Lady Windermere. [Rising from the sofa.] Then, not at all! [A pause.]
Lord Darlington. You break my heart!
Lady Windermere. Mine is already broken. [A pause.]
Lord Darlington. To-morrow I leave England. This is the last time I shall ever look on you. You will never see me again. For one moment our lives met—our souls touched. They must never meet or touch again. Good-bye, Margaret. [Exit.]
Lady Windermere. How alone I am in life! How terribly alone!
[The music stops. Enter the Duchess of Berwick and Lord Paisley laughing and talking. Other guests come on from ball-room.]
Duchess of Berwick. Dear Margaret, I’ve just been having such a delightful chat with Mrs. Erlynne. I am so sorry for what I said to you this afternoon about her. Of course, she must be all right if you invite her. A most attractive woman, and has such sensible views on life. Told me she entirely disapproved of people marrying more than once, so I feel quite safe about poor Augustus. Can’t imagine why people speak against her. It’s those horrid nieces of mine—the Saville girls—they’re always talking scandal. Still, I should go to Homburg, dear, I really should. She is just a little too attractive. But where is Agatha? Oh, there she is: [Lady Agatha and Mr. Hopper enter from terrace L.U.E.] Mr. Hopper, I am very, very angry with you. You have taken Agatha out on the terrace, and she is so delicate.
Hopper. Awfully sorry, Duchess. We went out for a moment and then got chatting together.
Duchess of Berwick. [C.] Ah, about dear Australia, I suppose?
Hopper. Yes!