Page:Wilde - A Woman of no Importance, 1909.djvu/195

RhACT IV. making a scene merely because I wanted to kiss her. What harm is there in a kiss?

MRS. ARBUTHNOT [Turning round.] A kiss may ruin a human life, George Harford. I know that. I know that too well.

LORD ILLINGWORTH We won't discuss that at present. What is of importance to-day, as yesterday, is still our son. I am extremely fond of him, as you know, and odd though it may seem to you, I admired his conduct last night immensely. He took up the cudgels for that pretty prude with wonderful promptitude. He is just what I should have liked a son of mine to be. Except that no son of mine should ever take the side of the Puritans: that is always an error. Now, what I propose is this.

MRS. ARBUTHNOT Lord Illingworth, no proposition of yours interests me. 177