MRS. ERLYNNE: Thank you.

Exit PARKER. The music in the ballroom 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! (Stillseated 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.