LADY WINDERMERE.Arthur,would you mind seeing if Mrs.Erlynne's carriage has come back?
MRS.ERLYNNE.Pray don't trouble,Lord Windermere.
LADY WINDERMERE.Yes,Arthur,do go,please.
[LORD WINDERMERE hesitated for a moment and looks at MRS.ERLYNNE.
She remains quite impassive.He leaves the room.]
[To MRS.ERLYNNE.]Oh!What am I to say to you?You saved me last night?[Goes towards her.]
MRS.ERLYNNE.Hush -don't speak of it.
LADY WINDERMERE.I must speak of it.I can't let you think that Iam going to accept this sacrifice.I am not.It is too great.Iam going to tell my husband everything.It is my duty.
MRS.ERLYNNE.It is not your duty -at least you have duties to others besides him.You say you owe me something?
LADY WINDERMERE.I owe you everything.
MRS.ERLYNNE.Then pay your debt by silence.That is the only way in which it can be paid.Don't spoil the one good thing I have done in my life by telling it to any one.Promise me that what passed last night will remain a secret between us.You must not bring misery into your husband's life.Why spoil his love?You must not spoil it.Love is easily killed.Oh!how easily love is killed.Pledge me your word,Lady Windermere,that you will never tell him.I insist upon it.
LADY WINDERMERE.[With bowed head.]It is your will,not mine.
MRS.ERLYNNE.Yes,it is my will.And never forget your child -Ilike to think of you as a mother.I like you to think of yourself as one.
LADY WINDERMERE.[Looking up.]I always will now.Only once in my life I have forgotten my own mother -that was last night.Oh,if I had remembered her I should not have been so foolish,so wicked.
MRS.ERLYNNE.[With a slight shudder.]Hush,last night is quite over.
[Enter LORD WINDERMERE.]
LORD WINDERMERE.Your carriage has not come back yet,Mrs.
Erlynne.
MRS.ERLYNNE.It makes no matter.I'll take a hansom.There is nothing in the world so respectable as a good Shrewsbury and Talbot.And now,dear Lady Windermere,I am afraid it is really good-bye.[Moves up C.]Oh,I remember.You'll think me absurd,but do you know I've taken a great fancy to this fan that I was silly enough to run away with last night from your ball.Now,Iwonder would you give it to me?Lord Windermere says you may.Iknow it is his present.
LADY WINDERMERE.Oh,certainly,if it will give you any pleasure.
But it has my name on it.It has 'Margaret'on it.
MRS.ERLYNNE.But we have the same Christian name.
LADY WINDERMERE.Oh,I forgot.Of course,do have it.What a wonderful chance our names being the same!
MRS.ERLYNNE.Quite wonderful.Thanks -it will always remind me of you.[Shakes hands with her.]
[Enter PARKER.]
PARKER.Lord Augustus Lorton.Mrs.Erlynne's carriage has come.
[Enter LORD AUGUSTUS.]
LORD AUGUSTUS.Good morning,dear boy.Good morning,Lady Windermere.[Sees MRS.ERLYNNE.]Mrs.Erlynne!
MRS.ERLYNNE.How do you do,Lord Augustus?Are you quite well this morning?
LORD AUGUSTUS.[Coldly.]Quite well,thank you,Mrs.Erlynne.