The Importance of Being Earnest

Algernon.
Cecily! 
[Enter 
Merriman
.] 
Merriman.
The dog-cart is waiting, sir. 
Algernon.
Tell it to come round next week, at the same hour. 
Merriman.
[Looks at 
Cecily
, who makes no sign.] Yes, sir. 
[
Merriman
retires.] 
Cecily.
Uncle Jack would be very much annoyed if he knew you were 
staying on till next week, at the same hour. 
Algernon._Oh,_I_don’t_care_about_Jack._I_don’t_care_for_anybody_in_the_whole_world_but_you._I_love_you,_Cecily._You_will_marry_me,_won’t_you_Cecily.'>Algernon.
Oh, I don’t care about Jack. I don’t care for anybody in the whole 
world but you. I love you, Cecily. You will marry me, won’t you? 
Cecily.
You silly boy! Of course. Why, we have been engaged for the last 
three months. 
Algernon.
For the last three months? 
Cecily.
Yes, it will be exactly three months on Thursday. 
Algernon.
But how did we become engaged? 
42

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Cecily.
Well, ever since dear Uncle Jack first confessed to us that he had a 
younger brother who was very wicked and bad, you of course have formed 
the chief topic of conversation between myself and Miss Prism. And of 
course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels 
there must be something in him, after all. I daresay it was foolish of me, but 
I fell in love with you, Ernest. 
Algernon.
Darling! And when was the engagement actually settled? 
Cecily.
On the 14th of February last. Worn out by your entire ignorance of 
my existence, I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and 
after a long struggle with myself I accepted you under this dear old tree 
here. The next day I bought this little ring in your name, and this is the little 
bangle with the true lover’s knot I promised you always to wear.