from terrace L.U.E.] Mr. Hopper, I am very, very angry with you. You have taken Agatha out on the terrace, and she is so delicate.
hopper
[L.C.] Awfully sorry, Duchess. We went out for a moment and then got chatting together.
duchess of berwick
[C.] Ah, about dear Australia, I suppose?
hopper
Yes!
duchess of berwick
Agatha, darling! [Beckons her over.]
lady agatha
Yes, mamma!
duchess of berwick
[Aside.] Did Mr. Hopper definitely——
·60· lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
duchess of berwick
And what answer did you give him, dear child?
lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
duchess of berwick
[Affectionately.] My dear one! You always say the right thing. Mr. Hopper! James! Agatha has told me everything. How cleverly you have both kept your secret.
hopper
You don’t mind my taking Agatha off to Australia, then, Duchess?
duchess of berwick
[Indignantly.] To Australia? Oh, don’t mention that dreadful vulgar place.
hopper
But she said she’d like to come with me.
duchess of berwick
[Severely.] Did you say that, Agatha?
lady agatha
Yes, mamma.
·61· duchess of berwick
Agatha, you say the most silly things possible. I think on the whole that Grosvenor Square would be a more healthy place to reside in. There are lots of vulgar people live in Grosvenor Square, but at any rate there are no horrid kangaroos crawling about. But we’ll talk about that to-morrow. James, you can take Agatha down. You’ll come to lunch, of course, James. At half-past one, instead of two. The Duke will wish to say a few words to you, I am sure.
hopper
I should like to have a chat with the Duke, Duchess. He has not said a single word to me yet.
duchess of berwick
I think you’ll find he will have a great deal to say to you to-morrow. [Exit Lady Agatha with Mr. Hopper.] And now good-night, Margaret. I’m afraid it’s the old, old story, dear. Love—well, not love at first sight, but love at the end of the season, which is so much more satisfactory.
lady windermere
Good-night, Duchess.
[Exit the Duchess of Berwick on Lord Paisley’s arm.]
lady plymdale
My dear Margaret, what a handsome woman your husband has been dancing with! I should ·62· be quite jealous if I were you! Is she a great friend of yours?
lady windermere
No!
lady plymdale
Really? Good-night, dear. [Looks at Mr. Dumby and exit.]
dumby
Awful manners young Hopper has!
cecil graham
Ah! Hopper is one of Nature’s gentlemen, the worst type of gentleman I know.
dumby
Sensible woman, Lady Windermere. Lots of wives would have objected to Mrs. Erlynne coming. But Lady Windermere has that uncommon thing called common sense.
cecil graham
And Windermere knows that nothing looks so like innocence as an indiscretion.
dumby
Yes; dear Windermere is becoming almost modern. Never thought he would. [Bows to Lady Windermere and exit.]
lady jedburgh
Good-night, Lady Windermere. What a ·63· fascinating woman Mrs. Erlynne is! She is coming to lunch on Thursday, won’t you come too? I expect the Bishop and dear Lady Merton.
lady windermere
I am afraid I am engaged, Lady Jedburgh.
lady jedburgh
So sorry. Come, dear.
[Exeunt Lady Jedburgh and Miss Graham.
[Enter Mrs. Erlynne and Lord Windermere.
mrs. erlynne
Charming ball it has been! Quite reminds me of old days. [Sits on sofa.] And I see that there are just as many fools in society as there used to be. So pleased to find that nothing has altered! Except Margaret. She’s grown quite pretty. The last time I saw her—twenty years ago, she was a fright in flannel. Positive fright, I assure you. The dear Duchess! and that sweet Lady Agatha! Just the type of girl I like! Well, really, Windermere, if I am to be the Duchess’s sister-in-law——
lord windermere
[Sitting L. of her.] But are you——?
[Exit Mr. Cecil Graham with rest of guests. Lady Windermere watches, with a look of scorn and pain, Mrs. Erlynne and her husband. They are unconscious of her presence.]
·64· mrs. erlynne
Oh, yes! He’s to call to-morrow at twelve o’clock! He wanted to propose to-night. In fact he did. He kept on proposing. Poor Augustus, you know how he repeats himself. Such a bad habit! But I told him I wouldn’t give him an answer till to-morrow. Of course I am going to take him. And I daresay I’ll make him an admirable wife, as wives go. And there is a great deal of good in Lord Augustus. Fortunately it is all on the surface. Just where good qualities should be. Of course you must help me in this matter.
lord windermere
I am not called on to encourage Lord Augustus, I suppose?
mrs.
