Morning-room at the Manor House.

[Gwendolen and Cecily are at the window, looking out into the
garden.]

Gwendolen. The fact that they did not follow us at once into the
house, as any one else would have done, seems to me to show that
they have some sense of shame left.

Cecily. They have been eating muffins. That looks like repentance.

Gwendolen. [After a pause.] They don't seem to notice us at all.
Couldn't you cough?

Cecily. But I haven't got a cough.

Gwendolen. They're looking at us. What effrontery!

Cecily. They're approaching. That's very forward of them.

Gwendolen. Let us preserve a dignified silence.

Cecily. Certainly. It's the only thing to do now. [Enter Jack
followed by Algernon. They whistle some dreadful popular air from a
British Opera.]

Gwendolen. This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant
effect.

Cecily. A most distasteful one.