Scene Overview
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- Male: 1
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Context
Mabel and Lord Goring are at a dinner party hosted by Sir Robert Chiltern, Mabel's brother. Mabel is slightly bored and has been looking forward to the arrival of Lord Goring. The couple have a teasing, witty relationship, and it is clear that they both have simmering feelings for each other. Mabel asks Lord Goring about the mysterious Mrs. Cheveley, who has just made her presence known at the party. Lord Goring's admiring response elicits a jealous reaction from Mabel.
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Mabel Chiltern. You are very late!
Lord Goring. Have you missed me?
Mabel Chiltern. Awfully!
Lord Goring. Then I am sorry I did not stay away longer. I like being missed.
Mabel Chiltern. How very selfish of you!
Lord Goring. I am very selfish.
Mabel Chiltern. You are always telling me of your bad qualities, Lord Goring.
Lord Goring. I have only told you half of them as yet, Miss Mabel!
Mabel Chiltern. Are the others very bad?
Lord Goring. Quite dreadful! When I think of them at night I go to sleep at once.
Mabel Chiltern. Well, I delight in your bad qualities. I wouldn’t have you part with one of them.
Lord Goring. How very nice of you! But then you are always nice. By the way, I want to ask you a
question, Miss Mabel. Who brought Mrs. Cheveley here? That woman in heliotrope, who has just gone
out of the room with your brother?
Mabel Chiltern. Oh, I think Lady Markby brought her. Why do you ask?
Lord Goring. I haven’t seen her for years, that is all.
Mabel Chiltern. What an absurd reason!
Lord Goring. All reasons are absurd.
Mabel Chiltern. What sort of a woman is she?
Lord Goring. Oh! a genius in the daytime and a beauty at night!
Mabel Chiltern. I dislike her already.
Lord Goring. That shows your admirable good taste.
Oscar Wilde An Ideal Husband Act 1
[Full text is available on Project Gutenberg https://www.gutenberg.org/files/885/885-h/885-h.htm]
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