LADY WINDERMERE. [_Standing at table_.] I think they should never be forgiven.
LORD DARLINGTON. And men? Do you think that there should be the same laws for men as there are for women?
LORD DARLINGTON. I think life too complex a thing to be settled by these hard and fast rules.
LADY WINDERMERE. If we had ‘these hard and fast rules,’ we should find life much more simple.
LORD DARLINGTON. You allow of no exceptions?
LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, what a fascinating Puritan you are, Lady Windermere!
LADY WINDERMERE. The adjective was unnecessary, Lord Darlington.
LORD DARLINGTON. I couldn’t help it. I can resist everything except temptation.
LADY WINDERMERE. You have the modern affectation of weakness.
LORD DARLINGTON. [_Looking at her_.] It’s only an affectation, Lady Windermere.
PARKER. The Duchess of Berwick and Lady Agatha Carlisle.
[_Enter the_ DUCHESS OF BERWICK and LADY AGATHA CARLISLE _C._]
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [_Coming down C._, _and shaking hands_.] Dear Margaret, I am so pleased to see you. You remember Agatha, don’t you? [_Crossing L.C._] How do you do, Lord Darlington? I won’t let you know my daughter, you are far too wicked.
LORD DARLINGTON. Don’t say that, Duchess. As a wicked man I am a complete failure. Why, there are lots of people who say I have never really done anything wrong in the whole course of my life. Of course they only say it behind my back.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Isn’t he dreadful? Agatha, this is Lord Darlington. Mind you don’t believe a word he says. [LORD DARLINGTON _crosses R.C._] No, no tea, thank you, dear. [_Crosses and sits on sofa_.] We have just had tea at Lady Markby’s. Such bad tea, too. It was quite undrinkable. I wasn’t at all surprised. Her own son-in-law supplies it. Agatha is looking forward so much to your ball to-night, dear Margaret.
LADY WINDERMERE. [_Seated L.C._] Oh, you mustn’t think it is going to be a ball, Duchess. It is only a dance in honour of my birthday. A small and early.
LORD DARLINGTON. [_Standing L.C._] Very small, very early, and very select, Duchess.
DUCHESS OF BERWICK. [_On sofa L._] Of course it’s going to be select. But we know _that_, dear Margaret, about _your_ house. It is really one of the few houses in London where I can take Agatha, and where I feel perfectly secure about dear Berwick. I don’t know what society is coming to. The most dreadful people seem to go everywhere. They certainly come to my parties—the men get quite furious if one doesn’t ask them. Really, some one should make a stand against it.