The Importance of Being Earnest

Lady Bracknell.
Dead! When did Mr. Bunbury die? His death must have 
been extremely sudden. 
Algernon.
[Airily.] Oh! I killed Bunbury this afternoon. I mean poor 
Bunbury died this afternoon. 
Lady Bracknell.
What did he die of? 
Algernon.
Bunbury? Oh, he was quite exploded. 
Lady Bracknell.
Exploded! Was he the victim of a revolutionary outrage? I 
was not aware that Mr. Bunbury was interested in social legislation. If so, he 
is well punished for his morbidity. 
Algernon.
My dear Aunt Augusta, I mean he was found out! The doctors 
found out that Bunbury could not live, that is what I mean—so Bunbury 
died. 
61

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Lady Bracknell.
He seems to have had great confidence in the opinion of his 
physicians. I am glad, however, that he made up his mind at the last to some 
definite course of action, and acted under proper medical advice. And now 
that we have finally got rid of this Mr. Bunbury, may I ask, Mr. Worthing, 
who is that young person whose hand my nephew Algernon is now holding 
in what seems to me a peculiarly unnecessary manner? 
Jack.
That lady is Miss Cecily Cardew, my ward. [
Lady Bracknell
bows coldly 
to 
Cecily
.] 
Algernon.
I am engaged to be married to Cecily, Aunt Augusta. 
Lady Bracknell.
I beg your pardon? 
Cecily.
Mr. Moncrieff and I are engaged to be married, Lady Bracknell. 
Lady Bracknell.
[With a shiver, crossing to the sofa and sitting down.] I do 
not know whether there is anything peculiarly exciting in the air of this 
particular part of Hertfordshire, but the number of engagements that go on 
seems to me considerably above the proper average that statistics have laid 
down for our guidance. I think some preliminary inquiry on my part would 
not be out of place. Mr. Worthing, is Miss Cardew at all connected with any 
of the larger railway stations in London? I merely desire information. Until 
yesterday I had no idea that there were any families or persons whose origin 
was a Terminus. [