THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - 10 -

Jack: Charming day it has been, Miss Fairfax.
Gwendolen: Play don't talk to me about the weather, Mr. Worthing.
　　　　　　　　　Whenever people talk to me about the weather, I always
　　　　　　　　　feel quite certain that they mean something else,
　　　　　　　　　and that makes me so nervous.
Jack: I do mean something else.
Gwendolen: I thought so.
Jack: I would like to tale advantage of Lady Bracknell's absence...
　　　　 Gwendolen: I would certainly advise you to do so. Mama has a
　　　　 way of coming back suddenly into a room that I've often had to
　　　　 speak to her about.
[playing piano]
Jack: Miss Fairfax, ever since I met you, I have admired you
　　　　 more than any girl I have ever met since... I met you.
Gwendolen: Yes. I'm quite aware of the fact. And I often wish that in
　　　　　　　　　public, at any rate, you had been more demonstrative.
　　　　　　　　　For me... you have always had an irresistible fascination.
Jack: Gwendolen...
Gwendolen: Ever before I met you, I was far from indifferent to you.
　　　　　　　　　We live, as I hope you know, Mr. Worthing, in an age of
　　　　　　　　　ideals, and my ideal has always been to love someone
　　　　　　　　　of the name of Ernest. There's something in that name that
　　　　　　　　　that inspires absolute　confidence. The moment Algy first
　　　　　　　　　mentioned to me that he had a friend called Ernest,
　　　　　　　　　I knew I was destined to love you.
Jack: You really love me, Gwendolen?
Gwendolen: Passionately.
Jack: Darling, you... You don't know haw happy you've made me.
Gwendolen: My own Ernest.
Jack: You don't mean to say though, dear, you couldn't love me
　　　　 if my name wasn't Ernest.
Gwendolen: But your name is Ernest.
Jack: Yes, I know it is, but supposing it was something else?
Gwendolen: Ah. Well, that is clearly a metaphysical speculation,
　　　　　　　　　and like most metaphysical speculations,
　　　　　　　　　has very little reference at all to the actual facts
　　　　　　　　　of real life as we know them.
Jack: Personally, darling, to speak quite candidly,
　　　　 I don't much care about the name of Ernest.
　　　　 I don't think it suits me at all.
Gwendolen: It suits you perfectly. it is a divine name.
　　　　　　　　　It has a music of its own. It produces vibrations.
Jack: Well, really, Gwendolen, I must say I think there are lots of
　　　　 other much nicer names. I think... Jack, for instance,
　　　　 a charming name.
Gwendolen: Jack? I've known several Jacks, and they all,
　　　　　　　　　without exception, were more than usually plain.
　　　　　　　　　Mmm. The only really safe name is Ernest.
Jack: Gwendolen, we must get married at once.
Gwendolen: Married, Mr. Worthing?
Jack: Well, surely. You know that I love you,
　　　　 and you led me to believe, Miss Fairfax,
　　　　 that you were not absolutely indifferent to me.
Gwendolen: I adore you. But you haven't proposed to me yet.
　　　　　　　　　Nothing's been said at all about marriage.
　　　　　　　　　The subject has not even been touched on.
Jack: Gwendolen.
Gwendolen: Yes, Mr. Worthing, what have you to say to me?
Jack: You know what I have to say to you.
Gwendolen: Yes, but you don't say it.
Jack: Gwendolen, will you marry me?

Augusta: Mr. Worthing! Rise, sir, from this semi-recumbent posture.
　　　　　　　 It is most indecorous.
Gwendolen: Mama! I must beg you to retire.
　　　　　　　　　Mr. Worthing has not quite finished yet.
Augusta: Finished what, may I ask?
Gwendolen: I am engaged to be married to Mr. Worthing, Mama.
Augusta: Pardon me, Gwendolen. You are not engaged to anyone.
　　　　　　　 When you do become engaged to someone,
　　　　　　　 I or your father, should his health permit him, will inform
　　　　　　　 you of the fact. You will wait for me below in the carriage.
Gwendolen: Mama...
Augusta: In the carriage, Gwendolen.

Augusta: Gwendolen! the carriage!

Augusta: I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Worthing, you are not down
　　　　　　　 on my list of eligible young men. However, I'm quite
　　　　　　　 ready to enter your name as a possible candidate.
　　　　　　　 Perhaps you would attend a meeting at my house
　　　　　　　 at 11:00 tomorrow morning.
　　　　　　　 I shall have a few questions to put to you.
　　　　　　　 Algernon?