51-57

Question 1

[beginning of act 2 OR] Ah, there she is

Answer 1

Oh, I merely came back to water the roses. I thought you were with Uncle Jack

Question 2

He’s gone to order the dog cart for me

Answer 2

Oh, is he going to take you for a nice drive?

Question 3

He’s going to send me away

Answer 3

Then have we got to part?

Question 4

..It’s a very painful parting

Answer 4

It is always painful to part from people whom one has known for a very brief space of time. The absence of old friends one can endure with equanimity. But even a momentary separation from anyone to whom one has just been introduced is almost unbearable.

Question 5

the dog cart is at the door, sir

Answer 5

It can wat, Merriman, for 5 minutes

Question 6

..in every way the visible personification of absolute perfection

Answer 6

I think your frankness does you great credit, Ernest. If you will allow me, I will copy your remarks into my diary.

Question 7

..May I?

Answer 7

Oh no. You see, it is simply a very young girl’s record of her own thoughts and impressions, and consequently meant for publication. When it appears in volume form I hope you will order a copy. But pray, Ernest, don’t stop. I delight in taking down from dictation. I have reached ‘absolute perfection.’ You can go on. I am quite ready for more.

Question 8

Ahem Ahem

Answer 8

Oh, don’t cough, Ernest. When one is dictating one should speak fluently and not cough. Besides, I don’t know how to spell a cough.

Question 9

..wildly passionately devotedly hopelessly

Answer 9

I don’t think that you should tell me that you love me wildly, passionately, devotedly, hopelessly. Hopelessly doesn’t seem to make much sense, does it?

Question 10

..yes sir

Answer 10

Uncle Jack would be very much annoyed if he knew you were staying on til next week at the same hour

Question 11

you will marry me, won’t you?

Answer 11

You silly boy! of course. why, we have been engaged for the last 3 months

Question 12

for the last 3 months?

Answer 12

yes, it will be exactly 3 months on thursday

Question 13

but how did we become engaged?

Answer 13

well, ever since dear uncle jack first confessed to us that he had a younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course have formed the chief topic of conversation between myself and ms. prism. and of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him, after all. I daresay it was foolish of me, but I fell in love with you ernest.

Question 14

..when was the engagement actually settled?

Answer 14

on the 14th of february last. worn out by your entire ignorance of my existence I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and after a long struggle with myself I accepted you under this dear old tree here. The next day I bought this little ring in your name, and this is the little bangle with the true lover’s knot I promised you always to wear.

Question 15

It’s very pretty, isn’t it?

Answer 15

Yes, you’ve wonderfully good taste ernest. It;s the excuse I’ve always given for your leading such a bad life. and this is the box in which I keep all your dear letters.

Question 16

i have never written you any letters

Answer 16

you need hardly remind me of that, ernest. I remember only too well that I was forced to write your letters for you. I wrote always 3 times a week, and sometimes oftener

Question 17

do let me read them cecily

Answer 17

oh, i couldn’t possibly. They would make you far too conceited. the 3 you wrote me after i had broken off the engagement are so beautiful and so badly spelled that even now i can hardly read them without crying a little.

Question 18

but was our engagement ever broken off?

Answer 18

of course it was. on the 22nd of last march. you can see the entry if you life. today i broke off my engagement with ernest. i feel it is better to do so. the weather still continues charming.

Question 19

..particularly when the weather was so charming

Answer 19

it would hardly have been a really serious engagement if it hadn’t been broken off at least once. but i forgave you before the week was out

Question 20

what a perfect angel you are cecily

Answer 20

you dear romantic boy. i hope your hair curls naturally, does it?

Question 21

..with a little help from others

Answer 21

i am so glad

Question 22

..never break off our engagement again, cecily?

Answer 22

i don’t think i could break it off now that i have actually met you. besides, of course, there is the question of your name.

Question 23

yes of course

Answer 23

you must not laugh at me, darling, but it had always been a girlish dream of mine to love someone whose name was ernest. there is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence. i pity any poor married woman whose husband is not called ernest.

Question 24

..you could not love me if i had some other name?

Answer 24

but what name?

Question 25

..algernon, for instance

Answer 25

but i don’t like the name of algernon

Question 26

..if my name was algy, couldn’t you love me?

Answer 26

i might respect you, ernest, i might admire your character, but i fear that i should not be able to give you my undivided attention.

Question 27

..all the rites and ceremonials of the church?

Answer 27

oh yes. dr. chasuble is a most learned man. he has never written a single book, so you can imagine how much he knows.

Question 28

..on most important business

Answer 28

oh!

Question 29

i shan’t be away more than half an hour

Answer 29

Considering that we have been engaged since february the 14th, and that i only met you today for the first time, I think it is rather hard that you should leave me for so long a period as half an hour. couldn’t you make it 20 minutes?

Question 30

I’ll be back in no time

Answer 30

what an impetuous boy he is! i like his hair so much. I must enter his proposal in my diary.

Question 31

important business, ms fairfax states

Answer 31

isn’t mr worthing in his library?

Question 32

..the rectory some time ago

Answer 32

pray ask the lady to come out here. mr worthing is sure to be back soon. and you can bring tea