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.
