58-65

Question 1

Yes miss

Answer 1

Ms. Fairfax! I suppose one of the many good elderly women who are associated with Uncle Jack in some of his philanthropic work in London. I don’t quite like women who are interested in philanthropic work. I think it is so forward of them.

Question 2

Ms. Fairfax.

Answer 2

Pray let me introduce myself to you. My name is Cecily Cardew.

Question 3

My first impressions of people are never wrong.

Answer 3

How nice of you to like me so much after we have known each other such a comparatively short time. Pray sit down.

Question 4

I may call you Cecily, may I not?

Answer 4

With pleasure!

Question 5

And you will always call me Gwendolen, won’t you?

Answer 5

If you wish.

Question 6

Then that is all quite settled, is it not?

Answer 6

I hope so.

Question 7

You have never heard of papa, I suppose?

Answer 7

I don’t think so.

Question 8

Do you mind my looking at you through my glasses?

Answer 8

Oh! Not at all, Gwendolen. I am very fond of being looked at.

Question 9

You are here on a short visit, I suppose.

Answer 9

Oh no! I live here.

Question 10

…relative of advanced years, resides here also?

Answer 10

Oh no! I have no mother, nor, in fact, any relations.

Question 11

Indeed?

Answer 11

My dear guardian, with the assistance of Ms. Prism, has the arduous task of looking after me.

Question 12

Your guardian?

Answer 12

Yes, I am Mr. Worthing’s ward.

Question 13

… in fact, if I may speak candidly

Answer 13

Pray do! I think that whenever one has anything unpleasant to say, one should always be quite candid.

Question 14

…history would be quite unreadable.

Answer 14

I beg your pardon, Gwendolen, did you say Ernest?

Question 15

Yes.

Answer 15

Oh, but it is not Mr. Ernest Worthing who is my guardian. It is his brother, his elder brother.

Question 16

Ernest never mentioned to me that he had a brother.

Answer 16

I am sorry to say that they have not been on good terms for a long time.

Question 17

…quite sure that it is not Mr. Ernest Worthing who is your guardian?

Answer 17

Quite sure. In fact, I am going to be his.

Question 18

I beg your pardon?

Answer 18

Dearest Gwendolen, there is no reason why I should make a secret of it to you. Our little county newspaper is sure to chronicle the fact next week. Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are engaged to be married.

Question 19

…in the Morning Post on Saturday at the latest

Answer 19

I am afraid you must be under some misconception. Ernest proposed to me exactly ten minutes ago

Question 20

…but I am afraid I have the prior claim.

Answer 20

It would distress me more than I can tell you, dear Gwendolen, if it caused you any mental or physical anguish, but I feel bound to point out that since Ernest proposed to you he clearly has changed his mind.

Question 21

…rescue him at once, and with a firm hand.

Answer 21

Whatever unfortunate entanglement my dear boy may have gotten into, I will never reproach him with it after we are married.

Question 22

…it becomes a pleasure

Answer 22

Do you suggest, ms. Fairfax, that I entrapped Ernest into an engagement? How dare you? This is no time for wearing the shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.

Question 23

…tea here as usual, miss?

Answer 23

Yes, as usual.

Question 24

…walks in the vicinity, ms. Cardew?

Answer 24

Oh! Yes! A great many. From the top of one of the hills quite close one can see five counties.

Question 25

…I hate crowds

Answer 25

I suppose that is why you live in town.

Question 26

Quite a well kept garden this is, ms. Cardew.

Answer 26

So glad you like it, ms. Fairfax.

Question 27

I had no idea there were any flowers in the country.

Answer 27

Oh, flowers are as common here, ms farifax, as people are in London

Question 28

…the country always bores me to death.

Answer 28

Ah! This is what the newspapers call agricultural depression, is it not? I believe the aristocracy are suffering very much from it just at present. It is almost an epidemic amongst them, I have been told. May I offer you some tea, ms Fairfax?

Question 29

…I require tea.

Answer 29

Sugar?

Question 30

…not fashionable anymore.

Answer 30

Cake or bread and butter?

Question 31

…rarely seen at the best houses nowadays.

Answer 31

Hand that to ms. Fairfax.

Question 32

…Ms. Cardew, you may go too far

Answer 32

To save my poor, innocent, trusting boy from the machinations of any other girl there are no lengths to which I would not go

Question 33

..my first impressions of people are invariably right.

Answer 33

It seems to me, ms Fairfax, that I am trespassing on your valuable time. No doubt you have many other calls of a similar character to make in the neighborhood