Do. Pretty, isn't it? It's got my name on it, and everything. I have only just seen it myself. It's my husband's birthday present to me. You know to-day is my birthday?

LORD DARLINGTON. No? Is it really?

LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, I'm of age to-day. Quite an important day in my life, isn't it? That is why I am giving this party to-night. Do sit down. Still arranging flowers.

LORD DARLINGTON sitting down. I wish I had known it was your birthday, Lady Windermere. I would have covered the whole street in front of your house with flowers for you to walk on. They are made for you. A short pause.

LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington, you annoyed me last night at the Foreign Office. I am afraid you are going to annoy me again.

LORD DARLINGTON. I, Lady Windermere?

 

Enter Parker and Footman C., with tray and tea things.

 

LADY WINDERMERE. Put it there, Parker. That will do. Wipes her hands with her pocket-handkerchief, goes to tea-table L., and sits down. Won't you come over, Lord Darlington?

 

Exit Parker C.

 

LORD DARLINGTON takes chair and goes across L.C. I am quite miserable, Lady Windermere. You must tell me what I did. Sits down at table L.

LADY WINDERMERE. Well, you kept paying me elaborate compliments the whole evening.

LORD DARLINGTON smiling. Ah, nowadays we are all of us so hard up, that the only pleasant things to pay are compliments. They're the only things we can pay.

LADY WINDERMERE shaking her head. No, I am talking very seriously. You mustn't laugh, I am quite serious. I don't like compliments, and I don't see why a man should think he is pleasing a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things that he doesn't mean.

LORD DARLINGTON.