Gerald Good-bye.

Exit Lady Hunstanton and Mrs Allonby, Gerald sits down and reads over his letter

Gerald What name can I sign?° I, who have no right to any name.

Signs name, puts letter into envelope, addresses it, and is about to seal it, when door L.C. opens and Mrs Arbuthnot enters. Gerald lays down sealing-wax. Mother and son look at each other

Lady Hunstanton (through French window at the back) Good-bye again, Gerald. We are taking the short cut across your pretty garden. Now, remember my advice to you—start at once with Lord Illingworth.

Mrs Allonby Au revoir, Mr Arbuthnot. Mind you bring me back something nice° from your travels—not an Indian shawl—on no account an Indian shawl.

Exeunt

Gerald Mother, I have just written to him.

Mrs Arbuthnot To whom?

Gerald To my father. I have written to tell him to come here at four o’clock this afternoon.

Mrs Arbuthnot He shall not come here. He shall not cross the threshold of my house.

Gerald He must come.

Mrs Arbuthnot Gerald, if you are going away with Lord Illingworth, go at once. Go before it kills me: but don’t ask me to meet him.

Gerald Mother, you don’t understand. Nothing in the world would induce me to go away with Lord Illingworth, or to leave you. Surely you know me well enough for that. No: I have written to him to say—

Mrs Arbuthnot What can you have to say to him?

Gerald Can’t you guess, mother, what I have written in this letter?

Mrs Arbuthnot No.

Gerald Mother, surely you can. Think, think what must be done, now, at once, within the next few days.

Mrs Arbuthnot There is nothing to be done.

Gerald I have written to Lord Illingworth to tell him that he must marry you.

Mrs Arbuthnot Marry me?

Gerald Mother, I will force him to do it. The wrong that has been done you must be repaired. Atonement must be made. Justice may be slow, mother, but it comes in the end. In a few days you shall be Lord Illingworth’s lawful wife.

Mrs Arbuthnot But, Gerald——

Gerald I will insist upon his doing it. I will make him do it: he will not dare to refuse.

Mrs Arbuthnot But, Gerald, it is I who refuse. I will not marry Lord Illingworth.°