Gwendolen!
Darling! [Offers to kiss her.]
Gwendolen. [Draws back.] A moment!
May I ask if you are engaged to be married to this young lady? [Points to Cecily.]
Jack. [Laughing.] To dear little Cecily!
Of course not!
What could have put such an idea into your pretty little head?
Gwendolen.
Thank you.
You may! [Offers her cheek.]
Cecily. [Very sweetly.] I knew there must be some misunderstanding, Miss Fairfax.
The gentleman whose arm is at present round your waist is my guardian, Mr. John Worthing.
Gwendolen.
I beg your pardon?
Cecily.
This is Uncle Jack.
Gwendolen. [Receding.] Jack!
Oh!
[Enter Algernon.]
Cecily.
Here is Ernest.
Algernon. [Goes straight over to Cecily without noticing any one else.] My own love! [Offers to kiss her.]
Cecily. [Drawing back.] A moment, Ernest!
May I ask you - are you engaged to be married to this young lady?
Algernon. [Looking round.] To what young lady?
Good heavens! Gwendolen!
Cecily.
Yes! to good heavens, Gwendolen, I mean to Gwendolen.
Algernon. [Laughing.] Of course not!
What could have put such an idea into your pretty little head?
Cecily.
Thank you. [Presenting her cheek to be kissed.] You may.
[Algernon kisses her.]
Gwendolen.
I felt there was some slight error, Miss Cardew.
The gentleman who is now embracing you is my cousin, Mr. Algernon Moncrieff.
Cecily. [Breaking away from Algernon.] Algernon Moncrieff!
Oh!
[The two girls move towards each other and put their arms round each other's waists protection.]
Cecily.
Are you called Algernon?
Algernon.
I cannot deny it.
Cecily.
Oh!
Gwendolen.
Is your name really John?
Jack. [Standing rather proudly.] I could deny it if I liked.
I could deny anything if I liked.
But my name certainly is John.