[_Exit on terrace with_ LORD WINDERMERE. Music strikes up in ball-room.]
LADY WINDERMERE. To stay in this house any longer is impossible. To-night a man who loves me offered me his whole life. I refused it. It was foolish of me. I will offer him mine now. I will give him mine. I will go to him! [_Puts on cloak and goes to the door_, _then turns back_. _Sits down at table and writes a letter_, _puts it into an envelope_, _and leaves it on table_.] Arthur has never understood me. When he reads this, he will. He may do as he chooses now with his life. I have done with mine as I think best, as I think right. It is he who has broken the bond of marriage—not I. I only break its bondage.
[_PARKER enters L. and crosses towards the ball-room R._ _Enter_ MRS. ERLYNNE.]
MRS. ERLYNNE. Is Lady Windermere in the ball-room?
MRS. ERLYNNE. Gone out? She’s not on the terrace?
PARKER. No, madam. Her ladyship has just gone out of the house.
MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Starts_, _and looks at the servant with a puzzled expression in her face_.] Out of the house?
PARKER. Yes, madam—her ladyship told me she had left a letter for his lordship on the table.
MRS. ERLYNNE. A letter for Lord Windermere?
[_Exit_ PARKER. _The music in the ball-room stops_.] Gone out of her house! A letter addressed to her husband! [_Goes over to bureau and looks at letter_. _Takes it up and lays it down again with a shudder of fear_.] No, no! It would be impossible! Life doesn’t repeat its tragedies like that! Oh, why does this horrible fancy come across me? Why do I remember now the one moment of my life I most wish to forget? Does life repeat its tragedies? [_Tears letter open and reads it_, _then sinks down into a chair with a gesture of anguish_.] Oh, how terrible! The same words that twenty years ago I wrote to her father! and how bitterly I have been punished for it! No; my punishment, my real punishment is to-night, is now! [_Still seated R._]
LORD WINDERMERE. Have you said good-night to my wife? [_Comes C._]
MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Crushing letter in her hand_.] Yes.
MRS. ERLYNNE. She is very tired. She has gone to bed. She said she had a headache.
LORD WINDERMERE. I must go to her. You’ll excuse me?
MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Rising hurriedly_.] Oh, no! It’s nothing serious. She’s only very tired, that is all. Besides, there are people still in the supper-room. She wants you to make her apologies to them. She said she didn’t wish to be disturbed. [_Drops letter_.] She asked me to tell you!