Whilst Lady Windermere leaves the room to find one, the story is revealed: Mrs. Erlynne left her husband for a lover shortly after Lady Windermere's birth. When her new lover abandoned her, Mrs. Erlynne was left alone and in disrepute. More recently, using the assumed name of Mrs. Erlynne, she has begun blackmailing Lord Windermere to regain her lifestyle and status, by threatening to reveal her true identity as Lady Windermere's shameful mother—not dead, as Lady Windermere believes. Her son-in-law, Lord Windermere laments not having told his wife the whole story at once and resolves to tell her the truth now. Mrs. Erlynne forbids him to do so, threatening to spread shame far and wide if he does.