Lady Windermere bursts into tears and buries her face in her hands

(Rushing to her) Lady Windermere!

Lady windermere (holding out her hands to her, helplessly, as a child might do) Take me home. Take me home.

Mrs Erlynne (is about to embrace her. Then restrains herself. There is a look of wonderful joy° in her face) Come! Where is your cloak? (Getting it from sofa) Here. Put it on. Come at once!

They go to the door

Lady windermere Stop! Don’t you hear voices?

Mrs Erlynne No, no! There is no one!

Lady windermere Yes, there is! Listen! Oh! that is my husband’s voice! He is coming in! Save me!° Oh, it’s some plot! You have sent for him.

Voices outside°

Mrs Erlynne Silence! I’m here to save you, if I can. But I fear it is too late! There! (Points to the curtain across the window) The first chance you have, slip out, if you ever get a chance!

Lady windermere But you?

Mrs Erlynne Oh! never mind me. I’ll face them.

Lady Windermere hides herself behind the curtain

Lord Augustus (outside) Nonsense, dear Windermere,° you must not leave me!

Mrs Erlynne Lord Augustus! Then it is I who am lost!

Hesitates for a moment, then looks round and sees door R.,° and exit through it

Enter Lord Darlington, Mr Dumby, Lord Windermere, Lord Augustus Lorton, and Mr Cecil Graham

Dumby What a nuisance their turning us out of the club° at this hour! It’s only two o’clock. (Sinks into a chair) The lively part of the evening is only just beginning. (Yawns and closes his eyes)

Lord Windermere It is very good of you, Lord Darlington, allowing Augustus to force our company on you, but I’m afraid I can’t stay long.

Lord Darlington Really! I am so sorry! You’ll take a cigar, won’t you?

Lord Windermere Thanks! (Sits down)

Lord Augustus (to Lord Windermere) My dear boy, you must not dream of going. I have a great deal to talk to you about, of demmed importance, too. (Sits down with him at L. table.)

Cecil Graham Oh! We all know what that is! Tuppy can’t talk about anything but Mrs Erlynne.

Lord Windermere Well, that is no business of yours,° is it, Cecil?

Cecil Graham None! That is why it interests me. My own business always bores me to death. I prefer other people’s.