Jack won't be back till Monday afternoon.Algernon. That is a great disappointment. Iam obliged to go up by the first train on Monday morning. I have a businessappointment that I am anxious . . . to miss!Cecily. Couldn't you miss it anywhere butin London?Algernon. No: the appointment is in London.Cecily. Well, I know of course, howimportant it is not to keep a business engagement, if one wants to retain anysense of the beauty of life, but still I think you had better wait till UncleJack arrives. I know he wants to speak to you about your emigrating.Algernon. About my what?Cecily. Your emigrating. He has gone upto buy your outfit.Algernon. I certainly wouldn't let Jack buymy outfit. He has no taste in neckties at all.Cecily. I don't think you will requireneckties. Uncle Jack is sending you to Australia.Algernon. Australia! I'd sooner die.Cecily. Well, he said at dinner onWednesday night, that you would have to choose between this world, the nextworld, and Australia.Algernon. Oh, well! The accounts I havereceived of Australia and the next world are not particularly encouraging. Thisworld is good enough for me, cousin Cecily. p.476Cecily. Yes, but are you good enough forit?Algernon. I'm afraid I'm not that. That iswhy I want you to reform me. You might make that your mission, if you don'tmind, cousin Cecily.Cecily. I'm afraid I've no time, thisafternoon.Algernon. Well, would you mind my reformingmyself this afternoon?Cecily. It is rather Quixotic of you. ButI think you should try.Algernon. I will. I feel better already.Cecily. You are looking a little worse.Algernon. That is because I am hungry.Cecily. How thoughtless of me! I shouldhave remembered that when one is going to lead an entirely new life, onerequires regular and wholesome meals. Won't you come in?Algernon. Thank you. Might I have abuttonhole first? I never have any appetite unless I have a buttonhole first.Cecily. A Marechal Niel?[Picks up scissors.]Algernon. No, I'd sooner have a pink rose.Cecily. Why?[Cuts a flower.]Algernon. Because you are like a pink rose,Cousin Cecily.Cecily. I don't think it can be right foryou to talk to me like that. Miss Prism never says such things to me.Algernon. Then Miss Prism is ashort-sighted old lady. [[Cecily puts the rose in his buttonhole.]]You are the prettiest girl I ever saw.Cecily. Miss Prism says that all goodlooks are a snare.Algernon. They are a snare that everysensible man would like to be caught in.Cecily. Oh! I don't think I would care tocatch a sensible man. I shouldn't know what to talk to him about.[They pass into the house.Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble return.]Miss Prism. You are too much alone, dear Dr.Chasuble. You should get married. A misanthrope I can understand---awomanthrope, never!Chasuble. [[With a scholar's shudder.]]Believe me, I do not deserve so neologistic a phrase. The precept as well asthe practice of the Primitive Church was distinctly against matrimony.Miss Prism. [[Sententiously.]]That is obviously the reason why the Primitive Church has not lasted up to thepresent day. And do you not seem to realize, dear Doctor, that by persistently p.477remaining single, a man convertshimself into a permanent public temptation. Men should be more careful; thisvery