a woman of no importance-第6部分

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MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　But　has　Lord　Illingworth　really　offered　to　make　Gerald　his　secretary？

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Oh；　yes！　　He　has　been　most　charming　about　it。　　He　has　the　highest　possible　opinion　of　your　boy。　　You　don't　know　Lord　Illingworth；　I　believe；　dear。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　have　never　met　him。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　You　know　him　by　name；　no　doubt？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　am　afraid　I　don't。　　I　live　so　much　out　of　the　world；　and　see　so　few　people。　　I　remember　hearing　years　ago　of　an　old　Lord　Illingworth　who　lived　in　Yorkshire；　I　think。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Ah；　yes。　　That　would　be　the　last　Earl　but　one。　He　was　a　very　curious　man。　　He　wanted　to　marry　beneath　him。　　Or　wouldn't；　I　believe。　　There　was　some　scandal　about　it。　　The　present　Lord　Illingworth　is　quite　different。　　He　is　very　distinguished。　　He　does　…　well；　he　does　nothing；　which　I　am　afraid　our　pretty　American　visitor　here　thinks　very　wrong　of　anybody；　and　I　don't　know　that　he　cares　much　for　the　subjects　in　which　you　are　so　interested；　dear　Mrs。　Arbuthnot。　　Do　you　think；　Caroline；　that　Lord　Illingworth　is　interested　in　the　Housing　of　the　Poor？

LADY　CAROLINE。　　I　should　fancy　not　at　all；　Jane。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　We　all　have　our　different　tastes；　have　we　not？　But　Lord　Illingworth　has　a　very　high　position；　and　there　is　nothing　he　couldn't　get　if　he　chose　to　ask　for　it。　　Of　course；　he　is　comparatively　a　young　man　still；　and　he　has　only　come　to　his　title　within　…　how　long　exactly　is　it；　Caroline；　since　Lord　Illingworth　succeeded？

LADY　CAROLINE。　　About　four　years；　I　think；　Jane。　　I　know　it　was　the　same　year　in　which　my　brother　had　his　last　exposure　in　the　evening　newspapers。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Ah；　I　remember。　　That　would　be　about　four　years　ago。　　Of　course；　there　were　a　great　many　people　between　the　present　Lord　Illingworth　and　the　title；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot。　　There　was　…　who　was　there；　Caroline？

LADY　CAROLINE。　　There　was　poor　Margaret's　baby。　　You　remember　how　anxious　she　was　to　have　a　boy；　and　it　was　a　boy；　but　it　died；　and　her　husband　died　shortly　afterwards；　and　she　married　almost　immediately　one　of　Lord　Ascot's　sons；　who；　I　am　told；　beats　her。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Ah；　that　is　in　the　family；　dear；　that　is　in　the　family。　　And　there　was　also；　I　remember；　a　clergyman　who　wanted　to　be　a　lunatic；　or　a　lunatic　who　wanted　to　be　a　clergyman；　I　forget　which；　but　I　know　the　Court　of　Chancery　investigated　the　matter；　and　decided　that　he　was　quite　sane。　　And　I　saw　him　afterwards　at　poor　Lord　Plumstead's　with　straws　in　his　hair；　or　something　very　odd　about　him。　　I　can't　recall　what。　　I　often　regret；　Lady　Caroline；　that　dear　Lady　Cecilia　never　lived　to　see　her　son　get　the　title。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Lady　Cecilia？

LADY　　HUNSTANTON。　　Lord　Illingworth's　mother；　dear　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　was　one　of　the　Duchess　of　Jerningham's　pretty　daughters；　and　she　married　Sir　Thomas　Harford；　who　wasn't　considered　a　very　good　match　for　her　at　the　time；　though　he　was　said　to　be　the　handsomest　man　in　London。　　I　knew　them　all　quite　intimately；　and　both　the　sons；　Arthur　and　George。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　It　was　the　eldest　son　who　succeeded；　of　course；　Lady　Hunstanton？

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　No；　dear；　he　was　killed　in　the　hunting　field。　　Or　was　it　fishing；　Caroline？　　I　forget。　　But　George　came　in　for　everything。　　I　always　tell　him　that　no　younger　son　has　ever　had　such　good　luck　as　he　has　had。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Lady　Hunstanton；　I　want　to　speak　to　Gerald　at　once。　　Might　I　see　him？　　Can　he　be　sent　for？

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Certainly；　dear。　　I　will　send　one　of　the　servants　into　the　dining…room　to　fetch　him。　　I　don't　know　what　keeps　the　gentlemen　so　long。　　＇Rings　bell。＇　　When　I　knew　Lord　Illingworth　first　as　plain　George　Harford；　he　was　simply　a　very　brilliant　young　man　about　town；　with　not　a　penny　of　money　except　what　poor　dear　Lady　Cecilia　gave　him。　　She　was　quite　devoted　to　him。　　Chiefly；　I　fancy；　because　he　was　on　bad　terms　with　his　father。　　Oh；　here　is　the　dear　Archdeacon。　　＇To　Servant。＇　　It　doesn't　matter。

＇Enter　SIR　JOHN　and　DOCTOR　DAUBENY。　　SIR　JOHN　goes　over　to　LADY　STUTFIELD；　DOCTOR　DAUBENY　to　LADY　HUNSTANTON。＇

THE　ARCHDEACON。　　Lord　Illingworth　has　been　most　entertaining。　　I　have　never　enjoyed　myself　more。　　＇Sees　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。＇　　Ah；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　＇To　DOCTOR　DAUBENY。＇　　You　see　I　have　got　Mrs。　Arbuthnot　to　come　to　me　at　last。

THE　ARCHDEACON。　　That　is　a　great　honour；　Lady　Hunstanton。　　Mrs。　Daubeny　will　be　quite　jealous　of　you。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Ah；　I　am　so　sorry　Mrs。　Daubeny　could　not　come　with　you　to…night。　　Headache　as　usual；　I　suppose。

THE　ARCHDEACON。　　Yes；　Lady　Hunstanton；　a　perfect　martyr。　　But　she　is　happiest　alone。　　She　is　happiest　alone。

LADY　CAROLINE。　　＇To　her　husband。＇　　John！　　＇SIR　JOHN　goes　over　to　his　wife。　　DOCTOR　DAUBENY　talks　to　LADY　HUNSTANTON　and　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。＇

＇MRS。　ARBUTHNOT　watches　LORD　ILLINGWORTH　the　whole　time。　　He　has　passed　across　the　room　without　noticing　her；　and　approaches　MRS。　ALLONBY；　who　with　LADY　STUTFIELD　is　standing　by　the　door　looking　on　to　the　terrace。＇

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　How　is　the　most　charming　woman　in　the　world？

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　＇Taking　LADY　STUTFIELD　by　the　hand。＇　　We　are　both　quite　well；　thank　you；　Lord　Illingworth。　　But　what　a　short　time　you　have　been　in　the　dining…room！　　It　seems　as　if　we　had　only　just　left。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　was　bored　to　death。　　Never　opened　my　lips　the　whole　time。　　Absolutely　longing　to　come　in　to　you。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　You　should　have。　　The　American　girl　has　been　giving　us　a　lecture。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Really？　　All　Americans　lecture；　I　believe。　　I　suppose　it　is　something　in　their　climate。　　What　did　she　lecture　about？

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　Oh；　Puritanism；　of　course。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　am　going　to　convert　her；　am　I　not？　　How　long　do　you　give　me？

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　A　week。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　A　week　is　more　than　enough。

＇Enter　GERALD　and　LORD　ALFRED。＇

GERALD。　　＇Going　to　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。＇　　Dear　mother！

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Gerald；　I　don't　feel　at　all　well。　　See　me　home；　Gerald。　　I　shouldn't　have　come。

GERALD。　　I　am　so　sorry；　mother。　　Certainly。　　But　you　must　know　Lord　Illingworth　first。　　＇Goes　across　room。＇

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Not　to…night；　Gerald。

GERALD。　　Lord　Illingworth；　I　want　you　so　much　to　know　my　mother。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　With　the　greatest　pleasure。　　＇To　MRS。　ALLONBY。＇　I'll　be　back　in　a　moment。　　People's　mothers　always　bore　me　to　death。　　All　women　become　like　their　mothers。　　That　is　their　tragedy。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　No　man　does。　　That　is　his。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　What　a　delightful　mood　you　are　in　to…night！　＇Turns　round　and　goes　across　with　GERALD　to　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　When　he　sees　her；　he　starts　back　in　wonder。　　Then　slowly　his　eyes　turn　towards　GERALD。＇

GERALD。　　Mother；　this　is　Lord　Illingworth；　who　has　offered　to　take　me　as　his　private　secretary。　　＇MRS。　ARBUTHNOT　bows　coldly。＇　　It　is　a　wonderful　opening　for　me；　isn't　it？　　I　hope　he　won't　be　disappointed　in　me；　that　is　all。　　You'll　thank　Lord　Illingworth；　mother；　won't　you？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Lord　Illingworth　in　very　good；　I　am　sure；　to　interest　himself　in　you　for　the　moment。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　＇Putting　his　hand　on　GERALD's　shoulder。＇　　Oh；　Gerald　and　I　are　great　friends　already；　Mrs　。　。　。　Arbuthnot。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　There　can　be　nothing　in　common　between　you　and　my　son；　Lord　Illingworth。

GERALD。　　Dear　mother；　how　can　you　say　so？　　Of　course　Lord　Illingworth　is　awfully　clever　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　There　is　nothing　Lord　Illingworth　doesn't　know。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　My　dear　boy！

GERALD。　　He　knows　more　about　life　than　any　one　I　have　ever　met。　　I　feel　an　awful　duffer　when　I　am　with　you；　Lord　Illingworth。　　Of　course；　I　have　had　so　few　advantages。　　I　have　not　been　to　Eton　or　Oxford　like　other　chaps。　　But　Lord　Illingworth　doesn't　seem　to　mind　that。　　He　has　been　awfully　good　to　me；　mother。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Lord　Illingworth　may　change　his　mind。　　He　may　not　really　want　you　as　his　secretary。

GERALD。　　Mother！

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　You　must　remember；　as　you　said　yourself；　you　have　had　so　few　advantages。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　Lord　Illingworth；　I　want　to　speak　to　you　for　a　moment。　　Do　come　over。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Will　you　excuse　me；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot？　　Now；　don't　let　your　charming　mother　make　any　more　difficulties；　Gerald。　　The　thing　is　quite　settled；　isn't　it？

GERALD。　　I　hope　so。　　＇LORD　ILLINGWORTH　goes　across　to　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。＇

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　I　thought　you　were　never　going　to　leave　the　lady　in　black　velvet。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　She　is　excessively　handsome。　　＇Looks　at　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。＇

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Caroline；　shall　we　all　make　a　move　to　the　music…　room？　　Miss　Worsley　is　going　to　play。　　You'll　come　too；　dear　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　won't　you？　　You　don't　know　what　a　treat　is　in　store　for　you。　　＇To　DOCTOR　DAUBENY。＇　　I　must　really　take　Miss　Worsley　down　some　afternoon　to　the　rectory。　　I　should　so　much　like　dear　Mrs。　Daubeny　to　hear　her　on　the　violin。　　Ah；　I　forgot。　　Dear　Mrs。　Daubeny's　hearing　is　a　little　defective；　is　it　not？

THE　ARCHDEACON。　　Her　deafness　is　a　great　privation　to　her。　　She　can't　even　hear　my　sermons　now。　　She　reads　them　at　home。　　But　she　has　many　resources　in　herself；　many　resources。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　She　reads　a　good　deal；　I　suppose？

THE　ARCHDEACON。　　Just　the　very　largest　print。　　The　eyesight　is　rapidly　going。　　But　she's　never　morbid；　never　morbid。

GERALD。　　＇To　LORD　ILLINGWORTH。＇　　Do　speak　to　my　mother；　Lord　Illingworth；　before　you　go　into　the　music…room。　　She　seems　to　think；　somehow；　you　don't　mean　what　you　said　to　me。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　Aren't　you　coming？

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　In　a　few　moments。　　Lady　Hunstanton；　if　Mrs。　Arbuthnot　would　allow　me；　I　would　like　to　say　a　few　words　to　her；　and　we　will　join　you　later　on。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Ah；　of　course。　　You　will　have　a　great　deal　to　say　to　her；　and　she　will　have　a　great　deal　to　thank　you　for。　　It　is　not　every　son　who　gets　such　an　offer；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot。　　But　I　know　you　appreciate　that；　dear。

LADY　CAROLINE。　　John！

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Now；　don't　keep　Mrs。　Arbuthnot　too　long；　Lord　Illingworth。　　We　can't　spare　her。

＇Exit　following　the　other　guests。　　Sound　of　violin　heard　from　music…room。＇

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　So　that　is　our　son；　Rachel！　　Well；　I　am　very　proud　of　him。　　He　in　a　Harford；　every　inch　of　him。　　By　the　way；　why　Arbuthnot；　Rachel？

MR