Oh, don't say that, Lady Windermere. I should never be admitted! Sitting.

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Oh, men don't matter. With women it is different. We're good. Some of us are, at least. But we are positively getting elbowed into the corner. Our husbands would really forget our existence if we didn't nag at them from time to time, just to remind them that we have a perfect legal right to do so.

LORD DARLINGTON. It's a curious thing, Duchess, about the game of marriage – a game, by the way, that is going out of fashion – the wives hold all the honours, and invariably lose the odd trick.

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. The odd trick? Is that the husband, Lord Darlington?

LORD DARLINGTON. It would be rather a good name for the modern husband.

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. Dear Lord Darlington, how thoroughly depraved you are!

LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington is trivial.

LORD DARLINGTON. Ah, don't say that, Lady Windermere.

LADY WINDERMERE. Why do you talk so trivially about life, then?

LORD DARLINGTON. Because I think that life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it. Moves up C.

DUCHESS OF BERWICK. What does he mean? Do, as a concession to my poor wits, Lord Darlington, just explain to me what you really mean.

LORD DARLINGTON coming down back of table. I think I had better not, Duchess. Nowadays to be intelligible is to be found out. Goodbye! Shakes hands with Duchess. And now – goes up stage. – Lady Windermere, good-bye. I may come to-night, mayn't I? Do let me come.

LADY WINDERMERE standing up stage with Lord Darlington. Yes, certainly. But you are not to say foolish, insincere things to people.

LORD DARLINGTON smiling. Ah! you are beginning to reform me. It is a dangerous thing to reform any one, Lady Windermere. Bows, and exit C.

DUCHESS OF BERWICK who has risen, goes C. What a charming, wicked creature! I like him so much.