outside the family circle, papa, I am glad to say, is entirely unknown. I think that is quite as it should be. The home seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man. And certainly once a man begins to neglect his domestic duties he becomes painfully effeminate, does he not? And I don’t like that. It makes men so very attractive. Cecily, mamma, whose views on education are remarkably strict, has brought me up to be extremely short-sighted; it is part of her system; so do you mind my looking at you through my glasses?

Cecily Oh! not at all, Gwendolen. I am very fond of being looked at.

Gwendolen (after examining Cecily carefully through a lorgnette) You are here on a short visit I suppose.

Cecily Oh no! I live here.

Gwendolen (severely) Really? Your mother, no doubt, or some female relative of advanced years, resides here also?

Cecily Oh no! I have no mother, nor, in fact, any relations.

Gwendolen Indeed?

Cecily My dear guardian, with the assistance of Miss Prism, has the arduous task of looking after me.

Gwendolen Your guardian?

Cecily Yes, I am Mr Worthing’s ward.

Gwendolen Oh! It is strange he never mentioned to me that he had a ward. How secretive of him! He grows more interesting hourly. I am not sure, however, that the news inspires me with feelings of unmixed delight. (Rising and going to her) I am very fond of you, Cecily; I have liked you ever since I met you! But I am bound to state that now that I know that you are Mr Worthing’s ward, I cannot help expressing a wish you were—well just a little older than you seem to be—and not quite so very alluring in appearance. In fact, if I may speak candidly—

Cecily Pray do! I think that whenever one has anything unpleasant to say, one should always be quite candid.

Gwendolen Well, to speak with perfect candour, Cecily, I wish that you were fully forty-two, and more than usually plain for your age. Ernest has a strong upright nature. He is the very soul of truth and honour. Disloyalty would be as impossible to him as deception. But even men of the noblest possible moral character are extremely susceptible to the influence of the physical charms of others. Modern, no less than Ancient History, supplies us with many most painful examples of what I refer to. If it were not so, indeed, History would be quite unreadable.

Cecily I beg your pardon, Gwendolen, did you say Ernest?

Gwendolen Yes.

Cecily Oh, but it is not Mr Ernest Worthing who is my guardian. It is his brother—his elder brother.

Gwendolen (sitting down again) Ernest never mentioned to me that he had a brother.

Cecily I am sorry to say they have not been on good terms for a long time.