Act III

SCENE

Lord Darlington's Rooms. A large sofa is in front of fireplace R.
At the back of the stage a curtain is drawn across the window.
Doors L. and R. Table R. with writing materials. Table C. with
syphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame. Table L. with cigar and
cigarette box. Lamps lit.

LADY WINDERMERE. [Standing by the fireplace.] Why doesn't he
come? This waiting is horrible. He should be here. Why is he not
here, to wake by passionate words some fire within me? I am cold--
cold as a loveless thing. Arthur must have read my letter by this
time. If he cared for me, he would have come after me, would have
taken me back by force. But he doesn't care. He's entrammelled by
this woman--fascinated by her--dominated by her. If a woman wants
to hold a man, she has merely to appeal to what is worst in him.
We make gods of men and they leave us. Others make brutes of them
and they fawn and are faithful. How hideous life is! . . . Oh! it
was mad of me to come here, horribly mad. And yet, which is the
worst, I wonder, to be at the mercy of a man who loves one, or the
wife of a man who in one's own house dishonours one? What woman
knows? What woman in the whole world? But will he love me always,
this man to whom I am giving my life? What do I bring him? Lips
that have lost the note of joy, eyes that are blinded by tears,
chill hands and icy heart. I bring him nothing. I must go back--
no; I can't go back, my letter has put me in their power--Arthur
would not take me back! That fatal letter! No! Lord Darlington
leaves England to-morrow. I will go with him--I have no choice.
[Sits down for a few moments. Then starts up and puts on her
cloak.] No, no! I will go back, let Arthur do with me what he
pleases. I can't wait here. It has been madness my coming. I
must go at once. As for Lord Darlington--Oh! here he is! What
shall I do? What can I say to him? Will he let me go away at all?
I have heard that men are brutal, horrible . . . Oh! [Hides her
face in her hands.]

[Enter MRS. ERLYNNE L.]

MRS. ERLYNNE. Lady Windermere! [LADY WINDERMERE starts and looks
up. Then recoils in contempt.] Thank Heaven I am in time. You
must go back to your husband's house immediately.

LADY WINDERMERE. Must?

MRS. ERLYNNE. [Authoritatively.] Yes, you must! There is not a
second to be lost. Lord Darlington may return at any moment.

LADY WINDERMERE. Don't come near me!

MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh! You are on the brink of ruin, you are on the
brink of a hideous precipice. You must leave this place at once,
my carriage is waiting at the corner of the street. You must come
with me and drive straight home.

[LADY WINDERMERE throws off her cloak and flings it on the sofa.]

What are you