Cecily: It seems to me, Miss Fairfax, that I am trespassing on your valuable time. No doubt you have many other calls of a similar character to make in the neighbourhood.

[Enter Jack.]

Gwendolen: [Catching sight of him.] Ernest! My own Ernest!

Jack: 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 as if for 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. It has been John for years.

Cecily: [To Gwendolen.] A gross deception has been practised on both of us.

Gwendolen: My poor wounded Cecily!

Cecily: My sweet wronged Gwendolen!

Gwendolen: [Slowly and seriously.] You will call me sister, will you not? [They embrace. Jack and Algernon groan and walk up and down.]

Cecily: [Rather brightly.] There is just one question I would like to be allowed to ask my guardian.

Gwendolen: An admirable idea! Mr. Worthing, there is just one question I would like to be permitted to put to you. Where is your brother Ernest? We are both engaged to be married to your brother Ernest, so it is a matter of some importance to us to know where your brother Ernest is at present.

Jack: [Slowly and hesitatingly.] Gwendolen—Cecily—it is very painful for me to be forced to speak the truth. It is the first time in my life that I have ever been reduced to such a painful position, and I am really quite inexperienced in doing anything of the kind. However, I will tell you quite frankly that I have no brother Ernest.