Lady Windermere’s Fan

Scene: Morning-room of Lord Windermere’s house in Carlton House Terrace. Doors C. and R. Bureau with books and papers R. Sofa with small tea-table L. Window opening on to terrace L. Table R.

Lady Windermere is at table R., arranging roses in a blue bowl.

Enter Parker.

Parker

Is your ladyship at home this afternoon?

Lady Windermere

Yes⁠—who has called?

Parker

Lord Darlington, my lady.

Lady Windermere

Hesitates for a moment. Show him up⁠—and I’m at home to anyone who calls.

Parker

Yes, my lady.

Exit C.

Lady Windermere

It’s best for me to see him before tonight. I’m glad he’s come.

Enter Parker C.

Parker

Lord Darlington,

Enter Lord Darlington C.

Exit Parker.

Lord Darlington

How do you do, Lady Windermere?

Lady Windermere

How do you do, Lord Darlington? No, I can’t shake hands with you. My hands are all wet with these roses. Aren’t they lovely? They came up from Selby this morning.

Lord Darlington

They are quite perfect. Sees a fan lying on the table. And what a wonderful fan! May I look at it?

Lady Windermere

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 today is my birthday?

Lord Darlington

No? Is it really?

Lady Windermere

Yes, I’m of age today. Quite an important day in my life, isn’t it? That is why I am giving this party tonight. Do sit down. Still arranging flowers.

Lord Darlington

Smiling. Oh, anything is better than being sacrificed!

Lady Windermere

Leaning forward. Don’t say that.

Lord Darlington

I do say it. I feel it⁠—I know it.

Enter Parker C.

Parker

The men want to know if they are to put the carpets on the terrace for tonight, my lady?

Lady Windermere

You don’t think it will rain, Lord Darlington, do you?

Lord Darlington

I won’t hear of its raining on your birthday!

Lady Windermere

Tell them to do it at once, Parker.

Exit Parker C.

Lord Darlington

Still seated. Do you think then⁠—of course I am only putting an imaginary instance⁠—do you think that in the case of a young married couple, say about two years married, if the husband suddenly becomes the intimate friend of a woman of⁠—well, more than doubtful character⁠—is always calling upon her, lunching with her, and probably paying her bills⁠—do you think that the wife should not console herself?

Lady Windermere

Frowning. Console herself?

Lord Darlington

Yes, I think she should⁠—I think she has the right.

Lady Windermere

Because the husband is vile⁠—should the wife be vile also?

Lord Darlington

Vileness is a terrible word, Lady Windermere.

Lady Windermere

It is a terrible thing, Lord Darlington.

Lord Darlington

Do you know I am afraid that good people do a great deal of harm in this world. Certainly the greatest harm they do is that they make badness of such extraordinary importance.

Will you go and look over the photograph album that I see there?

Lady Agatha

Yes, mamma. Goes to table up L.

The Duchess of Berwick

Dear girl! She is so fond of photographs of Switzerland. Such a pure taste, I think. But I really am so sorry for you, Margaret.

Lady Windermere

Smiling. Why, Duchess?

The Duchess of Berwick

Oh, on account of that horrid woman. She dresses so well, too, which makes it much worse, sets such a dreadful example. Augustus⁠—you know my disreputable brother⁠—such a trial to us all⁠—well, Augustus is completely infatuated about her. It is quite scandalous, for she is absolutely inadmissible into society. Many a woman has a past, but I am told that she has at least a dozen, and that they all fit.

Lady Windermere

Whom are you talking about, Duchess?

The Duchess of Berwick

About Mrs. Erlynne.

Lady Windermere

Mrs. Erlynne? I never heard of her, Duchess. And what has she to do with me?

The Duchess of Berwick

My poor child! Agatha, darling!

Lady Agatha

Yes, mamma.

The Duchess of Berwick

Will you go out on the terrace and look at the sunset?

Lady Agatha

Yes, mamma.

Exit through window, L.

The Duchess of Berwick

Sweet girl! So devoted to sunsets! Shows such refinement of feeling, does it not? After all, there is nothing like Nature, is there?

Lady Windermere

But what is it, Duchess? Why do you talk to me about this person?

The Duchess of Berwick

Exeunt Duchess and Lady Agatha C.

Lady Windermere

How horrible! I understand now what Lord Darlington meant by the imaginary instance of the couple not two years married. Oh! it can’t be true⁠—she spoke of enormous sums of money paid to this woman. I know where Arthur keeps his bank book⁠—in one of the drawers of that desk. I might find out by that. I will find out. Opens drawer. No, it is some hideous mistake. Rises and goes C. Some silly scandal! He loves me! He loves me! But why should I not look? I am his wife, I have a right to look! Returns to bureau, takes out book and examines it page by page, smiles and gives a sigh of relief. I knew it! there is not a word of truth in this stupid story. Puts book back in drawer. As she does so, starts and takes out another book. A second book⁠—private⁠—locked! Tries to open it, but fails. Sees paper knife on bureau, and with it cuts cover from book. Begins to start at the first page. “Mrs. Erlynne⁠—£600⁠—Mrs. Erlynne⁠—£700⁠—Mrs. Erlynne⁠—£400.” Oh! it is true! It is true! How horrible! Throws book on floor.

Enter Lord Windermere C.

Lord Windermere

Well, dear, has the fan been sent home yet? Going R.C. Sees book. Margaret, you have cut open my bank book. You have no right to do such a thing!

Lady Windermere

You think it wrong that you are found out, don’t you?

Lord Windermere

I think it wrong that a wife should spy on her husband.

Lady Windermere

I did not spy on you. I never knew of this woman’s existence till half an hour ago.

Lady Windermere

I did not ask her. He insisted on her coming⁠—against my entreaties⁠—against my commands. Oh! the house is tainted for me! I feel that every woman here sneers at me as she dances by with my husband. What have I done to deserve this? I gave him all my life. He took it⁠—used it⁠—spoiled it! I am degraded in my own eyes; and I lack courage⁠—I am a coward! Sits down on sofa.

Lord Darlington

If I know you at all, I know that you can’t live with a man who treats you like this! What sort of life would you have with him? You would feel that he was lying to you every moment of the day. You would feel that the look in his eyes was false, his voice false, his touch false, his passion false. He would come to you when he was weary of others; you would have to comfort him. He would come to you when he was devoted to others; you would have to charm him. You would have to be to him the mask of his real life, the cloak to hide his secret.

Lady Windermere

You are right⁠—you are terribly right. But where am I to turn? You said you would be my friend, Lord Darlington.⁠—Tell me, what am I to do? Be my friend now.

Lord Darlington

Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. I love you⁠—

Lady Windermere

No, no! Rises.

Lord Darlington