Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest . Gwendolen: Let us preserve a dignified silence. Cecily: Certainly. It’s the only thing to do now. [Enter Jack followed by Algernon . They whistle some dreadful popular air from a British Opera.] Gwendolen: This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect. Cecily: A most distasteful one. Gwendolen: But we will not be the first to speak. Cecily: Certainly not. Gwendolen: Mr. Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends on your reply. Wilde uses the exchange between Gwendolen and Cecily to