LADY CHILTERN. A man’s life is of more value than a woman’s. It has larger issues, wider scope, greater ambitions. Our lives revolve in curves of emotions. It is upon lines of intellect that a man’s life progresses. I have just learnt this, and much else with it, from Lord Goring. And I will not spoil your life for you, nor see you spoil it as a sacrifice to me, a useless sacrifice! SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Gertrude! Gertrude! LADY CHILTERN. You can forget. Men easily forget. And I forgive. That is how women help the world. I see that now. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Deeply overcome by emotion_, _embraces her_.] My wife! my wife! [_To_ LORD GORING.] Arthur, it seems that I am always to be in your debt. LORD GORING. Oh dear no, Robert. Your debt is to Lady Chiltern, not to me! SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I owe you much. And now tell me what you were going to ask me just now as Lord Caversham came in. LORD GORING. Robert, you are your sister’s guardian, and I want your consent to my marriage with her. That is all. LADY CHILTERN. Oh, I am so glad! I am so glad! [_Shakes hands with_ LORD GORING.] LORD GORING. Thank you, Lady Chiltern. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_With a troubled look_.] My sister to be your wife? LORD GORING. Yes. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Speaking with great firmness_.] Arthur, I am very sorry, but the thing is quite out of the question. I have to think of Mabel’s future happiness. And I don’t think her happiness would be safe in your hands. And I cannot have her sacrificed! LORD GORING. Sacrificed! SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Yes, utterly sacrificed. Loveless marriages are horrible. But there is one thing worse than an absolutely loveless marriage. A marriage in which there is love, but on one side only; faith, but on one side only; devotion, but on one side only, and in which of the two hearts one is sure to be broken. LORD GORING. But I love Mabel. No other woman has any place in my life. LADY CHILTERN. Robert, if they love each other, why should they not be married? SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Arthur cannot bring Mabel the love that she deserves. LORD GORING. What reason have you for saying that? SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_After a pause_.] Do you really require me to tell you? LORD GORING. Certainly I do. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. As you choose. When I called on you yesterday evening I found Mrs. Cheveley concealed in your rooms. It was between ten and eleven o’clock at night. I do not wish to say anything more. Your relations with Mrs. Cheveley have, as I said to you last night, nothing whatsoever to do with me. I know you were engaged to be married to her once. The fascination she exercised over you then seems to have returned. You spoke to me last night of her as of a woman pure and stainless, a woman whom you respected and honoured. That may be so. But I cannot give my sister’s life into your hands. It would be wrong of me. It would be unjust, infamously unjust to her.