LADY WINDERMERE bursts into tears and buries her face in her hands.

(Rushing to her): Lady Windermere!

LADY WINDERMERE (holding out her hands to her, helplessly, as a child might do): Take me home. Take me home.

MRS. ERLYNNE (is about to embrace her. Then restrains herself. There is a look of wonderful joy in her face): Come! Where is your cloak? (Getting it from sofa): Here. Put it on. Come at once!

They go to the door.

LADY WINDERMERE: Stop! Don’t you hear voices?

MRS. ERLYNNE: No, no! There is no one!

LADY WINDERMERE: Yes, there is! Listen! Oh! That is my husband’s voice! He is coming in! Save me! Oh, it’s some plot! You have sent for him.

Voices outside.

MRS. ERLYNNE: Silence! I’m here to save you, if I can. But I fear it is too late! There! (Points to the curtain across the window.) The first chance you have slip out, if you ever get a chance!

LADY WINDERMERE: But you?

MRS. ERLYNNE: Oh! never mind me. I’ll face them.

LADY WINDERMERE hides herself behind the curtain.

LORD AUGUSTUS (outside): Nonsense, dear Windermere, you must not leave me!

MRS. ERLYNNE: Lord Augustus! Then it is I who am lost! (Hesitates for a moment, then looks round and sees door R., and exit through it.)

Enter LORD DARLINGTON, MR. DUMBY, LORD WINDERMERE, LORD AUGUSTUS LORTON, and MR. CECIL GRAHAM.

DUMBY: What a nuisance their turning us out of the club at this hour! It’s only two o’clock. (Sinks into a chair.) The lively part of the evening is only just beginning. (Yawns and closes his eyes.)

LORD WINDERMERE: It is very good of you, Lord Darlington, allowing Augustus to force our company on you, but I’m afraid I can’t stay long.

LORD DARLINGTON: Really! I am so sorry! You’ll take a cigar, won’t you?

LORD WINDERMERE: Thanks! (Sits down.)

LORD AUGUSTUS (to LORD WINDERMERE): My dear boy, you must not dream of going. I have a great deal to talk to you about, of demmed importance, too. (Sits down with him at L. table.)

CECIL GRAHAM: Oh! We all know what that is! Tuppy can’t talk about anything but Mrs. Erlynne.

LORD WINDERMERE: Well, that is no business of yours, is it, Cecil?

CECIL GRAHAM: None! That is why it interests me. My own business always bores me to death. I prefer other people’s.

LORD DARLINGTON: Have something to drink, you fellows. Cecil, you’ll have a whisky and soda?

CECIL GRAHAM: Thanks. (Goes to table with LORD DARLINGTON): Mrs. Erlynne looked very handsome to-night, didn’t she?

LORD DARLINGTON: I am not one of her admirers.

CECIL GRAHAM: I usen’t to be, but I am now. Why! She actually made me introduce her to poor dear Aunt Caroline. I believe she is going to lunch there.

LORD DARLINGTON (in surprise): No?