Jack Gwendolen! Darling! (Offers to kiss her)

Gwendolen (drawing back) A moment! May I ask if you are engaged to be married to this young lady? (Points to Cecily)

Jack (laughing) To dear little Cecily! Of course not! What could have put such an idea into your pretty little head?

Gwendolen Thank you. You may! (Offers her cheek)

Cecily (very sweetly) I knew there must be some misunderstanding, Miss Fairfax. The gentleman whose arm is at present round your waist is my dear guardian, Mr John Worthing.

Gwendolen I beg your pardon?

Cecily This is Uncle Jack.

Gwendolen (receding) Jack! Oh!

Enter Algernon

Cecily Here is Ernest.

Algernon (goes straight over to Cecily without noticing anyone else) My own love! (Offers to kiss her)

Cecily (drawing back) A moment, Ernest! May I ask you—are you engaged to be married to this young lady?

Algernon (looking round) To what young lady? Good heavens! Gwendolen!

Cecily Yes! to good heavens, Gwendolen, I mean to Gwendolen.

Algernon (laughing) Of course not! What could have put such an idea into your pretty little head?

Cecily Thank you. (Presenting her cheek to be kissed) You may. (Algernon kisses her)

Gwendolen I felt there was some slight error, Miss Cardew. The gentleman who is now embracing you is my cousin, Mr Algernon Moncrieff.

Cecily (breaking away from Algernon) Algernon Moncrieff! Oh!°

The two girls move towards each other and put their arms round each other’s waists as if for protection

Cecily Are you called Algernon?

Algernon I cannot deny it.

Cecily Oh!

Gwendolen Is your name really John?

Jack (standing rather proudly) I could deny it if I liked. I could deny anything if I liked. But my name certainly is John. It has been John for years.

Cecily (to Gwendolen) A gross deception has been practised on both of us.

Gwendolen My poor wounded Cecily!