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.
[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 begins to water the flowers.]
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.
Algernon.
Thank you.
[Enter Merriman.]
Merriman.
The dog-cart is at the door, sir.
[Algernon looks appealingly at Cecily.]
Cecily.
It can wait, Merriman for... five minutes.
Merriman.
Yes, Miss. [Exit Merriman.]
Algernon.
I hope, Cecily, I shall not offend you if I state quite frankly and openly that you seem to me to be in every way the visible personification of absolute perfection.
Cecily.
I think your frankness does you great credit, Ernest.
If you will allow me, I will copy your remarks into my diary. [Goes over to table and begins writing in diary.]
Algernon.
Do you really keep a diary?
I'd give anything to look at it.
May I?