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. I’m so glad Lady Windermere has revived cards.—They’re a mother’s only safeguard. You dear simple little thing! [Scratches out two names.] No nice girl should ever waltz with such particularly younger sons! It looks so fast! The last ·38· two dances you might pass on the terrace with Mr. Hopper.
[Enter Mr. Dumby and Lady Plymdale from the ball-room.
lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
duchess of berwick
[Fanning herself.] The air is so pleasant there.
parker
Mrs. Cowper-Cowper. Lady Stutfield. Sir James Royston. Mr. Guy Berkeley.
[These people enter as announced.
dumby
Good evening, Lady Stutfield. I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?
lady stutfield
I suppose so, Mr. Dumby. It’s been a delightful season, hasn’t it?
dumby
Quite delightful! Good evening, Duchess. I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?
duchess of berwick
I suppose so, Mr. Dumby. It has been a very dull season, hasn’t it?
·39· dumby
Dreadfully dull! Dreadfully dull!
mrs. cowper-cowper
Good evening, Mr. Dumby. I suppose this will be the last ball of the season?
dumby
Oh, I think not. There’ll probably be two more. [Wanders back to Lady Plymdale.]
parker
Mr. Rufford. Lady Jedburgh and Miss Graham. Mr. Hopper.
[These people enter as announced.
hopper
How do you do, Lady Windermere? How do you do, Duchess? [Bows to Lady Agatha.]
duchess of berwick
Dear Mr. Hopper, how nice of you to come so early. We all know how you are run after in London.
hopper
Capital place, London! They are not nearly so exclusive in London as they are in Sydney.
duchess of berwick
Ah! we know your value, Mr. Hopper. We ·40· wish there were more like you. It would make life so much easier. Do you know, Mr. Hopper, dear Agatha and I are so much interested in Australia. It must be so pretty with all the dear little kangaroos flying about. Agatha has found it on the map. What a curious shape it is! Just like a large packing case. However, it is a very young country, isn’t it?
hopper
Wasn’t it made at the same time as the others, Duchess?
duchess of berwick
How clever you are, Mr. Hopper. You have a cleverness quite of your own. Now I mustn’t keep you.
hopper
But I should like to dance with Lady Agatha, Duchess.
duchess of berwick
Well, I hope she has a dance left. Have you a dance left, Agatha?
lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
duchess of berwick
The next one?
·41· lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
hopper
May I have the pleasure? [Lady Agatha bows.]
duchess of berwick
Mind you take great care of my little chatterbox, Mr. Hopper.
[Lady Agatha and Mr. Hopper pass into ball-room.]
[Enter Lord Windermere L.
lord windermere
Margaret, I want to speak to you.
lady windermere
In a moment. [The music stops.]
parker
Lord Augustus Lorton.
[Enter Lord Augustus.
lord augustus
Good evening, Lady Windermere.
duchess of berwick
Sir James, will you take me into the ball-room? Augustus has been dining with us to-night. I really have had quite enough of dear Augustus for the moment.
[Sir James Royston gives the Duchess his arm and escorts her into the ball-room.]
·42· parker
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bowden. Lord and Lady Paisley. Lord Darlington.
[These people enter as announced.
lord augustus
[Coming up to Lord Windermere.] Want to speak to you particularly, dear boy. I’m worn to a shadow. Know I don’t look it. None of us men do look what we really are. Demmed good thing, too. What I want to know is this. Who is she? Where does she come from? Why hasn’t she got any demmed relations? Demmed nuisance, relations! But they make one so demmed respectable.
lord windermere
You are talking of Mrs. Erlynne, I suppose? I only met her six months ago. Till then, I never knew of her existence.
