MRS. ARBUTHNOT. To whom?

GERALD. To my father. I have written to tell him to come here at
four o'clock this afternoon.

MRS. ARBUTHNOT. He shall not come here. He shall not cross the
threshold of my house.

GERALD. He must come.

MRS. ARBUTHNOT. Gerald, if you are going away with Lord
Illingworth, go at once. Go before it kills me: but don't ask me
to meet him.

GERALD. Mother, you don't understand. Nothing in the world would
induce me to go away with Lord Illingworth, or to leave you.
Surely you know me well enough for that. No: I have written to him
to say -

MRS. ARBUTHNOT. What can you have to say to him?

GERALD. Can't you guess, mother, what I have written in this
letter?

MRS. ARBUTHNOT. No.

GERALD. Mother, surely you can. Think, think what must be done,
now, at once, within the next few days.