Lady Bracknell: You must be quite aware that what you propose is out of the question. The moment you consent to my marriage with Gwendolen, I will most gladly allow your nephew to form an alliance with my ward. Jack: But my dear Lady Bracknell, the matter is entirely in your own hands. Worthing, as Miss Cardew states positively that she cannot wait till she is thirty-five-a remark which I am bound to say seems to me to show a somewhat impatient nature-I would beg of you to reconsider your decision. I am not punctual myself, I know, but I do like punctuality in others, and waiting, even to be married, is quite out of the question.Īlgernon: Then what is to be done, Cecily? I hate waiting even five minutes for anybody. You know I could.Ĭecily: Yes, I felt it instinctively, but I couldn’t wait all that time. There will be a large accumulation of property.Ĭecily: Algy, could you wait for me till I was thirty-five?Īlgernon: Of course I could, Cecily. I see no reason why our dear Cecily should not be even still more attractive at the age you mention than she is at present.

To my own knowledge she has been thirty-five ever since she arrived at the age of forty, which was many years ago now. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years. Lady Bracknell: That does not seem to me to be a grave objection. Jack: Pray excuse me, Lady Bracknell, for interrupting you again, but it is only fair to tell you that according to the terms of her grandfather’s will Miss Cardew does not come legally of age till she is thirty-five. So I don’t think your guardian’s consent is, after all, a matter of any importance. Well, it will not be very long before you are of age and free from the restraints of tutelage. Eighteen, but admitting to twenty at evening parties. Indeed, no woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. Lady Bracknell: You are perfectly right in making some slight alteration.

How old are you, dear?Ĭecily: Well, I am really only eighteen, but I always admit to twenty when I go to evening parties. My own decision, however, is unalterable. Jack: That is very generous of you, Lady Bracknell. Worthing, after careful consideration I have decided entirely to overlook my nephew’s conduct to you. I distinctly told him so myself yesterday afternoon. And what makes his conduct all the more heartless is, that he was perfectly well aware from the first that I have no brother, that I never had a brother, and that I don’t intend to have a brother, not even of any kind. He subsequently stayed to tea, and devoured every single muffin. Continuing his disgraceful deception, he succeeded in the course of the afternoon in alienating the affections of my only ward.

On the importance of being earnest