ALGERNON: Oh, do let me read them, Cecily.

CECILY: Oh, I couldn’t possibly. They would make you far too conceited. The three you wrote me after I had broken off the engagement are so beautiful and so badly spelt that even now I can hardly read them without crying a little.

ALGERNON: But was our engagement ever broken off?

CECILY: Of course it was. On the 22nd of last March. You can see the entry if you like. (Shows Diary.) ‘Today I broke off my engagement with Ernest. I feel it is better to do so. The weather still continues charming.’

ALGERNON: But why on earth did you break it off? What had I done? I had done nothing at all. Cecily, I am very much hurt indeed to hear you broke it off. Particularly when the weather was so charming.

CECILY: Men seem to forget very easily. I should have thought you would have remembered the violent letter you wrote to me because I danced with Lord Kelso at the county ball.

ALGERNON: But I did take it all back, Cecily, didn’t I?

CECILY: Of course you did. Otherwise I wouldn’t have forgiven you or accepted this little gold bangle with the turquoise and diamond heart, that you sent me the next day. (Shows bangle.)

ALGERNON: Did I give you this, Cecily? It’s very pretty, isn’t it?

CECILY: Yes. You have wonderfully good taste, Ernest. I have always said that of you. It’s the excuse I’ve always given for your leading such a bad life.

ALGERNON: My own one! So we have been engaged for three months, Cecily!

CECILY: Yes; how the time has flown, hasn’t it?

ALGERNON: I don’t think so. I have found the days very long and very dreary without you.

CECILY: You dear romantic boy…(puts her fingers through his hair.) I hope your hair curls naturally. Does it?

ALGERNON: Yes darling, with a little help from others.

CECILY: I am so glad.

ALGERNON: You’ll never break off our engagement again, Cecily?

CECILY: I don’t think that I could break it off now that I have actually met you. Besides, of course, there is the question of your name.

ALGERNON: Yes, of course. (Nervously.)

CECILY: You must not laugh at me, darling, but it had always been a girlish dream of mine to love some one whose name was Ernest.

ALGERNON rises, CECILY also.

There is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence. I pity any poor married woman whose husband is not called Ernest.

ALGERNON: But, my dear child, do you mean to say you could not love me if I had some other name?

CECILY: But what name?

ALGERNON: Oh, any name you like – Algernon – for instance…

CECILY: But I don’t like the name of Algernon.