An Ideal Husband

sir robert chiltern. I wish I had seen that one sin of my youth burning to ashes. How many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning to white ashes before them! Is Arthur still here?

lady chiltern. Yes; he is in the conservatory.

sir robert chiltern. I am so glad now I made that speech last night in the House, so glad. I made it thinking that public disgrace might be the result. But it has not been so.

lady chiltern. Public honour has been the result.

sir robert chiltern. I think so. I fear so, almost. For although I am safe from detection, although every proof against me is destroyed, I suppose, Gertrude.. I suppose I should retire from public life? [He looks anxiously at his wife.]

lady chiltern. [Eagerly.] Oh yes, Robert, you should do that. It is your duty to do that.

sir robert chiltern. It is much to surrender.

lady chiltern. No; it will be much to gain.

[sir robert chilternwalks up and down the room with a troubled expression. Then comes over to his wife, and puts his hand on her shoulder.]

sir robert chiltern. And you would be happy living somewhere alone with me, abroad perhaps, or in the country away from London, away from public life? You would have no regrets?

lady chiltern. Oh! none, Robert.

sir robert chiltern. [Sadly.] And your ambition for me? You used to be ambitious for me.

lady chiltern. Oh, my ambition! I have none now, but that we two may love each other. It was your ambition that led you astray. Let us not talk about ambition.

[lord goringreturns from the conservatory, looking very pleased with himself, and with an entirely new buttonhole that some one has made for him.]

sir robert chiltern. [Going towards him.] Arthur, I have to thank you for what you have done for me. I don’t know how I can repay you. [Shakes hands with him.]

lord goring. My dear fellow, I’ll tell you at once. At the present moment, under the usual palm tree.. I mean in the conservatory.

[Entermason.]

mason. Lord Caversham.

lord goring. That admirable father of mine really makes a habit of turning up at the wrong moment. It is very heartless of him, very heartless indeed.

[Enterlord caversham. masongoes out.]

lord caversham. Good morning, Lady Chiltern! Warmest congratulations to you, Chiltern, on your brilliant speech last night. I have just left the Prime Minister, and you are to have the vacant seat in the Cabinet.

sir robert chiltern. [With a look of joy and triumph.] A seat in the Cabinet?

lord caversham. Yes; here is the Prime Minister’s letter. [Hands letter.]

sir robert chiltern. [Takes letter and reads it.] A seat in the Cabinet!

lord caversham. Certainly, and you well deserve it too. You have got what we want so much in political life nowadays – high character, high moral tone, high principles. [Tolord goring.] Everything that you have not got, sir, and never will have.

lord goring. I don’t like principles, father. I prefer prejudices.

[sir robert chilternis on the brink of accepting the Prime Minister’s offer, when he sees wife looking at him with her clear, candid eyes. He then realises that it is impossible.]

sir robert chiltern. I cannot accept this offer, Lord Caversham. I have made up my mind to decline it.

lord caversham. Decline it, sir!

sir robert chiltern. My intention is to retire at once from public life.

lord caversham. [Angrily.] Decline a seat in the Cabinet, and retire from public life? Never heard such damned nonsense in the whole course of my existence. I beg your pardon, Lady Chiltern. Chiltern, I beg your pardon. [Tolord goring.] Don’t grin like that, sir.

lord goring. No, father.

lord caversham. Lady Chiltern, you are a sensible woman, the most sensible woman in London, the most sensible woman I know. Will you kindly prevent your husband from making such a.. from taking such.. Will you kindly do that, Lady Chiltern?

lady chiltern. I think my husband in right in his determination, Lord Caversham. I approve of it.

lord caversham. You approve of it? Good heavens!

lady chiltern. [Taking her husband’s hand.] I admire him for it. I admire him immensely for it. I have never admired him so much before. He is finer than even I thought him. [Tosir robert chiltern.] You will go and write your letter to the Prime Minister now, won’t you? Don’t hesitate about it, Robert.

sir robert chiltern. [With a touch of bitterness.] I suppose I had better write it at once. Such offers are not repeated. I will ask you to excuse me for a moment, Lord Caversham.

lady chiltern. I may come with you, Robert, may I not?

sir robert chiltern. Yes, Gertrude.

[lady chilterngoes out with him.]

lord caversham. What is the matter with this family? Something wrong here, eh? [Tapping his forehead.] Idiocy? Hereditary, I suppose. Both of them, too. Wife as well as husband. Very sad. Very sad indeed! And they are not an old family. Can’t understand it.

lord goring. It is not idiocy, father, I assure you.

lord caversham. What is it then, sir?

lord goring. [After some hesitation.] Well, it is what is called nowadays a high moral tone, father. That is all.

lord caversham. Hate these new-fangled names. Same thing as we used to call idiocy fifty years ago. Shan’t stay in this house any longer.

lord goring. [Taking his arm.] Oh! just go in here for a moment, father. Third palm tree to the left, the usual palm tree.

lord caversham. What, sir?

lord goring. I beg your pardon, father, I forgot. The conservatory, father, the conservatory – there is some one there I want you to talk to.

lord caversham. What about, sir?

lord goring. About me, father, lord caversham. [Grimly.] Not a subject on which much eloquence is possible.