LORD DARLINGTON. [_Following her_.] Yes; you have the courage. There may be six months of pain, of disgrace even, but when you no longer bear his name, when you bear mine, all will be well. Margaret, my love, my wife that shall be some day—yes, my wife! You know it! What are you now? This woman has the place that belongs by right to you. Oh! go—go out of this house, with head erect, with a smile upon your lips, with courage in your eyes. All London will know why you did it; and who will blame you? No one. If they do, what matter? Wrong? What is wrong? It’s wrong for a man to abandon his wife for a shameless woman. It is wrong for a wife to remain with a man who so dishonours her. You said once you would make no compromise with things. Make none now. Be brave! Be yourself! LADY WINDERMERE. I am afraid of being myself. Let me think! Let me wait! My husband may return to me. [_Sits down on sofa_.] LORD DARLINGTON. And you would take him back! You are not what I thought you were. You are just the same as every other woman. You would stand anything rather than face the censure of a world, whose praise you would despise. In a week you will be driving with this woman in the Park. She will be your constant guest—your dearest friend. You would endure anything rather than break with one blow this monstrous tie. You are right. You have no courage; none! LADY WINDERMERE. Ah, give me time to think. I cannot answer you now. [_Passes her hand nervously over her brow_.] LORD DARLINGTON. It must be now or not at all. LADY WINDERMERE. [_Rising from the sofa_.] Then, not at all! [_A pause_.] LORD DARLINGTON. You break my heart! LADY WINDERMERE. Mine is already broken. [_A pause_.] LORD DARLINGTON. To-morrow I leave England. This is the last time I shall ever look on you. You will never see me again. For one moment our lives met—our souls touched. They must never meet or touch again. Good-bye, Margaret. [_Exit_.] LADY WINDERMERE. How alone I am in life! How terribly alone! [_The music stops_. _Enter the_ DUCHESS OF BERWICK _and_ LORD PAISLEY _laughing and talking_. _Other guests come on from ball-room_.]