Портрет Дориана Грея

           Theportraitwillonlybeawayamonth. Ishouldthinkyoucouldeasilyspareitforthattime. Infact,youaresuretobeoutoftown. Andifyoukeepitalwaysbehindascreen,youcan’tcaremuchaboutit." 

           DorianGraypassedhishandoverhisforehead. Therewerebeadsofperspirationthere. Hefeltthathewasonthebrinkofahorribledanger. "Youtoldmeamonthagothatyouwouldneverexhibitit,"hecried. "Whyhaveyouchangedyourmind? Youpeoplewhogoinforbeingconsistenthavejustasmanymoodsasothershave. Theonlydifferenceisthatyourmoodsarerathermeaningless. Youcan’thaveforgottenthatyouassuredmemostsolemnlythatnothingintheworldwouldinduceyoutosendittoanyexhibition. YoutoldHarryexactlythesamething. "Hestoppedsuddenly,andagleamoflightcameintohiseyes. HerememberedthatLordHenryhadsaidtohimonce,halfseriouslyandhalfinjest,"Ifyouwanttohaveastrangequarterofanhour,getBasiltotellyouwhyhewon’texhibityourpicture. Hetoldmewhyhewouldn’t,anditwasarevelationtome. "Yes,perhapsBasil,too,hadhissecret. Hewouldaskhimandtry. 

           "Basil,"hesaid,comingoverquiteclose,andlookinghimstraightintheface,"wehaveeachofusasecret. LetmeknowyoursandIshalltellyoumine. Whatwasyourreasonforrefusingtoexhibitmypicture?" 

           Thepaintershudderedinspiteofhimself. "Dorian,ifItoldyou,youmightlikemelessthanyoudo,andyouwouldcertainlylaughatme. Icouldnotbearyourdoingeitherofthosetwothings. Ifyouwishmenevertolookatyourpictureagain,Iamcontent. Ihavealwaysyoutolookat. IfyouwishthebestworkIhaveeverdonetobehiddenfromtheworld,Iamsatisfied. Yourfriendshipisdearertomethananyfameorreputation."