ay you didn't come here expressly to
propose to me?

LORD GORING. [_Triumphantly_.] No; that was a flash of genius.

MABEL CHILTERN. Your first.

LORD GORING. [_With determination_.] My last.

MABEL CHILTERN. I am delighted to hear it. Now don't stir. I'll be
back in five minutes. And don't fall into any temptations while I am
away.

LORD GORING. Dear Mabel, while you are away, there are none. It makes
me horribly dependent on you.

[_Enter_ LADY CHILTERN.]

LADY CHILTERN. Good morning, dear! How pretty you are looking!

MABEL CHILTERN. How pale you are looking, Gertrude! It is most
becoming!

LADY CHILTERN. Good morning, Lord Goring!

LORD GORING. [_Bowing_.] Good morning, Lady Chiltern!

MABEL CHILTERN. [_Aside to_ LORD GORING.] I shall be in the
conservatory under the second palm tree on the left.

LORD GORING. Second on the left?

MABEL CHILTERN. [_With a look of mock surprise_.] Yes; the usual palm
tree.

[_Blows a kiss to him_, _unobserved by_ LADY CHILTERN, _and goes out_.]

LORD GORING. Lady Chiltern, I have a certain amount of very good news to
tell you. Mrs. Cheveley gave me up Robert's letter last night, and I
burned it. Robert is safe.

LADY CHILTERN. [_Sinking on the sofa_.] Safe! Oh! I am so glad of
that. What a good friend you are to him--to us!

LORD GORING. There is only one person now that could be said to be in
any danger.

LADY CHILTERN. Who is that?

LORD GORING. [_Sitting down beside her_.] Yourself.

LADY CHILTERN. I? In danger? What do you mean?

LORD GORING. Danger is too great a word. It is a word I should not have
used. But I admit I have something to tell you that may distress you,
that terribly distresses me. Yesterday evening you wrote me a very
beautiful, womanly letter, asking me for my help. You wrote to me as one
of your oldest friends, one of your husband's oldest friends. Mrs.
Cheveley stole that letter from my rooms.

LADY CHILTERN. Well, what use is it to her? Why should she not have it?

LORD GORING. [_Rising_.] Lady Chiltern, I will be quite frank with you.
Mrs. Cheveley puts a certain construction on that letter and proposes to
send it to your husband.

LADY CHILTERN. But what construction could she put on it? . . . Oh! not
that! not that! If I in--in trouble, and wanting your help, trusting
you, propose to come to you . . . that you may advise me . . . assist me
. . . Oh! are there women so horrible