Lady Windermere's Fan (5 page)

LORD DARLINGTON. And you would take him back! You are not what I
thought you were. You are just the same as every other woman. You
would stand anything rather than face the censure of a world, whose
praise you would despise. In a week you will be driving with this
woman in the Park. She will be your constant guest—your dearest
friend. You would endure anything rather than break with one blow
this monstrous tie. You are right. You have no courage; none!

LADY WINDERMERE. Ah, give me time to think. I cannot answer you
now.
(Passes her hand nervously over her brow.)

LORD DARLINGTON. It must be now or not at all.

LADY WINDERMERE.
(Rising from the sofa.)
Then, not at all!
(A
pause.)

LORD DARLINGTON. You break my heart!

LADY WINDERMERE. Mine is already broken.
(A pause.)

LORD DARLINGTON. To-morrow I leave England. This is the last time
I shall ever look on you. You will never see me again. For one
moment our lives met—our souls touched. They must never meet or
touch again. Good-bye, Margaret.
(Exit.)

LADY WINDERMERE. How alone I am in life! How terribly alone!

(The music stops. Enter the DUCHESS OF BERWICK and LORD PAISLEY
laughing and talking. Other guests come on from ball-room.)

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear Margaret, I've just been having such a
delightful chat with Mrs. Erlynne. I am so sorry for what I said
to you this afternoon about her. Of course, she must be all right
if YOU invite her. A most attractive woman, and has such sensible
views on life. Told me she entirely disapproved of people marrying
more than once, so I feel quite safe about poor Augustus. Can't
imagine why people speak against her. It's those horrid nieces of
mine—the Saville girls—they're always talking scandal. Still, I
should go to Homburg, dear, I really should. She is just a little
too attractive. But where is Agatha? Oh, there she is:
(LADY
AGATHA and MR. HOPPER enter 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. 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 -

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.

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 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 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.)

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 dare say 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. ERLYNNE. Oh, no! I do the encouraging. But you will make me
a handsome settlement, Windermere, won't you?

LORD WINDERMERE.
(Frowning.)
Is that what you want to talk to me
about to-night?

MRS ERLYNNE. Yes.

LORD WINDERMERE.
(With a gesture of impatience.)
I will not talk
of it here.

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Laughing.)
Then we will talk of it on the terrace.
Even business should have a picturesque background. Should it not,
Windermere? With a proper background women can do anything.

LORD WINDERMERE. Won't to-morrow do as well?

MRS. ERLYNNE. No; you see, to-morrow I am going to accept him.
And I think it would be a good thing if I was able to tell him that
I had—well, what shall I say?—2000 pounds a year left to me by a
third cousin—or a second husband—or some distant relative of that
kind. It would be an additional attraction, wouldn't it? You have
a delightful opportunity now of paying me a compliment, Windermere.
But you are not very clever at paying compliments. I am afraid
Margaret doesn't encourage you in that excellent habit. It's a
great mistake on her part. When men give up saying what is
charming, they give up thinking what is charming. But seriously,
what do you say to 2000 pounds? 2500 pounds, I think. In modern
life margin is everything. Windermere, don't you think the world
an intensely amusing place? I do!

(Exit on terrace with LORD WINDERMERE. Music strikes up in ball-
room.)

LADY WINDERMERE. To stay in this house any longer is impossible.
To-night a man who loves me offered me his whole life. I refused
it. It was foolish of me. I will offer him mine now. I will give
him mine. I will go to him!
(Puts on cloak and goes to the door,
then turns back. Sits down at table and writes a letter, puts it
into an envelope, and leaves it on table.)
Arthur has never
understood me. When he reads this, he will. He may do as he
chooses now with his life. I have done with mine as I think best,
as I think right. It is he who has broken the bond of marriage—
not I. I only break its bondage.

(Exit.)

(PARKER enters L. and crosses towards the ball-room R. Enter MRS.
ERLYNNE.)

MRS. ERLYNNE. Is Lady Windermere in the ball-room?

PARKER. Her ladyship has just gone out.

MRS. ERLYNNE. Gone out? She's not on the terrace?

PARKER. No, madam. Her ladyship has just gone out of the house.

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Starts, and looks at the servant with a puzzled
expression in her face.)
Out of the house?

PARKER. Yes, madam—her ladyship told me she had left a letter for
his lordship on the table.

MRS. ERLYNNE. A letter for Lord Windermere?

PARKER. Yes, madam.

MRS. ERLYNNE. Thank you.

(Exit PARKER. The music in the ball-room stops.)
Gone out of her
house! A letter addressed to her husband!
(Goes over to bureau
and looks at letter. Takes it up and lays it down again with a
shudder of fear.)
No, no! It would be impossible! Life doesn't
repeat its tragedies like that! Oh, why does this horrible fancy
come across me? Why do I remember now the one moment of my life I
most wish to forget? Does life repeat its tragedies?
(Tears
letter open and reads it, then sinks down into a chair with a
gesture of anguish.)
Oh, how terrible! The same words that twenty
years ago I wrote to her father! and how bitterly I have been
punished for it! No; my punishment, my real punishment is to-
night, is now!
(Still seated R.)

(Enter LORD WINDERMERE L.U.E.)

LORD WINDERMERE. Have you said good-night to my wife?
(Comes C.)

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Crushing letter in her hand.)
Yes.

LORD WINDERMERE. Where is she?

MRS. ERLYNNE. She is very tired. She has gone to bed. She said
she had a headache.

LORD WINDERMERE. I must go to her. You'll excuse me?

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Rising hurriedly.)
Oh, no! It's nothing serious.
She's only very tired, that is all. Besides, there are people
still in the supper-room. She wants you to make her apologies to
them. She said she didn't wish to be disturbed.
(Drops letter.)
She asked me to tell you!

LORD WINDERMERE.
(Picks up letter.)
You have dropped something.

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh yes, thank you, that is mine.
(Puts out her hand
to take it.)

LORD WINDERMERE.
(Still looking at letter.)
But it's my wife's
handwriting, isn't it?

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Takes the letter quickly.)
Yes, it's—an address.
Will you ask them to call my carriage, please?

LORD WINDERMERE. Certainly.

(Goes L. and Exit.)

MRS. ERLYNNE. Thanks! What can I do? What can I do? I feel a
passion awakening within me that I never felt before. What can it
mean? The daughter must not be like the mother—that would be
terrible. How can I save her? How can I save my child? A moment
may ruin a life. Who knows that better than I? Windermere must be
got out of the house; that is absolutely necessary.
(Goes L.)
But
how shall I do it? It must be done somehow. Ah!

(Enter LORD AUGUSTUS R.U.E. carrying bouquet.)

LORD AUGUSTUS. Dear lady, I am in such suspense! May I not have
an answer to my request?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lord Augustus, listen to me. You are to take Lord
Windermere down to your club at once, and keep him there as long as
possible. You understand?

LORD AUGUSTUS. But you said you wished me to keep early hours!

MRS. ERLYNNE.
(Nervously.)
Do what I tell you. Do what I tell
you.

LORD AUGUSTUS. And my reward?

MRS. ERLYNNE. Your reward? Your reward? Oh! ask me that to-
morrow. But don't let Windermere out of your sight to-night. If
you do I will never forgive you. I will never speak to you again.
I'll have nothing to do with you. Remember you are to keep
Windermere at your club, and don't let him come back to-night.

(Exit L.)

LORD AUGUSTUS. Well, really, I might be her husband already.
Positively I might.
(Follows her in a bewildered manner.)

ACT DROP.

SCENE

Lord Darlington's Rooms. A large sofa is in front of fireplace R.
At the back of the stage a curtain is drawn across the window.
Doors L. and R. Table R. with writing materials. Table C. with
syphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame. Table L. with cigar and
cigarette box. Lamps lit.

LADY WINDERMERE.
(Standing by the fireplace.)
Why doesn't he
come? This waiting is horrible. He should be here. Why is he not
here, to wake by passionate words some fire within me? I am cold—
cold as a loveless thing. Arthur must have read my letter by this
time. If he cared for me, he would have come after me, would have
taken me back by force. But he doesn't care. He's entrammelled by
this woman—fascinated by her—dominated by her. If a woman wants
to hold a man, she has merely to appeal to what is worst in him.
We make gods of men and they leave us. Others make brutes of them
and they fawn and are faithful. How hideous life is! . . . Oh! it
was mad of me to come here, horribly mad. And yet, which is the
worst, I wonder, to be at the mercy of a man who loves one, or the
wife of a man who in one's own house dishonours one? What woman
knows? What woman in the whole world? But will he love me always,
this man to whom I am giving my life? What do I bring him? Lips
that have lost the note of joy, eyes that are blinded by tears,
chill hands and icy heart. I bring him nothing. I must go back—
no; I can't go back, my letter has put me in their power—Arthur
would not take me back! That fatal letter! No! Lord Darlington
leaves England to-morrow. I will go with him—I have no choice.
(Sits down for a few moments. Then starts up and puts on her
cloak.)
No, no! I will go back, let Arthur do with me what he
pleases. I can't wait here. It has been madness my coming. I
must go at once. As for Lord Darlington—Oh! here he is! What
shall I do? What can I say to him? Will he let me go away at all?
I have heard that men are brutal, horrible . . . Oh!
(Hides her
face in her hands.)