sir robert chiltern. What! Had I fallen so low in your eyes that you thought that even for a moment I could have doubted your goodness? Gertrude, Gertrude, you are to me the white image of all good things, and sin can never touch you. Arthur, you can go to Mabel, and you have my best wishes! Oh! stop a moment. There is no name at the beginning of this letter. The brilliant Mrs. Cheveley does not seem to have noticed that. There should be a name.
lady chiltern. Let me write yours. It is you I trust and need. You and none else.
lord goring. Well, really, Lady Chiltern, I think I should have back my own letter.
lady chiltern. [Smiling.] No; you shall have Mabel. [Takes the letter and writes her husband’s name on it.]
lord goring. Well, I hope she hasn’t changed her mind. It’s nearly twenty minutes since I saw her last.
[Enter mabel chiltern and lord caversham.]
mabel chiltern. Lord Goring, I think your father’s conversation much more improving than yours. I am only going to talk to Lord Caversham in the future, and always under the usual palm tree.
lord goring. Darling! [Kisses her.]
lord caversham. [Considerably taken aback.] What does this mean, sir? You don’t mean to say that this charming, clever young lady has been so foolish as to accept you?
lord goring. Certainly, father! And Chiltern’s been wise enough to accept the seat in the Cabinet.
lord caversham. I am very glad to hear that, Chiltern.. I congratulate you, sir. If the country doesn’t go to the dogs or the Radicals, we shall have you Prime Minister, some day.
[Enter mason.]
mason. Luncheon is on the table, my Lady!
[mason goes out.]
mabel chiltern. You’ll stop to luncheon, Lord Caversham, won’t you?
lord caversham. With pleasure, and I’ll drive you down to Downing Street afterwards, Chiltern. You have a great future before you, a great future. Wish I could say the same for you, sir. [To lord goring.] But your career will have to be entirely domestic.
lord goring. Yes, father, I prefer it domestic.
lord caversham. And if you don’t make this young lady an ideal husband, I’ll cut you off with a shilling.
mabel chiltern. An ideal husband! Oh, I don’t think I should like that. It sounds like something in the next world.
lord caversham. What do you want him to be then, dear?
mabel chiltern. He can be what he chooses. All I want is to be.. to be.. oh! a real wife to him.
lord caversham. Upon my word, there is a good deal of common sense in that, Lady Chiltern.
[They all go out except sir robert chiltern. He sinks in a chair, wrapt in thought. After a little time lady chiltern returns to look for him.]
lady chiltern. [Leaning over the back of the chair.] Aren’t you coming in, Robert?
sir robert chiltern. [Taking her hand.] Gertrude, is it love you feel for me, or is it pity merely?
lady chiltern. [Kisses him.] It is love, Robert. Love, and only love. For both of us a new life is beginning.