Lady Windermere's Fan

1   
Lady Windermere faced
 the grave problem --
 of seating her dinner
 guests.

2
"Lord Darlington."

3
"I presume you came 
 to see my husband."

4
"Lord Darlington is most
  anxious to see you."

5
"You don't mind if 
   I run away?"

6
"Lady Windermere, I
 have a bit of news 
 that might interest 
        you."

7
"I love you!"

8
After a life of adventure 
 abroad, Mrs. Erlynne
 had drifted to London -
 her social standing a 
 thing of the past, the
 present a problem for
 her polished wits.

9
"Who are you - and what
 does this letter mean?"

10
"I am the mother of 
    your wife."

11
"I knew you would doubt 
 me - here are the proofs 
      of my identity."

12
"You know very well
 that your daughter was
 brought up to believe
 her mother is dead - you
    also know why!"

13
"She worships her dead
 mother.  The truth 
   would kill her!"

14
Thanks to Windermere's 
 cheques, Mrs. Erlynne
 lived in extravagant style
 - not accepted by society
 but the subject of its
 gossip.

15
No party of the 
 Windermere's was complete 
 without Lord Augustus
 Lorton - London's most
 distinguished bachelor.

16
The Duchess of Berwick,
  Lady Plymdale,
  Mrs. Cowper-Cowper -
  gossip, gossip, gossip -

17
"She is getting gray -"

18
"She is quite gray -"

19
"She is perfectly gray."

20
"I wonder where the 
 woman gets all her 
      money?"

21
"Why gossip about a 
 woman you have 
 never met? She may 
   be very nice."

22
"I cannot understand 
 why your husband
 defends the woman!"

23
A gentleman's relation
 to a lady is indicated
 by the manner in
 which he rings her
 doorbell.

24
But when the relation
 becomes more friendly -

25
"What right have you 
 to be jealous? You 
   don't love me."

26
"If you really loved me,
 you would marry me
 in spite of what society
      might say -"

27
"I am sorry my maid 
 forgot to empty the 
 ash tray, but it
 happens even in -
     society."

28
Lady Windermere's 
 birthday dawned
 radiantly.

29
"When a married man 
 dismisses his own car 
 and hires a taxi---!"

30
"You may find - in your 
 husband's cheque book -
 the name of Mrs. Erlynne."

31
"It's not fair of me and I
 know it, but -- I love you."

32
"I am desperate - if you
 refuse to invite me
 tonight - I will go to
 my daughter and tell 
   her who I am!"

33
"To be seen at your house
 tonight means my social
 recognition - possibly
 my marriage to Lord
       Augustus."

34
"Since that day at the 
 races I have never 
 said One Word about 
   Mrs. Erlynne."

35
"There is nothing wrong -
 believe me, dear. I simply
 helped a woman who 
     deserved it."

36
"You will change your 
 mind when you meet 
 her - I have asked her 
    here tonight."

37
"If she dares to come
 here - I will strike her
 across the face with
       this fan!"

38
Though the hour for 
 the reception had
 arrived, Mrs. Erlynne
 still waited for her 
 invitation card.

39
"Lord Darlington."

40
"You were quite wrong.
 My husband has never
  met Mrs. Erlynne."

41
"Mrs. Erlynne!"

42
"Please introduce me to
   Lady Windermere."

43
"How kind of you to
 honor us! I have heard
 so much about you -
  from every side."

44
"I have yearned - positively
 yearned - to meet the best
 dressed woman in London!"

45
"I am leaving England
 tomorrow -- you will
 never see me again.
 Goodbye, Margaret."

46
"Is it too late to ask
 you to marry me?"

47
"Lord Windermere is 
 looking for you -"

48
"I am sure he has not 
 missed me - you have 
 entertained him so 
        well."

49
"Your wife has a little
 headache - she is lying
        down."

50
"- and we became quite
 friendly - really! I told
 her of my engagement
 to Lord Augustus and 
  she was delighted."

51
"She wants to rest,
 do you see? Don't
   disturb her."

52
"Do not wake her. If
 necessary, make some
 little apology for her."

53
"Did you find Lady 
   Windermere?"

54
"I swear to you there is
 nothing between Lord
 Windermere and myself!
 Go home! Please go
       home!"

55
"Trust me, child - trust
 me as you would your 
     own mother."

56
"How dare a woman
 like you speak of my 
 mother - my mother!"

57
"I did just what you
 are doing tonight -
 and ruined my life."

58
"If they find you here
 you will be dishonored
    - an outcast!"

59
"I am afraid I took 
 your wife's fan by 
 mistake - so sorry!"

60
"Forgive me for intruding
- I am sure it will never 
   be necessary again."

61
The following morning.

62
"You were right about 
 Mrs. Erlynne. She is
 thoroughly bad. Last 
      night--"

63
"Don't tell him! You would
 kill his love - and spoil
 the only decent thing I
        ever did."

64
"Your conduct last night
 was outrageous! I have
 decided not to marry 
         you."

THE END