Hester. Oh! save me—save me from him!
Gerald. From whom?
Hester. He has insulted me! Horribly insulted me! Save me!
Gerald. Who? Who has dared—?
[Lord Illingworth enters at back of stage. Hester breaks from Gerald’s arms and points to him.]
Gerald [He is quite beside himself with rage and indignation.] Lord Illingworth, you have insulted the purest thing on God’s earth, a thing as pure as my own mother. You have insulted the woman I love most in the world with my own mother. As there is a God in Heaven, I will kill you!
Mrs. Arbuthnot. [Rushing across and catching hold of him] No! no!
Gerald. [Thrusting her back.] Don’t hold me, mother. Don’t hold me—I’ll kill him!
Mrs. Arbuthnot. Gerald!
Gerald. Let me go, I say!