arbuthnot
It is getting late. Let us go home.
gerald
My dear mother. Do let us wait a little longer. ·107· Lord Illingworth is so delightful, and, by the way, mother, I have a great surprise for you. We are starting for India at the end of this month.
mrs. arbuthnot
Let us go home.
gerald
If you really want to, of course, mother, but I must bid good-bye to Lord Illingworth first. I’ll be back in five minutes. [Exit.]
mrs. arbuthnot
Let him leave me if he chooses, but not with him—not with him! I couldn’t bear it. [Walks up and down.]
[Enter Hester.]
hester
What a lovely night it is, Mrs. Arbuthnot.
mrs. arbuthnot
Is it?
hester
Mrs. Arbuthnot, I wish you would let us be friends. You are so different from the other women here. When you came into the Drawing-room this evening, somehow you brought with you a sense of what is good and pure in life. I had ·108· been foolish. There are things that are right to say, but that may be said at the wrong time and to the wrong people.
mrs. arbuthnot
I heard what you said. I agree with it, Miss Worsley.
hester
I didn’t know you had heard it. But I knew you would agree with me. A woman who has sinned should be punished, shouldn’t she?
mrs. arbuthnot
Yes.
hester
She shouldn’t be allowed to come into the society of good men and women?
mrs. arbuthnot
She should not.
hester
And the man should be punished in the same way?
mrs. arbuthnot
In the same way. And the children, if there are children, in the same way also?
·109· hester
Yes, it is right that the sins of the parents should be visited on the children. It is a just law. It is God’s law.
mrs. arbuthnot
It is one of God’s terrible laws.
[Moves away to fireplace.]
hester
You are distressed about your son leaving you, Mrs. Arbuthnot?
mrs. arbuthnot
Yes.
hester
Do you like him going away with Lord Illingworth? Of course there is position, no doubt, and money, but position and money are not everything, are they?
mrs. arbuthnot
They are nothing; they bring misery.
hester
Then why do you let your son go with him?
mrs. arbuthnot
He wishes it himself.
·110· hester
But if you asked him he would stay, would he not?
mrs. arbuthnot
He has set his heart on going.
hester
He couldn’t refuse you anything. He loves you too much. Ask him to stay. Let me send him in to you. He is on the terrace at this moment with Lord Illingworth. I heard them laughing together as I passed through the Music-room.
mrs. arbuthnot
Don’t trouble, Miss Worsley, I can wait. It is of no consequence.
hester
No, I’ll tell him you want him. Do—do ask him to stay. [Exit Hester.]
mrs. arbuthnot
He won’t come—I know he won’t come.
[Enter Lady Caroline. She looks round anxiously. Enter Gerald.]
lady caroline
Mr. Arbuthnot, may I ask you is Sir John anywhere on the terrace?
·111· gerald
No, Lady Caroline, he is not on the terrace.
lady caroline
It is very curious. It is time for him to retire.
[Exit Lady Caroline.]
gerald
Dear mother, I am afraid I kept you waiting. I forgot all about it. I am so happy to-night, mother; I have never been so happy.
mrs. arbuthnot
At the prospect of going away?
gerald
Don’t put it like that, mother. Of course I am sorry to leave you. Why, you are the best mother in the whole world. But after all, as Lord Illingworth says, it is impossible to live in such a place as Wrockley. You don’t mind it. But I’m ambitious; I want something more than that. I want to have a career. I want to do something that will make you proud of me, and Lord Illingworth is going to help me. He is going to do everything for me.
mrs. arbuthnot
Gerald, don’t go away with Lord Illingworth. I implore you not to. Gerald, I beg you!
·112· gerald
Mother, how changeable you are! You don’t seem to know your own mind for a single moment. An hour and a half ago in the Drawing-room you agreed to the whole thing; now you turn round and make objections, and try to force me to give up my one chance in life. Yes, my one chance. You don’t suppose that men like Lord Illingworth are to be found every day, do you, mother? It is very strange that when I have had such a wonderful piece of good luck, the one person to put difficulties in my way should be my own mother. Besides,
