Портрет Дориана Грея
Chapter 9
"Therewillbenodifficulty,sir,"saidthegenialframe-maker,beginning,withtheaidofhisassistant,tounhookthepicturefromthelongbrasschainsbywhichitwassuspended. "And,now,whereshallwecarryitto,Mr.Gray?"
"Iwillshowyoutheway,Mr.Hubbard,ifyouwillkindlyfollowme. Orperhapsyouhadbettergoinfront. Iamafraiditisrightatthetopofthehouse. Wewillgoupbythefrontstaircase,asitiswider."
Heheldthedooropenforthem,andtheypassedoutintothehallandbegantheascent. Theelaboratecharacteroftheframehadmadethepictureextremelybulky,andnowandthen,inspiteoftheobsequiousprotestsofMr.Hubbard,whohadthetruetradesman’sspiriteddislikeofseeingagentlemandoinganythinguseful,Dorianputhishandtoitsoastohelpthem.
"Somethingofaloadtocarry,sir,"gaspedthelittleman,whentheyreachedthetoplanding. Andhewipedhisshinyforehead.
"Iamafraiditisratherheavy,"murmuredDorian,asheunlockedthedoorthatopenedintotheroom thatwastokeepforhimthecurioussecretofhislifeandhidehissoulfromtheeyesofmen.
Hehadnotenteredtheplaceformorethanfouryears —not,indeed,sincehehaduseditfirstasaplay-roomwhenhewasachild,andthenasastudywhenhegrewsomewhatolder. Itwasalarge,well-proportionedroom,whichhadbeenspeciallybuiltbythelastLordKelsofortheuseofthelittlegrandson whom,forhisstrangelikenesstohismother,andalsoforotherreasons,hehadalwayshatedanddesiredtokeepatadistance. ItappearedtoDoriantohavebutlittlechanged.