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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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48 There is just one question I would like to be allowed to ask my guardian. GWEN 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. I have no brother at all. I never had a brother in my life, and I certainly have not the smallest intention of ever having one in the future. CEC [Surprised.] No brother at all? JACK [Cheerily.] None! GWEN[Severely.] Had you never a brother of any kind? JACK [Pleasantly.] Never. Not even of any kind. GWEN I am afraid it is quite clear, Cecily, that neither of us is engaged to be married to anyone. CEC It is not a very pleasant position for a young girl suddenly to find herself in. Is it? GWEN Let us go into the house. They will hardly venture to come after us there. CEC No, men are so cowardly, aren’t they? [They retire into the house with scornful looks.] JACK This ghastly state of things is what you call Bunburying, I suppose? ALG Yes, and a perfectly wonderful Bunbury it is. The most wonderful Bunbury I have ever had in my life. JACK Well, you’ve no right whatsoever to Bunbury here. ALG That is absurd. One has a right to Bunbury anywhere one chooses. |
