PRALL: I will! I will-only-(uneasily)—if Juxon writes to the Times, and Jopp proves the girl's an impostor, it may place my truths in a very awkward light. MRS. PRALL: Never mind. Repeat them over and over again, and in the end some one will believe them.

PRALL (anxiously): Yes; but it's very extraordinary how many truths can be disproved, you know; and if there's a great public scandal,-Caroline, for the sake of keeping my truths untampered with, I shall make Juxon that allowance. [Exeunt by window.

Enter LORD A. and JOPP.

LORD A.: My dear Jopp, this is a most welcome surprise. You're going to stay, of course?

JOPP: No, I've come on business. You have still got those Dethics here? LORD A. Yes. I've kept my promise to the girl. I'm building a new church for Mr. Llewellyn, and endowing it. The deeds are to be signed this morning. JOPP: Then I've come just in time. You must go no further, Asgarby. I have the whole history of these people. I can prove the father an impostor his whole life through.

LORD A.: Of course he's an impostor ; but Eve loves the girl, and has made me promise to make her a settlement on her marriage, and-blame me if you like, Jopp-I know I'm being duped-I know I'm a coward, and a fool perhaps but I can't deny Eve anything. When I think she is the last of us, and in a few years I may be left alone- [Breaks down ; turns away; hides his head. LADY EVE runs on.

LADY E.: Oh, here you are,

You're just in time.

JOPP: What for, Lady Eve?

Professor Jopp. Sophie told me you were come.

LADY E.: To play the hypocrite for once, will you?

JOPP Certainly, if you will coach me.

LADY E.: Well, first of all you are to say that I am quite well and strong. What's the matter, father?

LORD A. Nothing, Eve, nothing!

LADY E.: Tears! (To JOPP.) You've been telling him I shall die.

JOPP: No, Lady Eve.

LADY E.: Well, perhaps I shall ; but not yet, not while my dear Vashti is near me to keep me alive. (JOPP smiles.) You're not to smile, Professor Jopp. It's true! Come, father; they are all in the library, and the deeds are ready. Where shall we sign them?

LORD A.: It doesn't matter; anywhere.

:

LADY E. Then let us sign them here-here where I first saw Vashti ; and—(to
JOPP) you shall be a witness, will you? (Coaxingly.) Just to please me.
JOPP: To please you, Lady Eve, I'd witness anything.

LADY E.: I know you're laughing up your sleeve.

JOPP: No, no, Lady Eve.

LADY E.: Yes. You think it's all moonshine, don't you?

JOPP Certainly not.

LADY E.: Yes, you do. I've read your books. But what's the use?

JOPP The use of what?

LADY E. Of proving all the fairy tales are false; it only makes the children unhappy.

JOPP (taking her hands very tenderly): And the grown-up people too.

[Exit LADY Eve.

LORD A. (goes up to him very anxiously): What do you think of her?

JOPP She's certainly better.

:

LORD A.: You own it. And she will get well? There's a chance of her living to old age? Tell me !

JOPP (very quietly) : My dear Asgarby, she may live some years, but she will not live to old age.

LORD A.: Till womanhood?

JOPP Over the threshold, perhaps.

LORD A.: And, knowing that she cannot live longer, you ask me to thwart her-to send this Miss Dethic away? My dear Jopp, you say you have fresh evidence against these people—(Action of remonstrance from JOPP.) I don't want to hear it. They will not live at the castle after next week- (Gesture of remon strance from JOPP.) Let me go on now. I can't help it, Jopp-I know it's only superstition; I know there's no reason for it, but I feel that somehow Eve's life does depend on Miss Dethic (Action of remonstrance from JOPP.) At any rate, you can see that it would be dangerous to Eve to part them.

JOPP: Yes, there would be a danger to Eve.

:

LORD A. Then for her sake you will spare them, and say nothing of what you know?

JOPP (after a pause): Yes, Asgarby, I'll spare them.
[Offers hand.
LORD A. (shakes his hand heartily): Thank you, Jopp, thank you. I'll just go and
see where these people are, and we will get the deeds signed as soon as
possible.
[Exit.
JOPP (alone): After all, why not believe the fairy tales? Why not pretend there
is a dryad in every tree, and a nymph in every brook? Nymphs and dryads
may be as good names for the great secret as any other. Perhaps there is no
great secret after all. (Looking off.) Here comes that infernal scoundrel! So
I shall be obliged to let you and your precious daughter off after all, shall I ?
Enter DETHIC at window, affable, serene, cheerful as usual.

DETHIC (holding out his hand) : Ah, how do you do, my dear professor ?
JOPP: How do you do, my dear professor ?

DETHIC (slightly alarmed): Professor ?

JOPP: A title I share with you. I am professor of biology; you are professor of the art of making plum-puddings in other people's hats, and conveying other people's watches and coins from their pockets into yours. (DETHIC looks ghastly. JOPP glances at his own watch-chain ; handles it.) Don't be alarmed ! I'm sure you wouldn't practise on a brother professor.

DETHIC (frightened, but screwing up his courage as far as possible) : I think you are mistaking me for

JOPP Some other professor? No, professor, I'm not. Come, own up, Professor Janus. (Winks at him good-humouredly.) What made you give up the conjuring business, eh?

DETHIC (pause): Well, it didn't pay.

JOPP: Ah! then you had to turn your attention to something else.

DETHIC (trying to brazen it out): Look here, let's understand one another, professor.

JOPP: Just so, professor, let us.

DETHIC (very firmly): Because I am a conjurer is no reason that I'm not an

honest man.

JOPP: No, there must be some other reason for that.

DETHIC: Eh?

JOPP: What made you take the name of Dethic?

DETHIC: Well, I had to take some name, and I—I thought Dethic was a very good one.

JOPP: Capital name! (Comes up to him; winks at him again. Very good-humoured, very quiet, coaxing tone.) How did you manage to get the food to her for the first twelve days, eh?

DETHIC (loud-angry): How dare you infer-how dare you infer

JOPP (very quiet and good tempered): Come, come, no secrets from a brother professor, you know. Besides-(Quiet, genial whisper.)—I've got the man who made you the key.

DETHIC (turns very pale) : No!

JOPP: Yes, I have. Tozer, you know.

DETHIC: Got him-where?

JOPP He's here in the village.

DETHIC (collapses. Very humbly): Oh, professor, you won't be hard on-onJOPP: On a brother professor ? No. I'm going to let you and your daughter off scot-free.

DETHIC (overjoyed): What! You are! Upon my word you're really the noblest man I ever met in all my life.

JOPP: On one condition.

DETHIC: Anything—anything. I accept it, whatever it is. I'm so grateful to you there's nothing I wouldn't do for you.

JOPP: You sail straight away to-morrow for America or Australia.

DETHIC: Either ! America or Australia, whichever you please--it's immaterial. Anything else, professor ?

JOPP: You stay there for the rest of your life.

DETHIC: I will. I give you my word of honour I will. Anything else, professor ?
JOPP: Yes. As I am deprived of the pleasure of dusting your jacket in public,
I really must indulge myself in the luxury of telling you in private that you
are one of the most rascally humbugs, impostors, liars, thieves, and swindlers
that I have ever met! And you may thank your lucky stars that the state of
Lady Eve's health doesn't allow me to expose you as you deserve, you black-
guard.
[Very passionately.

DETHIC (takes it very calmly. After a pause) : Anything else, professor ?
JOPP: Nothing else, professor.

DETHIC: Then I suppose I may take the liberty of saying au revoir.
JOPP You may take the further liberty of saying adieu.
DETHIC I will. Adieu, professor.

Enter JUDAH at window.

JUDAH (intensely calm): Lord Asgarby asked me to wait for him here.

[Exit.

JOPP He is in the next room, I believe. Mr. Llewellyn ; I find I am mistaken about Miss Dethic.

JUDAH: Mistaken!

JOPP I have no evidence against her. I wish you and your bride a happy future.

JUDAH (calm, dreamy, absorbed): Yes, our future will be happy.

JOPP: You have every reason to think so. Mr. Dethic will leave the country, and you will begin your new life without a cloud.

JUDAH: Yes. Without a cloud!

JOPP (noticing JUDAH's abstraction): I say that, so far as I am concerned, Miss Dethic will be quite safe.

JUDAH: Thank you. Yes, she will be quite safe.

JOPP: After all, there's not one of us that dares to have all his life stripped bare.

JUDAH (turns and looks at him): You think not? Do you suppose there is anything in my past life, I would not show to you and to all the world, when it is already known where no secrets can be hidden?

JOPP: You are lucky if you have no such secrets, Mr. Llewellyn.
JUDAH : I have none. I have nothing that I dare to hide.

JOPP I congratulate you.

:

LORD A. enters, followed by MR. and MRS. PRALL.

LORD A.: Ah! (Calling off.) Will you all come this way, please?

Enter MORSON and GRANGER with papers, followed by PAPWORTHY and two other TRUSTEES.

LORD A. Now, Granger, the deed of gift. (GRANGER gives him deed.) And, Morson, will you bring the plans of the new building? Where is Miss Dethic? JUDAH: She is waiting on the terrace outside. I'll fetch her.

[Exit JUDAH. He returns in a few minutes with VASHTI, who is deeply affected, trembling, ashamed.

LORD A. Papworthy, I shall want you and your brother trustees to execute the deed. Is it all prepared?

PAP. Everything. There is nothing to do but to sign.

Enter JUDAH and VASHTI.

JUDAH (speaking in a low tone to her): Have courage! It will soon be over. LORD A.: Miss Dethic, Mr. Llewellyn, I have to beg your acceptance of a marriage present from Lady Eve and myself-the grounds on which your present church is built, £20,000 for rebuilding it according to the plans that Mr. Morson has prepared, and an endownment for the living while you shall be its minister. Will you look over the deed? (Giving it to him.) Lady Eve will be here in a minute.

JUDAH: Miss Dethic has something to say first. (To VASHTI.) Speak! Don't be afraid. A few bold words and all is over. Speak! I am beside you. Nothing can harm you-speak! [Pause. VASHTI (speaks in a low, ashamed voice): Lord Asgarby, you do not know me. I have deceived you and Lady Eve. I came into your house to deceive youI have deceived all who believe in me. I have no supernatural powers. It has been all a pretence—a falsehood from beginning to end. (Turns to JUDAH.) I have said it-now let me go.

JUDAH (taking her hand) : Stay ! I have my share of the burden to bear. VASHTI No, no! You shall not! Why should you sacrifice yourself! Lord Asgarby, do not hear him. It was his love for me that blinded him. He is worthy of your gift and of your friendship. Give them to him, and—think no more of me.

JUDAH: No, your guilt is mine. I claim my share of it. (To JOPP.) Put the oath to me again that you put that night.

JOPP: What do you mean?

JUDAH : Ask me if I knew her deceit-if I helped her to deceive. Do you hear? Quick! I can't sleep at nights. I've not had one moment's rest since. My food is bitter! My conscience burns me ! Oh, quench this fire! Do you hear? Put me to my oath.

JOPP: Is it possible!

JUDAH: You won't? Then hear me, hear me, all of you! I lied! I lied! Take back my false oath ; let the truth return to my lips! Let my heart find peace, and my eyelids sleep again! You all know me now for what I am ; let all who honoured me and followed me know me too. Hide nothing! Let it be blazed

about the city. (To LORD A.) Take back your gift. (Gives deed to LORD A.) We will take nothing from you! Nothing! Nothing! (Goes to VASHTI.) It's done! (Takes her hand.) Our path is straight now; we can walk safely all our lives. [Taking her up stage.

LORD A. But your future-what will you do? JUDAH: Leave this place, and work out our repentance together in some place where we are not known.

JOPP: No, Mr. Llewellyn. You have conquered yourself. Stay here, live down your fault, amongst the people whom you have deceived. You shall have one true friend as often as I am here.

LORD A. : And you shall have another friend in me.

JUDAH: Vashti, dare you stay here? dare you face those who know you?
VASHTI (looking at him): With you, yes.

JUDAH: Let it be so. But I am not fit to lead. I resign my ministry, but we'll
stay here and win back the trust and the respect of those who know us.
JOPP: Bravo!

LADY EVE runs on.

LADY E. (comes down to VASHTI): Why didn't you tell me you were ready? Where are the deeds? Are they signed?

JUDAH: No, Lady Eve; there was a mistake in the title-deeds. The buildingstones were not sound. There is to be no new church. (LADY EVE shows great disappointment.) Yes, we will build our new church with our lives, and its foundation shall be the truth.

CURTAIN.

1892

LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN

A PLAY ABOUT A GOOD WOMAN

(By OSCAR WILDE)

It is certainly not sincerity that ensures the immortality of Oscar O'Flahertie Fingal Wills Wilde (1850-1900). "In all important matters, style, not sincerity, is the essential," was one of his favourite maxims. In point of style, it is the obvious thing to record that he restores the line that ended with Farquhar, and again with Sheridan. But there was wanting in him an essential simplicity that is found as well in these forerunners as in the most "barbarous " of the Elizabethans; and, in its place, the affectations of the Comedy of Manners are developed to a degree that, to say the least of it, is over-civilized. The poses of Mirabel and Millamant are relatively childlike. No-one could call Wilde's poses childlike. There is in him something of the subtlety of the proverbial East-something we do not trust. The English drama that we have traced from the days of the Mystery could not have followed his lead, and remained English drama. As a matter of history, just before the close of the year (1892) that saw the brilliant and triumphant production at the St. James's Theatre of this, the first of his five finished plays, an obscure "Independent Theatre Society gave a single performance of a first play called Widowers' Houses by yet another witty Irishman, and was generally pooh-poohed for its pains.