MRS. ARBUTHNOT. But we are disgraced. We rank among the outcasts. Gerald is nameless. The sins of the parents should be visited on the children. It is God’s law. HESTER. I was wrong. God’s law is only Love. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. [_Rises_, _and taking_ HESTER _by the hand_, _goes slowly over to where_ GERALD _is lying on the sofa with his head buried in his hands_. _She touches him and he looks up_.] Gerald, I cannot give you a father, but I have brought you a wife. GERALD. Mother, I am not worthy either of her or you. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. So she comes first, you are worthy. And when you are away, Gerald . . . with . . . her—oh, think of me sometimes. Don’t forget me. And when you pray, pray for me. We should pray when we are happiest, and you will be happy, Gerald. HESTER. Oh, you don’t think of leaving us? GERALD. Mother, you won’t leave us? MRS. ARBUTHNOT. I might bring shame upon you! GERALD. Mother! MRS. ARBUTHNOT. For a little then: and if you let me, near you always. HESTER. [_To_ MRS. ARBUTHNOT.] Come out with us to the garden. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. Later on, later on. [_Exeunt_ HESTER _and_ GERALD. MRS. ARBUTHNOT _goes towards door_ L.C. _Stops at looking-glass over mantelpiece and looks into it_. _Enter_ ALICE R.C.] ALICE. A gentleman to see you, ma’am. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. Say I am not at home. Show me the card. [_Takes card from salver and looks at it_.] Say I will not see him. [LORD ILLINGWORTH _enters_. MRS. ARBUTHNOT _sees him in the glass and starts_, _but does not turn round_. _Exit_ ALICE.] What can you have to say to me to-day, George Harford? You can have nothing to say to me. You must leave this house. LORD ILLINGWORTH. Rachel, Gerald knows everything about you and me now, so some arrangement must be come to that will suit us all three. I assure you, he will find in me the most charming and generous of fathers. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. My son may come in at any moment. I saved you last night. I may not be able to save you again. My son feels my dishonour strongly, terribly strongly. I beg you to go. LORD ILLINGWORTH. [_Sitting down_.] Last night was excessively unfortunate. That silly Puritan girl making a scene merely because I wanted to kiss her. What harm is there in a kiss? MRS. ARBUTHNOT. [_Turning round_.] A kiss may ruin a human life, George Harford. _I_ know that. _I_ know that too well. LORD ILLINGWORTH. We won’t discuss that at present. What is of importance to-day, as yesterday, is still our son. I am extremely fond of him, as you know, and odd though it may seem to you, I admired his conduct last night immensely. He took up the cudgels for that pretty prude with wonderful promptitude. He is just what I should have liked a son of mine to be. Except that no son of mine should ever take the side of the Puritans: that is always an error. Now, what I propose is this. MRS. ARBUTHNOT. Lord Illingworth, no proposition of yours interests me.