An Ideal Husband

Lord Goring is in his library with his butler, Phipps. He is agonizing over which buttonhole he should wear when he receives a note from Lady Chiltern. She writes to him, “I want you. I trust you. I am coming to you. Gertrude” (270). He realizes she has learned of Sir Robert’s past. Just as Lord Goring goes to tell Phipps not to let anyone else visit him until he speaks with Lady Chiltern (whom he does not identify to Phipps as his visitor), his father enters. He has come to talk to Lord Goring about finding a wife. As they talk, the bell rings, and Lord Goring instructs Phipps to allow the “lady” into the drawing room and to let no one else call.

Unbeknownst to Lord Goring, the woman who arrives is Mrs. Cheveley. Phipps lets her in and prepares the drawing room for her as requested while Lord Goring finishes talking with his father. While waiting, she discovers the letter written by Lady Chiltern and plans to steal it, but she is thwarted by the sound of voices approaching as Lord Goring sees his father out. Mrs. Cheveley sneaks into the drawing room. As