Act 2 Summary

The second Act takes place in the drawing room of the Windermere house, with the activity of the ball visible through an adjoining doorway. Lady Windermere is receiving her arriving guests, and the Duchess of Berwick is sitting nearby managing her daughter's dance card.

As the guests arrive, Lord Windermere tries to speak to his wife again, but she is busy greeting people, and he falls into a conversation with Lord Augustus Lorton. Lord Augustus begins asking Windermere about Mrs. Erlynne, and it becomes evident to the audience that Lord Augustus is romantically interested in her, and is looking for assurances from Windermere that she is both respectable and available. He seems pleased and relieved when Windermere tells him Mrs. Erlynne has been invited to the ball that very night, because he is sure Lady Windermere would not have allowed this if Mrs...