Lady Bracknell. 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. [Jack looks perfectly furious, but restrains himself.] How does the author use stage directions to contribute to the meaning of the text? Select one: to develop the rising action of the play to contrast how the characters feel with how they act to clarify the conflict and resolution of the play to show the central message of the drama