[Lady Agatha and Mr. Hopper cross and exit on terrace L.U.E.]
Parker. Mr. Cecil Graham!
[Enter Mr. Cecil Graham.]
Cecil Graham. [Bows to Lady Windermere, passes over and shakes hands with Lord Windermere.] Good evening, Arthur. Why don’t you ask me how I am? I like people to ask me how I am. It shows a wide-spread interest in my health. Now, to-night I am not at all well. Been dining with my people. Wonder why it is one’s people are always so tedious? My father would talk morality after dinner. I told him he was old enough to know better. But my experience is that as soon as people are old enough to know better, they don’t know anything at all. Hallo, Tuppy! Hear you’re going to be married again; thought you were tired of that game.
Lord Augustus. You’re excessively trivial, my dear boy, excessively trivial!
Cecil Graham. By the way, Tuppy, which is it? Have you been twice married and once divorced, or twice divorced and once married? I say you’ve been twice divorced and once married. It seems so much more probable.
Lord Augustus. I have a very bad memory. I really don’t remember which. [Moves away R.]
Lady Plymdale. Lord Windermere, I’ve something most particular to ask you.
Lord Windermere. I am afraid—if you will excuse me—I must join my wife.
Lady Plymdale. Oh, you mustn’t dream of such a thing. It’s most dangerous nowadays for a husband to pay any attention to his wife in public. It always makes people think that he beats her when they’re alone. The world has grown so suspicious of anything that looks like a happy married life. But I’ll tell you what it is at supper. [Moves towards door of ball-room.]