mabel chiltern
I know, dear. You married a man with a future, didn’t you? But then Robert was a genius, and you have a noble, self-sacrificing character. You can stand geniuses. I have no character at all, and Robert is the only genius I could ever bear. As a rule, I think they are quite impossible. Geniuses talk so much, don’t they? Such a bad habit! And they are always thinking about themselves, when I want them to be thinking about me. I must go round now and rehearse at Lady Basildon’s. You remember, we are having tableaux, don’t you? The Triumph of something, I don’t know what! I hope it will be triumph of me. Only triumph I am really interested in at present. [Kisses Lady Chiltern and goes out; then comes running back.] Oh, ·97· Gertrude, do you know who is coming to see you? That dreadful Mrs. Cheveley, in a most lovely gown. Did you ask her?
lady chiltern
[Rising.] Mrs. Cheveley! Coming to see me? Impossible!
mabel chiltern
I assure you she is coming upstairs, as large as life and not nearly so natural.
lady chiltern
You need not wait, Mabel. Remember, Lady Basildon is expecting you.
mabel chiltern
Oh! I must shake hands with Lady Markby. She is delightful. I love being scolded by her.
[Enter Mason.]
mason
Lady Markby. Mrs. Cheveley.
[Enter Lady Markby and Mrs. Cheveley.]
lady chiltern
[Advancing to meet them.] Dear Lady Markby, ·98· how nice of you to come and see me! [Shakes hands with her, and bows somewhat distantly to Mrs. Cheveley.] Won’t you sit down, Mrs. Cheveley?
mrs. cheveley
Thanks. Isn’t that Miss Chiltern? I should like so much to know her.
lady chiltern
Mabel, Mrs. Cheveley wishes to know you. [Mabel Chiltern gives a little nod.]
mrs. cheveley
[Sitting down.] I thought your frock so charming last night, Miss Chiltern. So simple and … suitable.
mabel chiltern
Really? I must tell my dressmaker. It will be such a surprise to her. Good-bye, Lady Markby!
lady markby
Going already?
mabel chiltern
I am so sorry but I am obliged to. I am just ·99· off to rehearsal. I have got to stand on my head in some tableaux.
lady markby
On your head, child? Oh! I hope not. I believe it is most unhealthy. [Takes a seat on the sofa next Lady Chiltern.]
mabel chiltern
But it is for an excellent charity: in aid of the Undeserving, the only people I am really interested in. I am the secretary, and Tommy Trafford is treasurer.
mrs. cheveley
And what is Lord Goring?
mabel chiltern
Oh! Lord Goring is president.
mrs. cheveley
The post should suit him admirably, unless he has deteriorated since I knew him first.
lady markby
[Reflecting]. [E: [Reflecting.]] You are remarkably modern, Mabel. A little too modern, perhaps. Nothing is so dangerous as being too modern. One is apt to grow ·100· old-fashioned quite suddenly. I have known many instances of it.
mabel chiltern
What a dreadful prospect!
lady markby
Ah! my dear, you need not be nervous. You will always be as pretty as possible. That is the best fashion there is, and the only fashion that England succeeds in setting.
mabel chiltern
[With a curtsey.] Thank you so much, Lady Markby, for England … and myself. [Goes out.]
lady markby
[Turning to Lady Chiltern.] Dear Gertrude, we just called to know if Mrs. Cheveley’s diamond brooch has been found.
lady chiltern
Here?
mrs. cheveley
Yes. I missed it when I got back to Claridge’s, and I thought I might possibly have dropped it here.
·101· lady chiltern
I have heard nothing about it. But I will send for the butler and ask. [Touches the bell.]
mrs. cheveley
Oh, pray don’t trouble, Lady Chiltern. I daresay I lost it at the Opera, before we came on here.
lady markby
Ah yes, I suppose it must have been at the Opera. The fact is, we all scramble and jostle so much nowadays that I wonder we have anything at all left on us at the end of an evening. I know myself that, when I am coming back from the Drawing Room, I always feel as if I hadn’t a shred on me, except a small shred of decent reputation, just enough to prevent the lower classes making painful observations through the windows of the carriage. The fact is that our Society is terribly overpopulated. Really, some one should arrange a proper scheme of assisted emigration. It would do a great deal of good.
mrs. cheveley
I quite agree with you, Lady Markby. It is nearly six years since I have been in London for the season, and I must say Society has become dreadfully mixed. One sees the oddest people everywhere.
·102· lady markby
That is quite true, dear. But one needn’t know them. I’m sure I don’t know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, from all I hear, I shouldn’t like to.
[Enter Mason.]
lady chiltern
What sort of a brooch was it that you lost, Mrs. Cheveley?
mrs. cheveley
A diamond snake-brooch with a ruby, a rather large ruby.
lady markby
