ACT III Flashcards
CECILY: They have been eating muffins. That looks like repentance
GWENDOLEN: They don’t seem to notice us at all. Couldn’t you cough?
START OF ACT III
GWENDOLEN: The fact that they did not follow us at once into the house, as any one else would have done, seems to me that they have some sense of shame left
CECILY: But I haven’t got a cough.
GWENDOLEN: They’re looking at us. What effrontery!
CECILY: They’re approaching. That’s very forward of them.
GWENDOLEN: Let us preserve a dignified slence.
CECILY: Certainly. It’s the only thing to do now.
GWENDOLEN: This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect.
CECILY: A most distasteful one.
GWENDOLEN: But we will not be the first to speak.
CECILY: certainly not.
GWENDOLEN: Mr. Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends on your reply.
CECILY: That certainly seems a satisfactory explanation, does it not?
GWENDOLEN: Yes, dear, if you can believe him.
CECILY: I don’t but that does not affect the wonderful beauty of his answer.
GWENDOLEN: True. In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing. Mr. Worthing, what explanation can you offer to me for pretending to have a brother? Was it in order that you might have an opportunity of coming up to town to see me as often as possible?
JACK: can you doubt it, Miss Fairfax?
GWENDOLEN: I have the gravest doubts on the subject. But I intend to crush them. this is not the moment for German scepticism. Their explanations appear to be quite satisfactory, Especially Mr. Worthing’s. That seems to me to have the stamp of truth upon it.
CECILY: I am more than content with what Mr. Moncreiff said. His voice alone inspires one with absolute credulity.
GWENDOLEN: Then you think we should forgive them?
CECILY: Yes. I mean no.
GWENDOLEN: True! I had forgotten. There are principles 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 the same time?
GWENDOLEN: An excellent idea! I nearly always speak at the same time as other people. Will you take the time from me?
CECILY: certainly.
GWENDOLEN & CECILY: Your christian names are still an insuperable barrier. That is all!
JACK & ALGERNON: Our Christian names! Is that all? But we are going to be christened this afternoon
GWENDOLEN: For my sake, you are prepared to do this terrible thing?
ALGERNON: I am!
GWENDOLEN: How absurd to talk of the equality of the sexes. Where questions of self-sacrifice are concerned, men are infinitely beyond us.
CECILY: That have moments of physical courage which we women know absolutely nothing.
GWENDOLEN: Darling!
BRACKNELL: Gwendolen! What does this mean?
GWENDOLEN: Merely that I am engaged to be married to Mr. Worthing, mamma.
JACK: I must retire to my room for a moment. Gwendolen, wait here for me.
GWENDOLEN: If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.
LADY BRACKNELL: I wish he would arrive at some conclusion.
GWENDOLEN: This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.
ALGERNON: Well, not till to-day, old boy, I admit. I did my best, however, though I was out of practice.
GWENDOLEN: My own! But what own are you? What is your Christian name, now that you have become some one else?
JACK: Good heavens! I had quite forgotten that point. Your decision on the subject of my name is irrevocable, I suppose?
GWENDOLEN: I never change, except in my affections.
BRACKNELL: Yes, I remember now that the General was called Ernest. I knew I had some particular reason for disliking the name.
GWENDOLEN: Ernest! My own Ernest! I felt from the first that you could have no other name!
JACK: Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his like he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?
GWENDOLEN: I can. For I feel that you are sure to change.
