MRS. ERLYNNE. No; you see, to-morrow I am going to accept him. And I think it would be a good thing if I was able to tell him that I had—well, what shall I say?—£2000 a year left to me by a third cousin—or a second husband—or some distant relative of that kind. It would be an additional attraction, wouldn’t it? You have a delightful opportunity now of paying me a compliment, Windermere. But you are not very clever at paying compliments. I am afraid Margaret doesn’t encourage you in that excellent habit. It’s a great mistake on her part. When men give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming. But seriously, what do you say to £2000? £2500, I think. In modern life margin is everything. Windermere, don’t you think the world an intensely amusing place? I do! [_Exit on terrace with_ LORD WINDERMERE. Music strikes up in ball-room.] LADY WINDERMERE. To stay in this house any longer is impossible. To-night a man who loves me offered me his whole life. I refused it. It was foolish of me. I will offer him mine now. I will give him mine. I will go to him! [_Puts on cloak and goes to the door_, _then turns back_. _Sits down at table and writes a letter_, _puts it into an envelope_, _and leaves it on table_.] Arthur has never understood me. When he reads this, he will. He may do as he chooses now with his life. I have done with mine as I think best, as I think right. It is he who has broken the bond of marriage—not I. I only break its bondage. [_Exit_.] [_PARKER enters L. and crosses towards the ball-room R._ _Enter_ MRS. ERLYNNE.] MRS. ERLYNNE. Is Lady Windermere in the ball-room? PARKER. Her ladyship has just gone out. MRS. ERLYNNE. Gone out? She’s not on the terrace? PARKER. No, madam. Her ladyship has just gone out of the house. MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Starts_, _and looks at the servant with a puzzled expression in her face_.] Out of the house? PARKER. Yes, madam—her ladyship told me she had left a letter for his lordship on the table. MRS. ERLYNNE. A letter for Lord Windermere? PARKER. Yes, madam. MRS. ERLYNNE. Thank you. [_Exit_ PARKER. _The music in the ball-room stops_.] Gone out of her house! A letter addressed to her husband! [_Goes over to bureau and looks at letter_. _Takes it up and lays it down again with a shudder of fear_.] No, no! It would be impossible! Life doesn’t repeat its tragedies like that! Oh, why does this horrible fancy come across me? Why do I remember now the one moment of my life I most wish to forget? Does life repeat its tragedies? [_Tears letter open and reads it_, _then sinks down into a chair with a gesture of anguish_.] Oh, how terrible! The same words that twenty years ago I wrote to her father! and how bitterly I have been punished for it! No; my punishment, my real punishment is to-night, is now! [_Still seated R._] [_Enter_ LORD WINDERMERE _L.U.E._]