LORD DARLINGTON. You look faint. Come out on the terrace. LADY WINDERMERE. Yes. [_To_ PARKER.] Parker, send my cloak out. MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Crossing to her_.] Lady Windermere, how beautifully your terrace is illuminated. Reminds me of Prince Doria’s at Rome. [LADY WINDERMERE _bows coldly_, _and goes off with_ LORD DARLINGTON.] Oh, how do you do, Mr. Graham? Isn’t that your aunt, Lady Jedburgh? I should so much like to know her. CECIL GRAHAM. [_After a moment’s hesitation and embarrassment_.] Oh, certainly, if you wish it. Aunt Caroline, allow me to introduce Mrs. Erlynne. MRS. ERLYNNE. So pleased to meet you, Lady Jedburgh. [_Sits beside her on the sofa_.] Your nephew and I are great friends. I am so much interested in his political career. I think he’s sure to be a wonderful success. He thinks like a Tory, and talks like a Radical, and that’s so important nowadays. He’s such a brilliant talker, too. But we all know from whom he inherits that. Lord Allandale was saying to me only yesterday, in the Park, that Mr. Graham talks almost as well as his aunt. LADY JEDBURGH. [_R._] Most kind of you to say these charming things to me! [MRS. ERLYNNE _smiles_, _and continues conversation_.] DUMBY. [_To_ CECIL GRAHAM.] Did you introduce Mrs. Erlynne to Lady Jedburgh? CECIL GRAHAM. Had to, my dear fellow. Couldn’t help it! That woman can make one do anything she wants. How, I don’t know. DUMBY. Hope to goodness she won’t speak to me! [_Saunters towards_ LADY PLYMDALE.] MRS. ERLYNNE. [_C._ _To_ LADY JEDBURGH.] On Thursday? With great pleasure. [_Rises_, _and speaks to_ LORD WINDERMERE, _laughing_.] What a bore it is to have to be civil to these old dowagers! But they always insist on it! LADY PLYMDALE. [_To_ MR. DUMBY.] Who is that well-dressed woman talking to Windermere? DUMBY. Haven’t got the slightest idea! Looks like an _édition de luxe_ of a wicked French novel, meant specially for the English market. MRS. ERLYNNE. So that is poor Dumby with Lady Plymdale? I hear she is frightfully jealous of him. He doesn’t seem anxious to speak to me to-night. I suppose he is afraid of her. Those straw-coloured women have dreadful tempers. Do you know, I think I’ll dance with you first, Windermere. [LORD WINDERMERE _bites his lip and frowns_.] It will make Lord Augustus so jealous! Lord Augustus! [LORD AUGUSTUS _comes down_.] Lord Windermere insists on my dancing with him first, and, as it’s his own house, I can’t well refuse. You know I would much sooner dance with you. LORD AUGUSTUS. [_With a low bow_.] I wish I could think so, Mrs. Erlynne. MRS. ERLYNNE. You know it far too well. I can fancy a person dancing through life with you and finding it charming. LORD AUGUSTUS. [_Placing his hand on his white waistcoat_.] Oh, thank you, thank you. You are the most adorable of all ladies!