Mrs. Erlynne. Ideals are dangerous things. Realities are better. They wound, but they’re better.
Lady Windermere. [Shaking her head.] If I lost my ideals, I should lose everything.
Mrs. Erlynne. Everything?
Lady Windermere. Yes. [Pause.]
Mrs. Erlynne. Did your father often speak to you of your mother?
Lady Windermere. No, it gave him too much pain. He told me how my mother had died a few months after I was born. His eyes filled with tears as he spoke. Then he begged me never to mention her name to him again. It made him suffer even to hear it. My father—my father really died of a broken heart. His was the most ruined life know.
Mrs. Erlynne. [Rising.] I am afraid I must go now, Lady Windermere.
Lady Windermere. [Rising.] Oh no, don’t.
Mrs. Erlynne. I think I had better. My carriage must have come back by this time. I sent it to Lady Jedburgh’s with a note.
Lady Windermere. Arthur, would you mind seeing if Mrs. Erlynne’s carriage has come back?