Lady Windermere's Fan
LADY AGATHA. [_Entering L._] Yes, mamma. [_Stands back of table L.C._]
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Come and bid good-bye to Lady Windermere, and thank
her for your charming visit. [_Coming down again_.] And by the way, I
must thank you for sending a card to Mr. Hopper—he’s that rich young
Australian people are taking such notice of just at present. His father
made a great fortune by selling some kind of food in circular tins—most
palatable, I believe—I fancy it is the thing the servants always refuse
to eat. But the son is quite interesting. I think he’s attracted by
dear Agatha’s clever talk. Of course, we should be very sorry to lose
her, but I think that a mother who doesn’t part with a daughter every
season has no real affection. We’re coming to-night, dear. [PARKER
_opens C. doors_.] And remember my advice, take the poor fellow out of
town at once, it is the only thing to do. Good-bye, once more; come,
Agatha.
[_Exeunt_ DUCHESS _and_ LADY AGATHA _C._]
LADY WINDERMERE. How horrible! I understand now what Lord Darlington
meant by the imaginary instance of the couple not two years married. Oh!
it can’t be true—she spoke of enormous sums of money paid to this woman.
I know where Arthur keeps his bank book—in one of the drawers of that
desk. I might find out by that. I _will_ find out. [_Opens drawer_.]
No, it is some hideous mistake. [_Rises and goes C._] Some silly
scandal! He loves _me_! He loves _me_! But why should I not look? I
am his wife, I have a right to look! [_Returns to bureau_, _takes out
book and examines it page by page_, _smiles and gives a sigh of relief_.]
I knew it! there is not a word of truth in this stupid story. [_Puts
book back in dranver_. _As the does so_, _starts and takes out another
book_.] A second book—private—locked! [_Tries to open it_, _but fails_.
_Sees paper knife on bureau_, _and with it cuts cover from book_.
_Begins to start at the first page_.] ‘Mrs. Erlynne—£600—Mrs.
Erlynne—£700—Mrs. Erlynne—£400.’ Oh! it is true! It is true! How
horrible! [_Throws book on floor_.]
[_Enter_ LORD WINDERMERE _C._]
LORD WINDERMERE. Well, dear, has the fan been sent home yet? [_Going
R.C._ _Sees book_.] Margaret, you have cut open my bank book. You have
no right to do such a thing!
LADY WINDERMERE. You think it wrong that you are found out, don’t you?
LORD WINDERMERE. I think it wrong that a wife should spy on her husband.
LADY WINDERMERE. I did not spy on you. I never knew of this woman’s
existence till half an hour ago. Some one who pitied me was kind enough
to tell me what every one in London knows already—your daily visits to
Curzon Street, your mad infatuation, the monstrous sums of money you
squander on this infamous woman! [_Crossing L._]
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret! don’t talk like that of Mrs. Erlynne, you
don’t know how unjust it is!
LADY WINDERMERE. [_Turning to him_.] You are very jealous of Mrs.
Erlynne’s honour. I wish you had been as jealous of mine.
LORD WINDERMERE. Your honour is untouched, Margaret. You don’t think
for a moment that—[_Puts book back into desk_.]
LADY WINDERMERE. I think that you spend your money strangely. That is
all. Oh, don’t imagine I mind about the money. As far as I am
concerned, you may squander everything we have. But what I _do_ mind is
that you who have loved me, you who have taught me to love you, should
pass from the love that is given to the love that is bought. Oh, it’s
horrible! [_Sits on sofa_.] And it is I who feel degraded! _you_ don’t
feel anything. I feel stained, utterly stained. You can’t realise how
hideous the last six months seems to me now—every kiss you have given me
is tainted in my memory.
LORD WINDERMERE. [_Crossing to her_.] Don’t say that, Margaret. I
never loved any one in the whole world but you.
LADY WINDERMERE. [_Rises_.] Who is this woman, then? Why do you take a
house for her?
LORD WINDERMERE. I did not take a house for her.
LADY WINDERMERE. You gave her the money to do it, which is the same
thing.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne—
LADY WINDERMERE. Is there a Mr. Erlynne—or is he a myth?
LORD WINDERMERE. Her husband died many years ago. She is alone in the
world.
LADY WINDERMERE. No relations? [_A pause_.]
LORD WINDERMERE. None.
LADY WINDERMERE. Rather curious, isn’t it? [_L._]
LORD WINDERMERE. [_L.C._] Margaret, I was saying to you—and I beg you
to listen to me—that as far as I have known Mrs. Erlynne, she has
conducted herself well. If years ago—
LADY WINDERMERE. Oh! [_Crossing R.C._] I don’t want details about her
life!
LORD WINDERMERE. [_C._] I am not going to give you any details about
her life. I tell you simply this—Mrs. Erlynne was once honoured, loved,
respected. She was well born, she had position—she lost everything—threw
it away, if you like. That makes it all the more bitter. Misfortunes
one can endure—they come from outside, they are accidents. But to suffer
for one’s own faults—ah!—there is the sting of life. It was twenty years
ago, too. She was little more than a girl then. She had been a wife for
even less time than you have.
LADY WINDERMERE. I am not interested in her—and—you should not mention
this woman and me in the same breath. It is an error of taste.
[_Sitting R. at desk_.]
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you could save this woman. She wants to get
back into society, and she wants you to help her. [_Crossing to her_.]
LADY WINDERMERE. Me!
LORD WINDERMERE. Yes, you.
LADY WINDERMERE. How impertinent of her! [_A pause_.]
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, I came to ask you a great favour, and I still
ask it of you, though you have discovered what I had intended you should
never have known that I have given Mrs. Erlynne a large sum of money. I
want you to send her an invitation for our party to-night. [_Standing L.
of her_.]
LADY WINDERMERE. You are mad! [_Rises_.]
LORD WINDERMERE. I entreat you. People may chatter about her, do
chatter about her, of course, but they don’t know anything definite
against her. She has been to several houses—not to houses where you
would go, I admit, but still to houses where women who are in what is
called Society nowadays do go. That does not content her. She wants you
to receive her once.
LADY WINDERMERE. As a triumph for her, I suppose?
LORD WINDERMERE. No; but because she knows that you are a good woman—and
that if she comes here once she will have a chance of a happier, a surer
life than she has had. She will make no further effort to know you.
Won’t you help a woman who is trying to get back?
LADY WINDERMERE. No! If a woman really repents, she never wishes to
return to the society that has made or seen her ruin.
LORD WINDERMERE. I beg of you.
LADY WINDERMERE. [_Crossing to door R._] I am going to dress for
dinner, and don’t mention the subject again this evening. Arthur [_going
to him C._], you fancy because I have no father or mother that I am alone
in the world, and that you can treat me as you choose. You are wrong, I
have friends, many friends.
LORD WINDERMERE. [_L.C._] Margaret, you are talking foolishly,
recklessly. I won’t argue with you, but I insist upon your asking Mrs.
Erlynne to-night.
LADY WINDERMERE. [_R.C._] I shall do nothing of the kind. [_Crossing
L.C._]
LORD WINDERMERE. You refuse? [_C._]
LADY WINDERMERE. Absolutely!
LORD WINDERMERE. Ah, Margaret, do this for my sake; it is her last
chance.
LADY WINDERMERE. What has that to do with me?
LORD WINDERMERE. How hard good women are!
LADY WINDERMERE. How weak bad men are!
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, none of us men may be good enough for the
women we marry—that is quite true—but you don’t imagine I would ever—oh,
the suggestion is monstrous!
LADY WINDERMERE. Why should _you_ be different from other men? I am
told that there is hardly a husband in London who does not waste his life
over _some_ shameful passion.
LORD WINDERMERE. I am not one of them.
LADY WINDERMERE. I am not sure of that!
LORD WINDERMERE. You are sure in your heart. But don’t make chasm after
chasm between us. God knows the last few minutes have thrust us wide
enough apart. Sit down and write the card.
LADY WINDERMERE. Nothing in the whole world would induce me.
LORD WINDERMERE. [_Crossing to bureau_.] Then I will! [_Rings electric
bell_, _sits and writes card_.]
LADY WINDERMERE. You are going to invite this woman? [_Crossing to
him_.]
LORD WINDERMERE. Yes. [_Pause_. _Enter_ PARKER.] Parker!
PARKER. Yes, my lord. [_Comes down L.C._]
LORD WINDERMERE. Have this note sent to Mrs. Erlynne at No. 84A Curzon
Street. [_Crossing to L.C. and giving note to_ PARKER.] There is no
answer!
[_Exit_ PARKER _C._]
LADY WINDERMERE. Arthur, if that woman comes here, I shall insult her.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, don’t say that.
LADY WINDERMERE. I mean it.
LORD WINDERMERE. Child, if you did such a thing, there’s not a woman in
London who wouldn’t pity you.
LADY WINDERMERE. There is not a _good_ woman in London who would not
applaud me. We have been too lax. We must make an example. I propose
to begin to-night. [_Picking up fan_.] Yes, you gave me this fan
to-day; it was your birthday present. If that woman crosses my
threshold, I shall strike her across the face with it.
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you couldn’t do such a thing.
LADY WINDERMERE. You don’t know me! [_Moves R._]
[_Enter_ PARKER.]
Parker!
PARKER. Yes, my lady.
LADY WINDERMERE. I shall dine in my own room. I don’t want dinner, in
fact. See that everything is ready by half-past ten. And, Parker, be
sure you pronounce the names of the guests very distinctly to-night.
Sometimes you speak so fast that I miss them. I am particularly anxious
to hear the names quite clearly, so as to make no mistake. You
understand, Parker?
PARKER. Yes, my lady.
LADY WINDERMERE. That will do!
[_Exit_ PARKER _C._]
[_Speaking to_ LORD WINDERMERE.] Arthur, if that woman comes here—I warn
you—
LORD WINDERMERE. Margaret, you’ll ruin us!
LADY WINDERMERE. Us! From this moment my life is separate from yours.
But if you wish to avoid a public scandal, write at once to this woman,
and tell her that I forbid her to come here!
LORD WINDERMERE. I will not—I cannot—she must come!
LADY WINDERMERE. Then I shall do exactly as I have said. [_Goes R._]
You leave me no choice.
[_Exit R._]
LORD WINDERMERE. [_Calling after her_.] Margaret! Margaret! [_A
pause_.] My God! What shall I do? I dare not tell her who this woman
really is. The shame would kill her. [_Sinks down into a chair and
buries his face in his hands_.]
* * * * *
ACT DROP
SECOND ACT
SCENE
_Drawing-room in Lord Windermere’s house_. _Door R.U. opening into
ball-room_, _where band is playing_. _Door L. through which guests are
entering_. _Door L.U. opens on to illuminated terrace_. _Palms_,
_flowers_, _and brilliant lights_. _Room crowded with guests_. _Lady
Windermere is receiving them_.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [_Up C._] So strange Lord Windermere isn’t here.
Mr. Hopper is very late, too. You have kept those five dances for him,
Agatha? [_Comes down_.]
LADY AGATHA. Yes, mamma.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [_Sitting on sofa_.] Just let me see your card.