The Importance of Being Earnest

Merriman
.] 
Merriman.
The dog-cart is at the door, sir. [
Algernon
looks appealingly 
at 
Cecily
.] 
Cecily.
It can wait, Merriman for . . . five minutes. 
Merriman.
Yes, Miss. [Exit 
Merriman
.] 
Algernon.
I hope, Cecily, I shall not offend you if I state quite frankly and 
openly that you seem to me to be in every way the visible personification of 
absolute perfection. 
Cecily.
I think your frankness does you great credit, Ernest. If you will allow 
me, I will copy your remarks into my diary. [Goes over to table and begins 
writing in diary.] 
Algernon._Do_you_really_keep_a_diary_I’d_give_anything_to_look_at_it._May_I_Cecily.'>Algernon.
Do you really keep a diary? I’d give anything to look at it. May I? 
Cecily.
Oh no. [Puts her hand over it.] You see, it is simply a very young 
girl’s record of her own thoughts and impressions, and consequently meant 
for publication. When it appears in volume form I hope you will order a 
copy. But pray, Ernest, don’t stop. I delight in taking down from dictation. I 
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have reached ‘absolute perfection’. You can go on. I am quite ready for 
more. 
Algernon.
[Somewhat taken aback.] Ahem! Ahem! 
Cecily.
Oh, don’t cough, Ernest. When one is dictating one should speak 
fluently and not cough. Besides, I don’t know how to spell a cough. [Writes 
as 
Algernon
speaks.] 
Algernon.
[Speaking very rapidly.] Cecily, ever since I first looked upon your 
wonderful and incomparable beauty, I have dared to love you wildly, 
passionately, devotedly, hopelessly. 
Cecily.
I don’t think that you should tell me that you love me wildly, 
passionately, devotedly, hopelessly. Hopelessly doesn’t seem to make much 
sense, does it?