登陆注册
16244200000018

第18章 FOURTH ACT(2)

MRS.ERLYNNE.How do you do,Lady Windermere?[To LORDWINDERMERE.]How do you do?Do you know,Lady Windermere,I am so sorry about your fan.I can't imagine how I made such a silly mistake.Most stupid of me.And as I was driving in your direction,I thought I would take the opportunity of returning your property in person with many apologies for my carelessness,and of bidding you good-bye.

LADY WINDERMERE.Good-bye?[Moves towards sofa with MRS.ERLYNNEand sits down beside her.]Are you going away,then,Mrs.Erlynne?

MRS.ERLYNNE.Yes;I am going to live abroad again.The English climate doesn't suit me.My -heart is affected here,and that Idon't like.I prefer living in the south.London is too full of fogs and -and serious people,Lord Windermere.Whether the fogs produce the serious people or whether the serious people produce the fogs,I don't know,but the whole thing rather gets on my nerves,and so I'm leaving this afternoon by the Club Train.

LADY WINDERMERE.This afternoon?But I wanted so much to come and see you.

MRS.ERLYNNE.How kind of you!But I am afraid I have to go.

LADY WINDERMERE.Shall I never see you again,Mrs.Erlynne?

MRS.ERLYNNE.I am afraid not.Our lives lie too far apart.But there is a little thing I would like you to do for me.I want a photograph of you,Lady Windermere -would you give me one?You don't know how gratified I should be.

LADY WINDERMERE.Oh,with pleasure.There is one on that table.

I'll show it to you.[Goes across to the table.]

LORD WINDERMERE.[Coming up to MRS.ERLYNNE and speaking in a low voice.]It is monstrous your intruding yourself here after your conduct last night.

MRS.ERLYNNE.[With an amused smile.]My dear Windermere,manners before morals!

LADY WINDERMERE.[Returning.]I'm afraid it is very flattering -I am not so pretty as that.[Showing photograph.]

MRS.ERLYNNE.You are much prettier.But haven't you got one of yourself with your little boy?

LADY WINDERMERE.I have.Would you prefer one of those?

MRS.ERLYNNE.Yes.

LADY WINDERMERE.I'll go and get it for you,if you'll excuse me for a moment.I have one upstairs.

MRS.ERLYNNE.So sorry,Lady Windermere,to give you so much trouble.

LADY WINDERMERE.[Moves to door R.]No trouble at all,Mrs.

Erlynne.

MRS.ERLYNNE.Thanks so much.

[Exit LADY WINDERMERE R.]You seem rather out of temper this morning,Windermere.Why should you be?Margaret and I get on charmingly together.

LORD WINDERMERE.I can't bear to see you with her.Besides,you have not told me the truth,Mrs.Erlynne.

MRS.ERLYNNE.I have not told HER the truth,you mean.

LORD WINDERMERE.[Standing C.]I sometimes wish you had.Ishould have been spared then the misery,the anxiety,the annoyance of the last six months.But rather than my wife should know -that the mother whom she was taught to consider as dead,the mother whom she has mourned as dead,is living -a divorced woman,going about under an assumed name,a bad woman preying upon life,as I know you now to be -rather than that,I was ready to supply you with money to pay bill after bill,extravagance after extravagance,to risk what occurred yesterday,the first quarrel I have ever had with my wife.You don't understand what that means to me.How could you?

But I tell you that the only bitter words that ever came from those sweet lips of hers were on your account,and I hate to see you next her.You sully the innocence that is in her.[Moves L.C.]And then I used to think that with all your faults you were frank and honest.You are not.

MRS.ERLYNNE.Why do you say that?

LORD WINDERMERE.You made me get you an invitation to my wife's ball.

MRS.ERLYNNE.For my daughter's ball -yes.

LORD WINDERMERE.You came,and within an hour of your leaving the house you are found in a man's rooms -you are disgraced before every one.[Goes up stage C.]

MRS.ERLYNNE.Yes.

LORD WINDERMERE.[Turning round on her.]Therefore I have a right to look upon you as what you are -a worthless,vicious woman.Ihave the right to tell you never to enter this house,never to attempt to come near my wife -MRS.ERLYNNE.[Coldly.]My daughter,you mean.

LORD WINDERMERE.You have no right to claim her as your daughter.

You left her,abandoned her when she was but a child in the cradle,abandoned her for your lover,who abandoned you in turn.

MRS.ERLYNNE.[Rising.]Do you count that to his credit,Lord Windermere -or to mine?

LORD WINDERMERE.To his,now that I know you.

MRS.ERLYNNE.Take care -you had better be careful.

LORD WINDERMERE.Oh,I am not going to mince words for you.Iknow you thoroughly.

MRS.ERLYNNE.[Looks steadily at him.]I question that.

LORD WINDERMERE.I DO know you.For twenty years of your life you lived without your child,without a thought of your child.One day you read in the papers that she had married a rich man.You saw your hideous chance.You knew that to spare her the ignominy of learning that a woman like you was her mother,I would endure anything.You began your blackmailing,MRS.ERLYNNE.[Shrugging her shoulders.]Don't use ugly words,Windermere.They are vulgar.I saw my chance,it is true,and took it.

LORD WINDERMERE.Yes,you took it -and spoiled it all last night by being found out.

MRS.ERLYNNE.[With a strange smile.]You are quite right,Ispoiled it all last night.

LORD WINDERMERE.And as for your blunder in taking my wife's fan from here and then leaving it about in Darlington's rooms,it is unpardonable.I can't bear the sight of it now.I shall never let my wife use it again.The thing is soiled for me.You should have kept it and not brought it back.

MRS.ERLYNNE.I think I shall keep it.[Goes up.]It's extremely pretty.[Takes up fan.]I shall ask Margaret to give it to me.

LORD WINDERMERE.I hope my wife will give it you.

MRS.ERLYNNE.Oh,I'm sure she will have no objection.

LORD WINDERMERE.I wish that at the same time she would give you a miniature she kisses every night before she prays -It's the miniature of a young innocent-looking girl with beautiful DARKhair.

MRS.ERLYNNE.Ah,yes,I remember.How long ago that seems!

同类推荐
  • 竹泉生女科集要

    竹泉生女科集要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 唐诗鉴赏大辞典(上)

    唐诗鉴赏大辞典(上)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 武编

    武编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 奉和天枢成宴夷夏群

    奉和天枢成宴夷夏群

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 茶疏

    茶疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 微笑的泪光

    微笑的泪光

    无青春是一首飞扬姿肆的歌……或欢笑、或流泪、或疯、或狂、或伤、或悲……总之,陪我渡过的青春有你的脚印……一种黏人的心痛飞舞成一种微笑的泪光!一段简单的旋律总会死一份不简单的回忆。一定要相信心满意足地享受每一点快乐是走向幸福的唯一途径。
  • 穿到明朝拍电影

    穿到明朝拍电影

    二次元风格的个人英雄主义历史小说。身在官场,却是流氓做派,江湖性情。热血与搞笑穿插,高冷与逗~并存。(~请自行脑补)
  • 网游之纯白天使

    网游之纯白天使

    ·堕落又如何?还不是名扬三界。·…………………………………………QQ群:①210588996(作者在线)求收藏,你懂得。。。
  • 霸道总裁:某个大神独爱我

    霸道总裁:某个大神独爱我

    某个系花莫名被某只大神盯上了,于是游戏里结为了夫妻,但是为什么现实也莫名其妙相恋了?总裁,校草,大神,他是谁?嘿,我说,一见钟情,你相信吗?
  • 穿越双姐妹:腹黑邪帝的冷艳妃

    穿越双姐妹:腹黑邪帝的冷艳妃

    她们,世界第一的杀手之王,因为某次的背叛,而穿越到了一个以强者为尊的大陆-圣蒲大陆,看她们怎么教训渣男贱女,生活快乐不得了女强男强,甜虐甜虐哦!(作者不会写简介,求见谅)
  • 二次元的恋爱技巧,三次元的月老

    二次元的恋爱技巧,三次元的月老

    说个简单的问题:热爱二次元的,大多数都是三次元不得意的。比如喜欢爱情动漫,因为现实中没有让你得到爱情。所以投入动漫观看别人编辑的爱情。然后感动……其实,真的。如果现实中有个爱情:不是很漂亮,但是很和你合一的女/男孩子,与你相亲相爱。那么根本就不会再去看什么所谓的二次元。然而没有如果,所以本书就是专门介绍各种二次元的恋爱技巧,教你成为三次元的赢家。
  • 超能电影院

    超能电影院

    万磁王,,虽然强,不及清风杨;掌劈萧大王,剑挑三丰张;拳打绿巨人,脚踢金刚狼;锤砸巫妖王,持刀屠玛胖;刀锋女王非常狂;吉姆雷诺来帮忙;他还有变形金刚.来看杨清风用降龙十八掌打丧尸,用钢铁侠战甲大战变形金刚,肉搏金刚狼,用利维坦怪兽当座骑,养雷兽当宠物。
  • 我的老婆是校长

    我的老婆是校长

    丁扬是一个等待就业的屌丝,却因为某个美女的强吻而意外获取异能……《化意秘录》,此秘录不但可以打熬肉身,秒杀兵王,还可以神医妙手,活死人,肉白骨。他既是身份神秘的老师,也是隐藏在街巷里的神级保安,绝世高手?却看一介屌丝,如何成为异能之王,称霸世界!
  • 黑篮之论正太是如何被养歪的

    黑篮之论正太是如何被养歪的

    谢茜茜穿越了,准确的来说,她穿成自己本命男神的——姐姐==作为专业的腐女,谢茜茜表示自己一定要克制扑倒弟弟愿望,将弟弟带入腐之领域!然而她失败了,谁来告诉她,这个莫名其妙的腹黑怪是谁是谁!这是一个抱有目的的腐女被一个同样抱有目的的功课目标反推倒的悲哀故事【才不是!】