GERALD。Dearmother，Iknewyouwouldn’tstandinmyway。YouarethebestwomanGodevermade。And，asforLordIllingworth，I
don’tbelieveheiscapableofanythinginfamousorbase。Ican’tbelieveitofhim—Ican’t。
HESTER。[Outside。]Letmego!Letmego![EnterHESTERinterror，andrushesovertoGERALDandflingsherselfinhisarms。]
HESTER。Oh!saveme—savemefromhim!
GERALD。Fromwhom？
HESTER。Hehasinsultedme!Horriblyinsultedme!Saveme!
GERALD。Who？Whohasdared—？
[LORDILLINGWORTHentersatbackofstage。HESTERbreaksfromGERALD’Sarmsandpointstohim。]
GERALD[Heisquitebesidehimselfwithrageandindignation。]
LordIllingworth，youhaveinsultedthepurestthingonGod’searth，athingaspureasmyownmother。YouhaveinsultedthewomanIlovemostintheworldwithmyownmother。AsthereisaGodinHeaven，Iwillkillyou!
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Rushingacrossandcatchingholdofhim]No!no!
GERALD。[Thrustingherback。]Don’tholdme，mother。Don’tholdme—I’llkillhim!
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Gerald!
GERALD。Letmego，Isay!
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Stop，Gerald，stop!Heisyourownfather!
[GERALDclutcheshismother’shandsandlooksintoherface。Shesinksslowlyonthegroundinshame。HESTERstealstowardsthedoor。LORDILLINGWORTHfrownsandbiteshislip。AfteratimeGERALDraiseshismotherup，putshisamroundher，andleadsherfromtheroom。]
ACTDROP
FOURTHACT
SCENE
Sitting—roomatMrs。Arbuthnot’s。LargeopenFrenchwindowatback，lookingontogarden。DoorsR。C。andL。C。
[GERALDARBUTHNOTwritingattable。]
[EnterALICER。C。followedbyLADYHUNSTANTONandMRS。ALLONBY。]
ALICE。LadyHunstantonandMrs。Allonby。
[ExitL。C。]
LADYHUNSTANTON。Goodmorning，Gerald。
GERALD。[Rising。]Goodmorning，LadyHunstanton。Goodmorning，Mrs。Allonby。
LADYHUNSTANTON。[Sittingdown。]Wecametoinquireforyourdearmother，Gerald。Ihopesheisbetter？
GERALD。Mymotherhasnotcomedownyet，LadyHunstanton。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Ah，Iamafraidtheheatwastoomuchforherlastnight。Ithinktheremusthavebeenthunderintheair。Orperhapsitwasthemusic。Musicmakesonefeelsoromantic—atleastitalwaysgetsonone’snerves。
MRS。ALLONBY。It’sthesamething，nowadays。
LADYHUNSTANTON。IamsogladIdon’tknowwhatyoumean，dear。I
amafraidyoumeansomethingwrong。Ah，Iseeyou’reexaminingMrs。Arbuthnot’sprettyroom。Isn’titniceandold—fashioned？
MRS。ALLONBY。[Surveyingtheroomthroughherlorgnette。]ItlooksquitethehappyEnglishhome。
LADYHUNSTANTON。That’sjusttheword，dear；thatjustdescribesit。Onefeelsyourmother’sgoodinfluenceineverythingshehasabouther，Gerald。
MRS。ALLONBY。LordIllingworthsaysthatallinfluenceisbad，butthatagoodinfluenceistheworstintheworld。
LADYHUNSTANTON。WhenLordIllingworthknowsMrs。Arbuthnotbetterhewillchangehismind。Imustcertainlybringhimhere。
MRS。ALLONBY。IshouldliketoseeLordIllingworthinahappyEnglishhome。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Itwoulddohimagreatdealofgood，dear。MostwomeninLondon，nowadays，seemtofurnishtheirroomswithnothingbutorchids，foreigners，andFrenchnovels。Butherewehavetheroomofasweetsaint。Freshnaturalflowers，booksthatdon’tshockone，picturesthatonecanlookatwithoutblushing。
MRS。ALLONBY。ButIlikeblushing。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Well，thereISagooddealtobesaidforblushing，ifonecandoitatthepropermoment。PoordearHunstantonusedtotellmeIdidn’tblushnearlyoftenenough。Butthenhewassoveryparticular。Hewouldn’tletmeknowanyofhismenfriends，exceptthosewhowereoverseventy，likepoorLordAshton：whoafterwards，bytheway，wasbroughtintotheDivorceCourt。Amostunfortunatecase。
MRS。ALLONBY。Idelightinmenoverseventy。Theyalwaysofferonethedevotionofalifetime。Ithinkseventyanidealageforaman。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Sheisquiteincorrigible，Gerald，isn’tshe？
By—the—by，Gerald，Ihopeyourdearmotherwillcomeandseememoreoftennow。YouandLordIllingworthstartalmostimmediately，don’tyou？
GERALD。IhavegivenupmyintentionofbeingLordIllingworth’ssecretary。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Surelynot，Gerald!Itwouldbemostunwiseofyou。Whatreasoncanyouhave？
GERALD。Idon’tthinkIshouldbesuitableforthepost。
MRS。ALLONBY。IwishLordIllingworthwouldaskmetobehissecretary。ButhesaysIamnotseriousenough。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Mydear，youreallymustn’ttalklikethatinthishouse。Mrs。Arbuthnotdoesn’tknowanythingaboutthewickedsocietyinwhichwealllive。Shewon’tgointoit。Sheisfartoogood。Iconsideritwasagreathonourhercomingtomelastnight。Itgavequiteanatmosphereofrespectabilitytotheparty。
MRS。ALLONBY。Ah，thatmusthavebeenwhatyouthoughtwasthunderintheair。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Mydear，howcanyousaythat？Thereisnoresemblancebetweenthetwothingsatall。Butreally，Gerald，whatdoyoumeanbynotbeingsuitable？
GERALD。LordIllingworth’sviewsoflifeandminearetoodifferent。
LADYHUNSTANTON。But，mydearGerald，atyourageyoushouldn’thaveanyviewsoflife。Theyarequiteoutofplace。Youmustbeguidedbyothersinthismatter。LordIllingworthhasmadeyouthemostflatteringoffer，andtravellingwithhimyouwouldseetheworld—asmuchofit，atleast，asoneshouldlookat—underthebestauspicespossible，andstaywithalltherightpeople，whichissoimportantatthissolemnmomentinyourcareer。
GERALD。Idon’twanttoseetheworld：I’veseenenoughofit。
MRS。ALLONBY。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkyouhaveexhaustedlife，Mr。
Arbuthnot。Whenamansaysthat，oneknowsthatlifehasexhaustedhim。
GERALD。Idon’twishtoleavemymother。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Now，Gerald，thatispurelazinessonyourpart。
Notleaveyourmother!IfIwereyourmotherIwouldinsistonyourgoing。
[EnterALICEL。C。]
ALICE。Mrs。Arbuthnot’scompliments，mylady，butshehasabadheadache，andcannotseeanyonethismorning。[ExitR。C。]
LADYHUNSTANTON。[Rising。]Abadheadache!Iamsosorry!
Perhapsyou’llbringheruptoHunstantonthisafternoon，ifsheisbetter，Gerald。
GERALD。Iamafraidnotthisafternoon，LadyHunstanton。
LADYHUNSTANTON。Well，to—morrow，then。Ah，ifyouhadafather，Gerald，hewouldn’tletyouwasteyourlifehere。HewouldsendyouoffwithLordIllingworthatonce。Butmothersaresoweak。
Theygiveuptotheirsonsineverything。Weareallheart，allheart。Come，dear，ImustcallattherectoryandinquireforMrs。
Daubeny，who，Iamafraid，isfarfromwell。ItiswonderfulhowtheArchdeaconbearsup，quitewonderful。Heisthemostsympatheticofhusbands。Quiteamodel。Good—bye，Gerald，givemyfondestlovetoyourmother。
MRS。ALLONBY。Good—bye，Mr。Arbuthnot。
GERALD。Good—bye。
[ExitLADYHUNSTANTONandMRS。ALLONBY。GERALDsitsdownandreadsoverhisletter。]
GERALD。WhatnamecanIsign？I，whohavenorighttoanyname。
[Signsname，putsletterintoenvelope，addressesit，andisabouttosealit，whendoorL。C。opensandMRS。ARBUTHNOTenters。GERALD
laysdownsealing—wax。Motherandsonlookateachother。]
LADYHUNSTANTON。[ThroughFrenchwindowattheback。]Good—byeagain，Gerald。Wearetakingtheshortcutacrossyourprettygarden。Now，remembermyadvicetoyou—startatoncewithLordIllingworth。
MRS。ALLONBY。AUREVOIR，Mr。Arbuthnot。Mindyoubringmebacksomethingnicefromyourtravels—notanIndianshawl—onnoaccountanIndianshawl。
[Exeunt。]
GERALD。Mother，Ihavejustwrittentohim。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Towhom？
GERALD。Tomyfather。Ihavewrittentotellhimtocomehereatfouro’clockthisafternoon。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Heshallnotcomehere。Heshallnotcrossthethresholdofmyhouse。
GERALD。Hemustcome。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Gerald，ifyouaregoingawaywithLordIllingworth，goatonce。Gobeforeitkillsme：butdon’taskmetomeethim。
GERALD。Mother，youdon’tunderstand。NothingintheworldwouldinducemetogoawaywithLordIllingworth，ortoleaveyou。
Surelyyouknowmewellenoughforthat。No：Ihavewrittentohimtosay—
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Whatcanyouhavetosaytohim？
GERALD。Can’tyouguess，mother，whatIhavewritteninthisletter？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。No。
GERALD。Mother，surelyyoucan。Think，thinkwhatmustbedone，now，atonce，withinthenextfewdays。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Thereisnothingtobedone。
GERALD。IhavewrittentoLordIllingworthtotellhimthathemustmarryyou。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Marryme？
GERALD。Mother，Iwillforcehimtodoit。Thewrongthathasbeendoneyoumustberepaired。Atonementmustbemade。Justicemaybeslow，mother，butitcomesintheend。InafewdaysyoushallbeLordIllingworth’slawfulwife。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。But，Gerald—
GERALD。Iwillinsistuponhisdoingit。Iwillmakehimdoit：
hewillnotdaretorefuse。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。But，Gerald，itisIwhorefuse。IwillnotmarryLordIllingworth。
GERALD。Notmarryhim？Mother!
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Iwillnotmarryhim。
GERALD。Butyoudon’tunderstand：itisforyoursakeIamtalking，notformine。Thismarriage，thisnecessarymarriage，thismarriagewhichforobviousreasonsmustinevitablytakeplace，willnothelpme，willnotgivemeanamethatwillbereally，rightlyminetobear。Butsurelyitwillbesomethingforyou，thatyou，mymother，should，howeverlate，becomethewifeofthemanwhoismyfather。Willnotthatbesomething？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Iwillnotmarryhim。
GERALD。Mother，youmust。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Iwillnot。Youtalkofatonementforawrongdone。Whatatonementcanbemadetome？Thereisnoatonementpossible。Iamdisgraced：heisnot。Thatisall。Itistheusualhistoryofamanandawomanasitusuallyhappens，asitalwayshappens。Andtheendingistheordinaryending。Thewomansuffers。Themangoesfree。
GERALD。Idon’tknowifthatistheordinaryending，mother：I
hopeitisnot。Butyourlife，atanyrate，shallnotendlikethat。Themanshallmakewhateverreparationispossible。Itisnotenough。Itdoesnotwipeoutthepast，Iknowthat。Butatleastitmakesthefuturebetter，betterforyou，mother。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。IrefusetomarryLordIllingworth。
GERALD。Ifhecametoyouhimselfandaskedyoutobehiswifeyouwouldgivehimadifferentanswer。Remember，heismyfather。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Ifhecamehimself，whichhewillnotdo，myanswerwouldbethesame。RememberIamyourmother。
GERALD。Mother，youmakeitterriblydifficultformebytalkinglikethat；andIcan’tunderstandwhyyouwon’tlookatthismatterfromtheright，fromtheonlyproperstandpoint。Itistotakeawaythebitternessoutofyourlife，totakeawaytheshadowthatliesonyourname，thatthismarriagemusttakeplace。Thereisnoalternative：andafterthemarriageyouandIcangoawaytogether。
Butthemarriagemusttakeplacefirst。Itisadutythatyouowe，notmerelytoyourself，buttoallotherwomen—yes：toalltheotherwomenintheworld，lesthebetraymore。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Iowenothingtootherwomen。Thereisnotoneofthemtohelpme。ThereisnotonewomanintheworldtowhomI
couldgoforpity，ifIwouldtakeit，orforsympathy，ifIcouldwinit。Womenarehardoneachother。Thatgirl，lastnight，goodthoughsheis，fledfromtheroomasthoughIwereataintedthing。
Shewasright。Iamataintedthing。Butmywrongsaremyown，andIwillbearthemalone。Imustbearthemalone。Whathavewomenwhohavenotsinnedtodowithme，orIwiththem？Wedonotunderstandeachother。
[EnterHESTERbehind。]
GERALD。IimploreyoutodowhatIaskyou。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Whatsonhaseveraskedofhismothertomakesohideousasacrifice？None。
GERALD。Whatmotherhaseverrefusedtomarrythefatherofherownchild？None。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Letmebethefirst，then。Iwillnotdoit。
GERALD。Mother，youbelieveinreligion，andyoubroughtmeuptobelieveinitalso。Well，surelyyourreligion，thereligionthatyoutaughtmewhenIwasaboy，mother，musttellyouthatIamright。Youknowit，youfeelit。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Idonotknowit。Idonotfeelit，norwillI
everstandbeforeGod’saltarandaskGod’sblessingonsohideousamockeryasamarriagebetweenmeandGeorgeHarford。IwillnotsaythewordstheChurchbidsustosay。Iwillnotsaythem。I
darenot。HowcouldIsweartolovethemanIloathe，tohonourhimwhowroughtyoudishonour，toobeyhimwho，inhismastery，mademetosin？No：marriageisasacramentforthosewholoveeachother。Itisnotforsuchashim，orsuchasme。Gerald，tosaveyoufromtheworld’ssneersandtauntsIhaveliedtotheworld。FortwentyyearsIhaveliedtotheworld。Icouldnottelltheworldthetruth。Whocan，ever？ButnotformyownsakewillIlietoGod，andinGod’spresence。No，Gerald，noceremony，Church—hallowedorState—made，shalleverbindmetoGeorgeHarford。ItmaybethatIamtooboundtohimalready，who，robbingme，yetleftmericher，sothatinthemireofmylifeI
foundthepearlofprice，orwhatIthoughtwouldbeso。
GERALD。Idon’tunderstandyounow。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Mendon’tunderstandwhatmothersare。IamnodifferentfromotherwomenexceptinthewrongdonemeandthewrongIdid，andmyveryheavypunishmentsandgreatdisgrace。Andyet，tobearyouIhadtolookondeath。TonurtureyouIhadtowrestlewithit。Deathfoughtwithmeforyou。Allwomenhavetofightwithdeathtokeeptheirchildren。Death，beingchildless，wantsourchildrenfromus。Gerald，whenyouwerenakedIclothedyou，whenyouwerehungryIgaveyoufood。NightanddayallthatlongwinterItendedyou。Noofficeistoomean，nocaretoolowlyforthethingwewomenlove—andoh!howIlovedYOU。NotHannah，Samuelmore。Andyouneededlove，foryouwereweakly，andonlylovecouldhavekeptyoualive。Onlylovecankeepanyonealive。
Andboysarecarelessoftenandwithoutthinkinggivepain，andwealwaysfancythatwhentheycometoman’sestateandknowusbettertheywillrepayus。Butitisnotso。Theworlddrawsthemfromourside，andtheymakefriendswithwhomtheyarehappierthantheyarewithus，andhaveamusementsfromwhichwearebarred，andintereststhatarenotours：andtheyareunjusttousoften，forwhentheyfindlifebittertheyblameusforit，andwhentheyfinditsweetwedonottasteitssweetnesswiththem……Youmademanyfriendsandwentintotheirhousesandweregladwiththem，andI，knowingmysecret，didnotdaretofollow，butstayedathomeandclosedthedoor，shutoutthesunandsatindarkness。
WhatshouldIhavedoneinhonesthouseholds？Mypastwaseverwithme……AndyouthoughtIdidn’tcareforthepleasantthingsoflife。ItellyouIlongedforthem，butdidnotdaretotouchthem，feelingIhadnoright。YouthoughtIwashappierworkingamongstthepoor。Thatwasmymission，youimagined。Itwasnot，butwhereelsewasItogo？Thesickdonotaskifthehandthatsmoothstheirpillowispure，northedyingcareifthelipsthattouchtheirbrowhaveknownthekissofsin。ItwasyouIthoughtofallthetime；Igavetothemtheloveyoudidnotneed：lavishedonthemalovethatwasnottheirs……AndyouthoughtIspenttoomuchofmytimeingoingtoChurch，andinChurchduties。ButwhereelsecouldIturn？God’shouseistheonlyhousewheresinnersaremadewelcome，andyouwerealwaysinmyheart，Gerald，toomuchinmyheart。For，thoughdayafterday，atmornorevensong，IhavekneltinGod’shouse，Ihaveneverrepentedofmysin。HowcouldIrepentofmysinwhenyou，mylove，wereitsfruit!EvennowthatyouarebittertomeIcannotrepent。Idonot。Youaremoretomethaninnocence。Iwouldratherbeyourmother—oh!muchrather!—thanhavebeenalwayspure……Oh，don’tyousee？don’tyouunderstand？Itismydishonourthathasmadeyousodeartome。Itismydisgracethathasboundyousocloselytome。ItisthepriceIpaidforyou—
thepriceofsoulandbody—thatmakesmeloveyouasIdo。Oh，don’taskmetodothishorriblething。Childofmyshame，bestillthechildofmyshame!
GERALD。Mother，Ididn’tknowyoulovedmesomuchasthat。AndI
willbeabettersontoyouthanIhavebeen。AndyouandImustneverleaveeachother……but，mother……Ican’thelpit……youmustbecomemyfather’swife。Youmustmarryhim。Itisyourduty。
HESTER。[RunningforwardsandembracingMRS。ARBUTHNOT。]No，no；
youshallnot。Thatwouldberealdishonour，thefirstyouhaveeverknown。Thatwouldberealdisgrace：thefirsttotouchyou。
Leavehimandcomewithme。ThereareothercountriesthanEngland……Oh!othercountriesoversea，better，wiser，andlessunjustlands。Theworldisverywideandverybig。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。No，notforme。Formetheworldisshrivelledtoapalm’sbreadth，andwhereIwalktherearethorns。
HESTER。Itshallnotbeso。Weshallsomewherefindgreenvalleysandfreshwaters，andifweweep，well，weshallweeptogether。
Havewenotbothlovedhim？
GERALD。Hester!
HESTER。[Wavinghimback。]Don’t，don’t!Youcannotlovemeatall，unlessyouloveheralso。Youcannothonourme，unlessshe’sholiertoyou。Inherallwomanhoodismartyred。Notshealone，butallofusarestrickeninherhouse。
GERALD。Hester，Hester，whatshallIdo？
HESTER。Doyourespectthemanwhoisyourfather？
GERALD。Respecthim？Idespisehim!Heisinfamous。
HESTER。Ithankyouforsavingmefromhimlastnight。
GERALD。Ah，thatisnothing。Iwoulddietosaveyou。Butyoudon’ttellmewhattodonow!
HESTER。HaveInotthankedyouforsavingME？
GERALD。ButwhatshouldIdo？
HESTER。Askyourownheart，notmine。Ineverhadamothertosave，orshame。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Heishard—heishard。Letmegoaway。
GERALD。[Rushesoverandkneelsdownbedsidehismother。]Mother，forgiveme：Ihavebeentoblame。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Don’tkissmyhands：theyarecold。Myheartiscold：somethinghasbrokenit。
HESTER，Ah，don’tsaythat。Heartslivebybeingwounded。
Pleasuremayturnahearttostone，richesmaymakeitcallous，butsorrow—oh，sorrowcannotbreakit。Besides，whatsorrowshaveyounow？Why，atthismomentyouaremoredeartohimthanever，DEARthoughyouhaveBEEN，andoh!howdearyouHAVEbeenalways。
Ah!bekindtohim。
GERALD。Youaremymotherandmyfatherallinone。Ineednosecondparent。ItwasforyouIspoke，foryoualone。Oh，saysomething，mother。HaveIbutfoundonelovetoloseanother？
Don’ttellmethat。Omother，youarecruel。[Getsupandflingshimselfsobbingonasofa。]
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[ToHESTER。]Buthashefoundindeedanotherlove？
HESTER。YouknowIhavelovedhimalways。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Butweareverypoor。
HESTER。Who，beingloved，ispoor？Oh，noone。Ihatemyriches。
Theyareaburden。Lethimshareitwithme。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Butwearedisgraced。WerankamongtheoutcastsGeraldisnameless。Thesinsoftheparentsshouldbevisitedonthechildren。ItisGod’slaw。
HESTER。Iwaswrong。God’slawisonlyLove。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Rises，andtakingHESTERbythehand，goesslowlyovertowhereGERALDislyingonthesofawithhisheadburiedinhishands。Shetoucheshimandhelooksup。]Gerald，Icannotgiveyouafather，butIhavebroughtyouawife。
GERALD。Mother，Iamnotworthyeitherofheroryou。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Soshecomesfirst，youareworthy。Andwhenyouareaway，Gerald……with……her—oh，thinkofmesometimes。
Don’tforgetme。Andwhenyoupray，prayforme。Weshouldpraywhenwearehappiest，andyouwillbehappy，Gerald。
HESTER。Oh，youdon’tthinkofleavingus？
GERALD。Mother，youwon’tleaveus？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Imightbringshameuponyou!
GERALD。Mother!
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Foralittlethen：andifyouletme，nearyoualways。
HESTER。[ToMRS。ARBUTHNOT。]Comeoutwithustothegarden。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Lateron，lateron。[ExeuntHESTERandGERALD。
MRS。ARBUTHNOTgoestowardsdoorL。C。Stopsatlooking—glassovermantelpieceandlooksintoit。EnterALICER。C。]
ALICE。Agentlemantoseeyou，ma’am。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。SayIamnotathome。Showmethecard。[Takescardfromsalverandlooksatit。]SayIwillnotseehim。
[LORDILLINGWORTHenters。MRS。ARBUTHNOTseeshimintheglassandstarts，butdoesnotturnround。ExitALICE。]Whatcanyouhavetosaytometo—day，GeorgeHarford？Youcanhavenothingtosaytome。Youmustleavethishouse。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Rachel，Geraldknowseverythingaboutyouandmenow，sosomearrangementmustbecometothatwillsuitusallthree。Iassureyou，hewillfindinmethemostcharmingandgenerousoffathers。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Mysonmaycomeinatanymoment。Isavedyoulastnight。Imaynotbeabletosaveyouagain。Mysonfeelsmydishonourstrongly，terriblystrongly。Ibegyoutogo。
LORDILLINGWORTH。[Sittingdown。]Lastnightwasexcessivelyunfortunate。ThatsillyPuritangirlmakingascenemerelybecauseIwantedtokissher。Whatharmisthereinakiss？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Turninground。]Akissmayruinahumanlife，GeorgeHarford。Iknowthat。Iknowthattoowell。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Wewon’tdiscussthatatpresent。Whatisofimportanceto—day，asyesterday，isstillourson。Iamextremelyfondofhim，asyouknow，andoddthoughitmayseemtoyou，I
admiredhisconductlastnightimmensely。Hetookupthecudgelsforthatprettyprudewithwonderfulpromptitude。HeisjustwhatIshouldhavelikedasonofminetobe。ExceptthatnosonofmineshouldevertakethesideofthePuritans：thatisalwaysanerror。Now，whatIproposeisthis。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。LordIllingworth，nopropositionofyoursinterestsme。
LORDILLINGWORTH。AccordingtoourridiculousEnglishlaws，I
can’tlegitimiseGerald。ButIcanleavehimmyproperty。
Illingworthisentailed，ofcourse，butitisatediousbarrackofaplace。HecanhaveAshby，whichismuchprettier，Harborough，whichhasthebestshootinginthenorthofEngland，andthehouseinSt。JamesSquare。Whatmorecanagentlemanrequireinthisworld？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Nothingmore，Iamquitesure。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Asforatitle，atitleisreallyratheranuisanceinthesedemocraticdays。AsGeorgeHarfordIhadeverythingIwanted。NowIhavemerelyeverythingthatotherpeoplewant，whichisn’tnearlysopleasant。Well，myproposalisthis。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。ItoldyouIwasnotinterested，andIbegyoutogo。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Theboyistobewithyouforsixmonthsintheyear，andwithmefortheothersix。Thatisperfectlyfair，isitnot？Youcanhavewhateverallowanceyoulike，andlivewhereyouchoose。Asforyourpast，nooneknowsanythingaboutitexceptmyselfandGerald。ThereisthePuritan，ofcourse，thePuritaninwhitemuslin，butshedoesn’tcount。Shecouldn’ttellthestorywithoutexplainingthatsheobjectedtobeingkissed，couldshe？
Andallthewomenwouldthinkherafoolandthementhinkherabore。AndyouneednotbeafraidthatGeraldwon’tbemyheir。I
needn’ttellyouIhavenottheslightestintentionofmarrying。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Youcometoolate。Mysonhasnoneedofyou。
Youarenotnecessary。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Whatdoyoumean，Rachel？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。ThatyouarenotnecessarytoGerald’scareer。Hedoesnotrequireyou。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Idonotunderstandyou。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Lookintothegarden。[LORDILLINGWORTHrisesandgoestowardswindow。]Youhadbetternotletthemseeyou：youbringunpleasantmemories。[LORDILLINGWORTHlooksoutandstarts。]Sheloveshim。Theyloveeachother。Wearesafefromyou，andwearegoingaway。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Where？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Wewillnottellyou，andifyoufinduswewillnotknowyou。Youseemsurprised。Whatwelcomewouldyougetfromthegirlwhoselipsyoutriedtosoil，fromtheboywhoselifeyouhaveshamed，fromthemotherwhosedishonourcomesfromyou？
LORDILLINGWORTH。Youhavegrownhard，Rachel。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Iwastooweakonce。ItiswellformethatI
havechanged。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Iwasveryyoungatthetime。Wemenknowlifetooearly。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Andwewomenknowlifetoolate。Thatisthedifferencebetweenmenandwomen。[Apause。]
LORDILLINGWORTH。Rachel，Iwantmyson。Mymoneymaybeofnousetohimnow。Imaybeofnousetohim，butIwantmyson。
Bringustogether，Rachel。Youcandoitifyouchoose。[Seesletterontable。]
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Thereisnoroominmyboy’slifeforyou。HeisnotinterestedinYOU。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Thenwhydoeshewritetome？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Whatdoyoumean？
LORDILLINGWORTH。Whatletteristhis？[Takesupletter。]
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。That—isnothing。Giveittome。
LORDILLINGWORTH。ItisaddressedtoME。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Youarenottoopenit。Iforbidyoutoopenit。
LORDILLINGWORTH。AndinGerald’shandwriting。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Itwasnottohavebeensent。Itisaletterhewrotetoyouthismorning，beforehesawme。Butheissorrynowhewroteit，verysorry。Youarenottoopenit。Giveittome。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Itbelongstome。[Opensit，sitsdownandreadsitslowly。MRS。ARBUTHNOTwatcheshimallthetime。]Youhavereadthisletter，Isuppose，Rachel？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。No。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Youknowwhatisinit？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Yes!
LORDILLINGWORTH。Idon’tadmitforamomentthattheboyisrightinwhathesays。Idon’tadmitthatitisanydutyofminetomarryyou。Idenyitentirely。ButtogetmysonbackIamready—yes，Iamreadytomarryyou，Rachel—andtotreatyoualwayswiththedeferenceandrespectduetomywife。Iwillmarryyouassoonasyouchoose。Igiveyoumywordofhonour。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Youmadethatpromisetomeoncebeforeandbrokeit。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Iwillkeepitnow。AndthatwillshowyouthatIlovemyson，atleastasmuchasyoulovehim。ForwhenImarryyou，Rachel，therearesomeambitionsIshallhavetosurrender。
Highambitions，too，ifanyambitionishigh。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Ideclinetomarryyou，LordIllingworth。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Areyouserious？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Yes。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Dotellmeyourreasons。Theywouldinterestmeenormously。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Ihavealreadyexplainedthemtomyson。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Isupposetheywereintenselysentimental，weren’tthey？Youwomenlivebyyouremotionsandforthem。Youhavenophilosophyoflife。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Youareright。Wewomenlivebyouremotionsandforthem。Byourpassions，andforthem，ifyouwill。Ihavetwopassions，LordIllingworth：myloveofhim，myhateofyou。Youcannotkillthose。Theyfeedeachother。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Whatsortofloveisthatwhichneedstohavehateasitsbrother？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。ItisthesortofloveIhaveforGerald。Doyouthinkthatterrible？Wellitisterrible。Allloveisterrible。
Allloveisatragedy。Ilovedyouonce，LordIllingworth。Oh，whatatragedyforawomantohavelovedyou!
LORDILLINGWORTH。Soyoureallyrefusetomarryme？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Yes。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Becauseyouhateme？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Yes。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Anddoesmysonhatemeasyoudo？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。No。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Iamgladofthat，Rachel。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Hemerelydespisesyou。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Whatapity!Whatapityforhim，Imean。
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Don’tbedeceived，George。Childrenbeginbylovingtheirparents。Afteratimetheyjudgethem。Rarelyifeverdotheyforgivethem。
LORDILLINGWORTH。[Readsletteroveragain，veryslowly。]MayI
askbywhatargumentsyoumadetheboywhowrotethisletter，thisbeautiful，passionateletter，believethatyoushouldnotmarryhisfather，thefatherofyourownchild？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。ItwasnotIwhomadehimseeit。Itwasanother。
LORDILLINGWORTH。WhatFIN—DE—SIECLEperson？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。ThePuritan，LordIllingworth。[Apause。]
LORDILLINGWORTH。[Winces，thenrisesslowlyandgoesovertotablewherehishatandglovesare。MRS。ARBUTHNOTisstandingclosetothetable。Hepicksuponeofthegloves，andbeginspullingiton。]Thereisnotmuchthenformetodohere，Rachel？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Nothing。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Itisgood—bye，isit？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Forever，Ihope，thistime，LordIllingworth。
LORDILLINGWORTH。Howcurious!Atthismomentyoulookexactlyasyoulookedthenightyouleftmetwentyyearsago。Youhavejustthesameexpressioninyourmouth。Uponmyword，Rachel，nowomaneverlovedmeasyoudid。Why，yougaveyourselftomelikeaflower，todoanythingIlikedwith。Youweretheprettiestofplaythings，themostfascinatingofsmallromances……[Pullsoutwatch。]Quartertotwo!MustbestrollingbacktoHunstanton。
Don’tsupposeIshallseeyouthereagain。I’msorry，Iam，really。It’sbeenanamusingexperiencetohavemetamongstpeopleofone’sownrank，andtreatedquiteseriouslytoo，one’smistress，andone’s—
[MRS。ARBUTHNOTsnatchesupgloveandstrikesLORDILLINGWORTH
acrossthefacewithit。LORDILLINGWORTHstarts。Heisdazedbytheinsultofhispunishment。Thenhecontrolshimself，andgoestowindowandlooksoutathisson。Sighsandleavestheroom。]
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Fallssobbingonthesofa。]Hewouldhavesaidit。Hewouldhavesaidit。
[EnterGERALDandHESTERfromthegarden。]
GERALD。Well，dearmother。Younevercameoutafterall。Sowehavecomeintofetchyou。Mother，youhavenotbeencrying？
[Kneelsdownbesideher。]
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。Myboy!Myboy!Myboy![Runningherfingersthroughhishair。]
HESTER。[Comingover。]Butyouhavetwochildrennow。You’llletmebeyourdaughter？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Lookingup。]Wouldyouchoosemeforamother？
HESTER。YouofallwomenIhaveeverknown。
[Theymovetowardsthedoorleadingintogardenwiththeirarmsroundeachother’swaists。GERALDgoestotableL。C。forhishat。
OnturningroundheseesLORDILLINGWORTH’Sglovelyingonthefloor，andpicksitup。]
GERALD。Hallo，mother，whosegloveisthis？Youhavehadavisitor。Whowasit？
MRS。ARBUTHNOT。[Turninground。]Oh!noone。Nooneinparticular。Amanofnoimportance。
CURTAIN
