LORD CAVERSHAM. Engaged to be married yet?
LORD GORING. [_Genially_.] Not yet: but I hope to be before lunch-time.
LORD CAVERSHAM. [_Caustically_.] You can have till dinner-time if it would be of any convenience to you.
LORD GORING. Thanks awfully, but I think I"d sooner be engaged before lunch.
LORD CAVERSHAM. Humph! Never know when you are serious or not.
LORD GORING. Neither do I, father.
[_A pause_.]
LORD CAVERSHAM. I suppose you have read _The Times_ this morning?
LORD GORING. [_Airily_.] The Times? Certainly not. I only read _The Morning Post_. All that one should know about modern life is where the d.u.c.h.esses are; anything else is quite demoralising.
LORD CAVERSHAM. Do you mean to say you have not read _The Times_ leading article on Robert Chiltern"s career?
LORD GORING. Good heavens! No. What does it say?
LORD CAVERSHAM. What should it say, sir? Everything complimentary, of course. Chiltern"s speech last night on this Argentine Ca.n.a.l scheme was one of the finest pieces of oratory ever delivered in the House since Canning.
LORD GORING. Ah! Never heard of Canning. Never wanted to. And did ...
did Chiltern uphold the scheme?
LORD CAVERSHAM. Uphold it, sir? How little you know him! Why, he denounced it roundly, and the whole system of modern political finance.
This speech is the turning-point in his career, as _The Times_ points out. You should read this article, sir. [_Opens_ The Times.] "Sir Robert Chiltern ... most rising of our young statesmen ... Brilliant Orator ... Unblemished career ... Well-known integrity of character ... Represents what is best in English public life ... n.o.ble contrast to the lax morality so common among foreign politicians." They will never say that of you, sir.
LORD GORING. I sincerely hope not, father. However, I am delighted at what you tell me about Robert, thoroughly delighted. It shows he has got pluck.
LORD CAVERSHAM. He has got more than pluck, sir, he has got genius.
LORD GORING. Ah! I prefer pluck. It is not so common, nowadays, as genius is.
LORD CAVERSHAM. I wish you would go into Parliament.
LORD GORING. My dear father, only people who look dull ever get into the House of Commons, and only people who are dull ever succeed there.
LORD CAVERSHAM. Why don"t you try to do something useful in life?
LORD GORING. I am far too young.
LORD CAVERSHAM. [_Testily_.] I hate this affectation of youth, sir. It is a great deal too prevalent nowadays.
LORD GORING. Youth isn"t an affectation. Youth is an art.
LORD CAVERSHAM. Why don"t you propose to that pretty Miss Chiltern?
LORD GORING. I am of a very nervous disposition, especially in the morning.
LORD CAVERSHAM. I don"t suppose there is the smallest chance of her accepting you.
LORD GORING. I don"t know how the betting stands to-day.
LORD CAVERSHAM. If she did accept you she would be the prettiest fool in England.
LORD GORING. That is just what I should like to marry. A thoroughly sensible wife would reduce me to a condition of absolute idiocy in less than six months.
LORD CAVERSHAM. You don"t deserve her, sir.
LORD GORING. My dear father, if we men married the women we deserved, we should have a very bad time of it.
[_Enter_ MABEL CHILTERN.]
MABEL CHILTERN. Oh! ... How do you do, Lord Caversham? I hope Lady Caversham is quite well?
LORD CAVERSHAM. Lady Caversham is as usual, as usual.
LORD GORING. Good morning, Miss Mabel!
MABEL CHILTERN. [_Taking no notice at all of_ LORD GORING, _and addressing herself exclusively to_ LORD CAVERSHAM.] And Lady Caversham"s bonnets ... are they at all better?
LORD CAVERSHAM. They have had a serious relapse, I am sorry to say.
LORD GORING. Good morning, Miss Mabel!
MABEL CHILTERN. [_To_ LORD CAVERSHAM.] I hope an operation will not be necessary.
LORD CAVERSHAM. [_Smiling at her pertness_.] If it is, we shall have to give Lady Caversham a narcotic. Otherwise she would never consent to have a feather touched.
LORD GORING. [_With increased emphasis_.] Good morning, Miss Mabel!
MABEL CHILTERN. [_Turning round with feigned surprise_.] Oh, are you here? Of course you understand that after your breaking your appointment I am never going to speak to you again.
LORD GORING. Oh, please don"t say such a thing. You are the one person in London I really like to have to listen to me.
MABEL CHILTERN. Lord Goring, I never believe a single word that either you or I say to each other.
LORD CAVERSHAM. You are quite right, my dear, quite right ... as far as he is concerned, I mean.
MABEL CHILTERN. Do you think you could possibly make your son behave a little better occasionally? Just as a change.
LORD CAVERSHAM. I regret to say, Miss Chiltern, that I have no influence at all over my son. I wish I had. If I had, I know what I would make him do.
MABEL CHILTERN. I am afraid that he has one of those terribly weak natures that are not susceptible to influence.
LORD CAVERSHAM. He is very heartless, very heartless.