possible?Jack. Can you doubt it, Miss Fairfax?Gwendolen. I have the gravest doubts uponthe subject. But I intend to crush them. This is not the moment for Germanscepticism. [[Moving to Cecily.]] Their explanations appear to bequite satisfactory, especially Mr. Worthing's. That seems to me to have thestamp of truth upon it.Cecily. I am more than content with whatMr. Moncrieff said. His voice alone inspires one with absolute credulity.Gwendolen. Then you think we should forgivethem?Cecily. Yes. I mean no.Gwendolen. True! I had forgotten. There areprinciples at stake that one cannot surrender. Which of us should tell them?The task is not a pleasant one.Cecily. Could we not both speak at thesame time?Gwendolen. An excellent idea! I nearlyalways speak at the same time as other people. Will you take the time from me?Cecily. Certainly. [[Gwendolen beats time withuplifted finger.]] Gwendolen and Cecily. [[Speaking together.]]Your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all! p.498Jack and Algernon. [[Speaking together.]]Our Christian names! Is that all? But we are going to be christened thisafternoon.Gwendolen. [[To Jack.]] Formy sake you are prepared to do this terrible thing?Jack. I am.Cecily. [[To Algernon.]]To please me you are ready to face this fearful ordeal?Algernon. I am!Gwendolen. How absurd to talk of theequality of the sexes! Where questions of self-sacrifice are concerned, men areinfinitely beyond us.Jack. We are.[Clasps hands with Algernon.]Cecily. They have moments of physicalcourage of which we women know absolutely nothing.Gwendolen. [[To Jack.]]Darling!Algernon. [[To Cecily.]]Darling![They fall into each other'sarms.]Enter Merriman. When he enters he coughs loudly, seeing the situation.Merriman. Ahem! Ahem! Lady Bracknell!Jack. Good heavens!Enter Lady Bracknell. The couples separate in alarm.[Exit Merriman.]Lady Bracknell. Gwendolen! What does this mean?Gwendolen. Merely that I am engaged to bemarried to Mr. Worthing, mamma.Lady Bracknell. Come here. Sit down. Sit downimmediately. Hesitation of any kind is a sign of mental decay in the young, ofphysical weakness in the old. [[Turns to Jack.]] Apprised,sir, of my daughter's sudden flight by her trusty maid, whose confidence Ipurchased by means of a small coin, I followed her at once by a luggage train.Her unhappy father is, I am glad to say, under the impression that she isattending a more than usually lengthy lecture by the University ExtensionScheme on the Influence of a permanent income on Thought. I do not propose toundeceive him. Indeed I have never undeceived him on any question. I wouldconsider it wrong. But of course, you will clearly p.499understand that all communicationbetween yourself and my daughter must cease immediately from this moment. Onthis point, as indeed on all points, I am firm. Jack. I am engaged to be married toGwendolen, Lady Bracknell!Lady Bracknell. You are nothing of the kind, sir.And now, as regards Algernon! . . . Algernon!Algernon. Yes, Aunt Augusta.Lady Bracknell. May I ask if it is in this housethat your invalid friend Mr. Bunbury resides?Algernon. [[Stammering.]]Oh! No! Bunbury doesn't live here. Bunbury is somewhere else at present. Infact, Bunbury is dead.Lady Bracknell. Dead! When did Mr. Bunbury die?His death must have been extremely sudden.Algernon. [[Airily.]] Oh! Ikilled Bunbury this afternoon. I mean poor Bunbury died this afternoon.Lady Bracknell. What did he die of?Algernon.