Lord Illingworth. Here is Gerald. He has a right to decide for himself.
[Enter Gerald.]
Gerald. Well, dear mother, I hope you have settled it all with Lord Illingworth?
Mrs. Arbuthnot. I have not, Gerald.
Lord Illingworth. Your mother seems not to like your coming with me, for some reason.
Gerald. Why, mother?
Mrs. Arbuthnot. I thought you were quite happy here with me, Gerald. I didn’t know you were so anxious to leave me.
Gerald. Mother, how can you talk like that? Of course I have been quite happy with you. But a man can’t stay always with his mother. No chap does. I want to make myself a position, to do something. I thought you would have been proud to see me Lord Illingworth’s secretary.
Mrs. Arbuthnot. I do not think you would be suitable as a private secretary to Lord Illingworth. You have no qualifications.
Lord Illingworth. I don’t wish to seem to interfere for a moment, Mrs. Arbuthnot, but as far as your last objection is concerned, I surely am the best judge. And I can only tell you that your son has all the qualifications I had hoped for. He has more, in fact, than I had even thought of. Far more. [Mrs. Arbuthnot remains silent.] Have you any other reason, Mrs. Arbuthnot, why you don’t wish your son to accept this post?