Jack shakes Miss Prism's hand in a tragic manner.
Jack
I have returned sooner than I expected. Dr. Chasuble, I hope you are well?
Chasuble
Dear Mr. Worthing, I trust this garb of woe does not betoken some terrible calamity?
Miss Prism
More shameful debts and extravagance?
Chasuble
Still leading his life of pleasure?
Chasuble
Your brother Ernest dead?
Miss Prism
What a lesson for him! I trust he will profit by it.
Chasuble
Mr. Worthing, I offer you my sincere condolence. You have at least the consolation of knowing that you were always the most generous and forgiving of brothers.
Jack
Poor Ernest! He had many faults, but it is a sad, sad blow.
Chasuble
Very sad indeed. Were you with him at the end?
Jack
No. He died abroad; in Paris, in fact. I had a telegram last night from the manager of the Grand Hotel.
Chasuble
Was the cause of death mentioned?
Jack
A severe chill, it seems.
Miss Prism
As a man sows, so shall he reap.
Chasuble raises his hand.
Chasuble
Charity, dear Miss Prism, charity! None of us are perfect. I myself am peculiarly susceptible to draughts. Will the interment take place here?
Jack
No. He seems to have expressed a desire to be buried in Paris.
Chasuble shakes his head.
Chasuble
I fear that hardly points to any very serious state of mind at the last. You would no doubt wish me to make some slight allusion to this tragic domestic affliction next Sunday.
Jack presses his hand convulsively.
Chasuble
My sermon on the meaning of the manna in the wilderness can be adapted to almost any occasion, joyful, or, as in the present case, distressing.
Chasuble
I have preached it at harvest celebrations, christenings, confirmations, on days of humiliation and festal days. The last time I delivered it was in the Cathedral, as a charity sermon on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Discontent among the Upper Orders. The Bishop, who was present, was much struck by some of the analogies I drew.
Jack
Ah! that reminds me, you mentioned christenings I think, Dr. Chasuble? I suppose you know how to christen all right?
Dr. Chasuble looks astounded.
Jack
I mean, of course, you are continually christening, aren't you?
Miss Prism
It is, I regret to say, one of the Rector's most constant duties in this parish. I have often spoken to the poorer classes on the subject. But they don't seem to know what thrift is.
Chasuble
But is there any particular infant in whom you are interested, Mr. Worthing? Your brother was, I believe, unmarried, was he not?
Miss Prism
People who live entirely for pleasure usually are.
Jack
But it is not for any child, dear Doctor. I am very fond of children. No! the fact is, I would like to be christened myself, this afternoon, if you have nothing better to do.
Chasuble
But surely, Mr. Worthing, you have been christened already?
Jack
I don't remember anything about it.
Chasuble
But have you any grave doubts on the subject?
Jack
I certainly intend to have. Of course I don't know if the thing would bother you in any way, or if you think I am a little too old now.
Chasuble
Not at all. The sprinkling, and, indeed, the immersion of adults is a perfectly canonical practice.
Chasuble
You need have no apprehensions. Sprinkling is all that is necessary, or indeed I think advisable. Our weather is so changeable. At what hour would you wish the ceremony performed?
Jack
Oh, I might trot round about five if that would suit you.
Chasuble
Perfectly, perfectly! In fact I have two similar ceremonies to perform at that time. A case of twins that occurred recently in one of the outlying cottages on your own estate. Poor Jenkins the carter, a most hard-working man.
Jack
Oh! I don't see much fun in being christened along with other babies. It would be childish. Would half-past five do?
Chasuble
Admirably! Admirably!
Chasuble takes out his watch.
Chasuble
And now, dear Mr. Worthing, I will not intrude any longer into a house of sorrow. I would merely beg you not to be too much bowed down by grief. What seem to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise.
Miss Prism
This seems to me a blessing of an extremely obvious kind.
Enter Cecily from the house.
Cecily
Uncle Jack! Oh, I am pleased to see you back. But what horrid clothes you have got on! Do go and change them.
Chasuble
My child! my child!
Cecily goes towards Jack; he kisses her brow in a melancholy manner.
Cecily
What is the matter, Uncle Jack? Do look happy! You look as if you had toothache, and I have got such a surprise for you. Who do you think is in the dining-room? Your brother!
Cecily
Your brother Ernest. He arrived about half an hour ago.
Jack
What nonsense! I haven't got a brother.
Cecily
Oh, don't say that. However badly he may have behaved to you in the past he is still your brother. You couldn't be so heartless as to disown him. I'll tell him to come out. And you will shake hands with him, won't you, Uncle Jack?
Cecily runs back into the house.
Chasuble
These are very joyful tidings.
Miss Prism
After we had all been resigned to his loss, his sudden return seems to me peculiarly distressing.
Jack
My brother is in the dining-room? I don't know what it all means. I think it is perfectly absurd.
Enter Algernon and Cecily hand in hand. They come slowly up to Jack.
Jack motions Algernon away.
Algernon
Brother John, I have come down from town to tell you that I am very sorry for all the trouble I have given you, and that I intend to lead a better life in the future.
Jack glares at him and does not take his hand.
Cecily
Uncle Jack, you are not going to refuse your own brother's hand?
Jack
Nothing will induce me to take his hand. I think his coming down here disgraceful. He knows perfectly well why.
Cecily
Uncle Jack, do be nice. There is some good in every one. Ernest has just been telling me about his poor invalid friend Mr. Bunbury whom he goes to visit so often. And surely there must be much good in one who is kind to an invalid, and leaves the pleasures of London to sit by a bed of pain.
Jack
Oh! he has been talking about Bunbury, has he?
Cecily
Yes, he has told me all about poor Mr. Bunbury, and his terrible state of health.
Jack
Bunbury! Well, I won't have him talk to you about Bunbury or about anything else. It is enough to drive one perfectly frantic.
Algernon
Of course I admit that the faults were all on my side. But I must say that I think that Brother John's coldness to me is peculiarly painful. I expected a more enthusiastic welcome, especially considering it is the first time I have come here.
Cecily
Uncle Jack, if you don't shake hands with Ernest I will never forgive you.
Cecily
Never, never, never!
Jack
Well, this is the last time I shall ever do it.
Jack shakes with Algernon and glares.
Chasuble
It's pleasant, is it not, to see so perfect a reconciliation? I think we might leave the two brothers together.
Miss Prism
Cecily, you will come with us.
Cecily
Certainly, Miss Prism. My little task of reconciliation is over.
Chasuble
You have done a beautiful action to-day, dear child.
Miss Prism
We must not be premature in our judgments.
Cecily
I feel very happy.
They all go off except Jack and Algernon.
Jack
You young scoundrel, Algy, you must get out of this place as soon as possible. I don't allow any Bunburying here.
Merriman
I have put Mr. Ernest's things in the room next to yours, sir. I suppose that is all right?
Merriman
Mr. Ernest's luggage, sir. I have unpacked it and put it in the room next to your own.
Merriman
Yes, sir. Three portmanteaus, a dressing-case, two hat-boxes, and a large luncheon-basket.
Algernon
I am afraid I can't stay more than a week this time.
Jack
Merriman, order the dog-cart at once. Mr. Ernest has been suddenly called back to town.
Merriman goes back into the house.
Algernon
What a fearful liar you are, Jack. I have not been called back to town at all.
Algernon
I haven't heard any one call me.
Jack
Your duty as a gentleman calls you back.
Algernon
My duty as a gentleman has never interfered with my pleasures in the smallest degree.
Jack
I can quite understand that.
Algernon
Well, Cecily is a darling.
Jack
You are not to talk of Miss Cardew like that. I don't like it.
Algernon
Well, I don't like your clothes. You look perfectly ridiculous in them. Why on earth don't you go up and change? It is perfectly childish to be in deep mourning for a man who is actually staying for a whole week with you in your house as a guest. I call it grotesque.
Jack
You are certainly not staying with me for a whole week as a guest or anything else. You have got to leave . . . by the four-five train.
Algernon
I certainly won't leave you so long as you are in mourning. It would be most unfriendly. If I were in mourning you would stay with me, I suppose. I should think it very unkind if you didn't.
Jack
Well, will you go if I change my clothes?
Algernon
Yes, if you are not too long. I never saw anybody take so long to dress, and with such little result.
Jack
Well, at any rate, that is better than being always over-dressed as you are.
Algernon
If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-educated.
Jack
Your vanity is ridiculous, your conduct an outrage, and your presence in my garden utterly absurd. However, you have got to catch the four-five, and I hope you will have a pleasant journey back to town. This Bunburying, as you call it, has not been a great success for you.
Jack goes into the house.
Algernon
I think it has been a great success. I'm in love with Cecily, and that is everything.
Enter Cecily at the back of the garden. She picks up the can and begin to water the flowers.
Algernon
But I must see her before I go, and make arrangements for another Bunbury. Ah, there she is.
Cecily
Oh, I merely came back to water the roses. I thought you were with Uncle Jack.
Algernon
He's gone to order the dog-cart for me.
Cecily
Oh, is he going to take you for a nice drive?
Algernon
He's going to send me away.
Cecily
Then have we got to part?
Algernon
I am afraid so. It's a very painful parting.
Cecily
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.
Merriman
The dog-cart is at the door, sir.
Algernon looks appealingly at Cecily.
Cecily
It can wait, Merriman for . . . five minutes.
