Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Howdreadful!"exclaimedLadyAgatha."Really,someoneshouldinterfere." 

           "Iamtold,onexcellentauthority,thatherfatherkeepsanAmericandry-goodsstore,"saidSirThomasBurdon,lookingsupercilious. 

           "Myunclehasalreadysuggestedpork-packing,SirThomas." 

           "Dry-goods!WhatareAmericandry-goods?"askedtheDuchess,raisingherlargehandsinwonder,andaccentuatingtheverb. 

           "Americannovels,"answeredLordHenry,helpinghimselftosomequail. 

           TheDuchesslookedpuzzled. 

           "Don’tmindhim,mydear,"whisperedLadyAgatha."Henevermeansanythingthathesays." 

           "WhenAmericawasdiscovered,"saidtheRadicalmember,andhebegantogivesomewearisomefacts. Likeallpeoplewhotrytoexhaustasubject,heexhaustedhislisteners. TheDuchesssighed,andexercisedherprivilegeofinterruption. "Iwishtogoodnessitneverhadbeendiscoveredatall!"sheexclaimed. "Really,ourgirlshavenochancenowadays.Itismostunfair." 

           "Perhaps,afterall,Americaneverhasbeendiscovered,"saidMr.Erskine. "Imyselfwouldsaythatithadmerelybeendetected." 

           "Oh!butIhaveseenspecimensoftheinhabitants,"answeredtheDuchess,vaguely. "Imustconfessthatmostofthemareextremelypretty.Andtheydresswell,too. TheygetalltheirdressesinParis.IwishIcouldaffordtodothesame."