Портрет Дориана Грея

           Itsoundsvain,butyouunderstandwhatImean. Shewasquitebeautiful,andwonderfullylikeSibylVane. Ithinkitwasthatwhichfirstattractedmetoher. YourememberSibyl,don’tyou? Howlongagothatseems! Well,Hettywasnotoneofourownclass,ofcourse. Shewassimplyagirlinavillage. ButIreallylovedher. IamquitesurethatIlovedher. AllduringthiswonderfulMaythatwehavebeenhaving,Iusedtorundownandseehertwoorthreetimesaweek. Yesterdayshemetmeinalittleorchard. Theapple-blossomskepttumblingdownonherhair,andshewaslaughing. Weweretohavegoneawaytogetherthismorningatdawn. SuddenlyIdeterminedtoleaveherasflower-likeasIhadfoundher." 

           "Ishouldthinkthenoveltyoftheemotionmusthavegivenyouathrillofrealpleasure,Dorian,"interruptedLordHenry. "ButIcanfinishyouridyllforyou. Yougavehergoodadvice,andbrokeherheart. Thatwasthebeginningofyourreformation." 

           "Harry,youarehorrible!Youmustn’tsaythesedreadfulthings. Hetty’sheartisnotbroken. Ofcourseshecried,andallthat. Butthereisnodisgraceuponher. Shecanlive,likePerdita,inhergardenofmintandmarigold." 

           "AndweepoverafaithlessFlorizel,"saidLordHenry,laughing,asheleantbackinhischair. "MydearDorian,youhavethemostcuriouslyboyishmoods. Doyouthinkthisgirlwilleverbereallycontentednowwithanyoneofherownrank? Isupposeshewillbemarriedsomedaytoaroughcarteroragrinningploughman. Well,thefactofhavingmetyou,andlovedyou,willteachhertodespiseherhusband,andshewillbewretched. Fromamoralpointofview,IcannotsaythatIthinkmuchofyourgreatrenunciation. Evenasabeginning,itispoor.