Act III[Morning-room at themanor house, the girls are at the window looking out into thegarden.]Gwendolen: Theydidn't follow us ... as anyone would do it ...Cecily: They'vebeen eating muffins.Gwen: They don'tseem to notice us ... Couldn't you cough?Cecily: But Ihaven't a cough!Gwen: Look ...They're looking at us ...Cecily: They'reapproaching ... Gwen: Letus preserve a dignified silence ... Cecily: Certainly... it is the only thing to do now ...[Jackenters followed by Algy ... they are whisteling something popularfrom a British opera.]Gwen: Thisdignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect. Cecily: Themost unpleasant effect, for sure ...Gwen: ...we will not be the first to speak ...Cecily: Certainlynot!Gwen: MrWorthing! I have something very particular to ask you ...Cecily:Gwendolen, your common sense is invaluable ... answer me MrMoncrieff, why did you pretend to be my guardian's brother?Algernon: Inorder to meet you.Cecily: [toGwendolen] Isn't this a satisfactory explanation?Gwendolen: Yes,dear, if you can believe him.Cecily:I don't ... but the answer was charming!Gwendolen:True ... as a matter of fact, style not sincerity is the vital thing!Mr Worthing?! What explanation can you offer me for pretending youhave a brother? Was it in order of coming up to town to see me asoften as possible?Jack:Can you doubt it, Miss Farfaix?Gwendolen:Well, I can doubt it ... but this is not a time for Germanscepticism. Their explanations are quite satisfactoryCecily: Yes, they inspire credulity.Gwendolen:Then you think we should forgive them?Cecily:Yes ... I mean NO!Gwendolen:True. I had forgotten. The principles at stake that one cannotsurrender.Cecily:Couldn't we speak at the same time?Gwendolen:An excellent idea!Cecily:Certainly ...Gwendolen:Will you take the time? [Gwendolen beats time ... 1.2.3]Gwen and Cecily[speaking at the same time]: Your Chritian name are still aninsuperable barrier! That is all!Jack and Algy[together]: Our Christian name! Is that all? We are going to bechristened this afternoon!Gwendolen:For my sake ... you are prepared to do this terrible thing?Jack:I am! Cecily [toAlgy]: To please me, are you ready to face this?Algy:I am!Gwen [toJack]: Darling!Cecily[to Algy]: Darling![TheMarriman enters, coughing loudly] : Ahem ... ahem ... Lady BracknellJack:Good heavens!Lady Bracknell[enters] [ the couples separate in alarm] What does this mean?Gwen:I am engaged to be married to Mr. Worthing, Mama.Jack:I am engaged to be married to Gwendolen, Lady Bracknell! [she looksat Algy]Algy:Yes, aunt Augusta.Lady Bracknell:Is this the house, where your invalid Bunbury lives?Algy:Ohh ... No! Bunbury doesn't live here ... Bunbury, in fact is dead!Lady Bracknell:Dead! When did he die?Algernon[airily]: Oh ... I killed Bunbury this afternoon. I mean ... poorBunbury, He died this afternoon.Lady Bracknell:Well ... as we got rid of this Bunburry ... may I ask Mr Worthing whois that young person my nephew is holding in a peculiar unnecessarymanner?Jack:Miss Cecily Cardew, my ward. [Bracknell looks her coldly]Algy:I am engaged to be married to Cecily, Aunt Augusta.Lady Bracknell:I beg your pardon?Cecily:I am engaged to be married, Lady Bracknell.Lady Bracknell:Until yesterday, I had no idea about this ... oh, life is crowdedwith incident, I see!Wecan't waste more time. I had better ask you if Miss Cardew has any little fortune? [blinking to theaudience]... Audio ImageCharacteres: students and a teacherTeacher: ... So... In England, in 1881 [eighteen eighty-one], Charles Ludwig Dodgson was