Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Lateasusual,Harry,"criedhisaunt,shakingherheadathim. 

           Heinventedafacileexcuse,andhavingtakenthevacantseatnexttoher,lookedroundtoseewhowasthere. Dorianbowedtohimshylyfromtheendofthetable,aflushofpleasurestealingintohischeek. OppositewastheDuchessofHarley;aladyofadmirablegood-natureandgoodtemper,muchlikedbyeveryonewhoknewher,andofthoseamplearchitecturalproportions thatinwomenwhoarenotDuchessesaredescribedbycontemporaryhistoriansasstoutness. Nexttohersat,onherright,SirThomasBurdon,aRadicalmemberofParliament,whofollowedhisleaderinpubliclife,andinprivatelifefollowedthebestcooks, diningwiththeTories,andthinkingwiththeLiberals,inaccordancewithawiseandwell-knownrule. ThepostonherleftwasoccupiedbyMr.ErskineofTreadley,anoldgentlemanofconsiderablecharmandculture, whohadfallen,however,intobadhabitsofsilence,having,asheexplainedoncetoLadyAgatha,saideverythingthathehadtosaybeforehewasthirty. HisownneighbourwasMrs.Vandeleur,oneofhisaunt’soldestfriends,aperfectsaintamongstwomen,butsodreadfullydowdythatsheremindedoneofabadlyboundhymn-book. FortunatelyforhimshehadontheothersideLordFaudel,amostintelligentmiddle-agedmediocrity,asbaldasaMinisterialstatementintheHouseofCommons, withwhomshewasconversinginthatintenselyearnestmannerwhichistheoneunpardonableerror,asheremarkedoncehimself,thatallreallygoodpeoplefallinto,andfromwhichnoneofthemeverquiteescape. 

           "WearetalkingaboutpoorDartmoor,LordHenry,"criedtheDuchess,noddingpleasantlytohimacrossthetable. "Doyouthinkhewillreallymarrythisfascinatingyoungperson?" 

           "Ibelieveshehasmadeuphermindtoproposetohim,Duchess."