Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Allright,UncleGeorge,I’lltellher,butitwon’thaveanyeffect. Philanthropicpeopleloseallsenseofhumanity.Itistheirdistinguishingcharacteristic." 

           Theoldgentlemangrowledapprovingly,andrangthebellforhisservant. LordHenrypassedupthelowarcadeintoBurlingtonStreet,andturnedhisstepsinthedirectionofBerkeleySquare. 

           SothatwasthestoryofDorianGray’sparentage. Crudelyasithadbeentoldtohim,ithadyetstirredhimbyitssuggestionofastrange,almostmodernromance. Abeautifulwomanriskingeverythingforamadpassion. Afewwildweeksofhappinesscutshortbyahideous,treacherouscrime. Monthsofvoicelessagony,andthenachildborninpain. Themothersnatchedawaybydeath,theboylefttosolitudeandthetyrannyofanoldandlovelessman. Yes;itwasaninterestingbackground. Itposedthelad,madehimmoreperfectasitwere. Behindeveryexquisitethingthatexisted,therewassomethingtragic.Worldshadtobeintravail,thatthemeanestflowermightblow.... Andhowcharminghehadbeenatdinnerthenightbefore,as,withstartledeyesandlipspartedinfrightenedpleasure,hehadsatoppositetohimattheclub, theredcandleshadesstainingtoaricherrosethewakeningwonderofhisface. Talkingtohimwaslikeplayinguponanexquisiteviolin. Heansweredtoeverytouchandthrillofthebow.... Therewassomethingterriblyenthrallingintheexerciseofinfluence.Nootheractivitywaslikeit. Toprojectone’ssoulintosomegraciousform,andletittarrythereforamoment; tohearone’sownintellectualviewsechoedbacktoonewithalltheaddedmusicofpassionandyouth; toconveyone’stemperamentintoanotherasthoughitwereasubtlefluidorastrangeperfume; therewasarealjoyinthat—perhapsthemostsatisfyingjoylefttousinanagesolimitedandvulgarasourown, anagegrosslycarnalinitspleasures,andgrosslycommoninitsaims....