Портрет Дориана Грея

           "Haveyouseenherto-day?"askedLordHenry. 

           DorianGrayshookhishead. "IleftherintheforestofArden,IshallfindherinanorchardinVerona." 

           LordHenrysippedhischampagneinameditativemanner. "Atwhatparticularpointdidyoumentionthewordmarriage,Dorian?Andwhatdidshesayinanswer? Perhapsyouforgotallaboutit." 

           "MydearHarry,Ididnottreatitasabusinesstransaction,andIdidnotmakeanyformalproposal. ItoldherthatIlovedher,andshesaidshewasnotworthytobemywife.Notworthy! Why,thewholeworldisnothingtomecomparedwithher." 

           "Womenarewonderfullypractical,"murmuredLordHenry—"muchmorepracticalthanweare. Insituationsofthatkindweoftenforgettosayanythingaboutmarriage,andtheyalwaysremindus." 

           Hallwardlaidhishanduponhisarm. "Don’t,Harry.YouhaveannoyedDorian.Heisnotlikeothermen. Hewouldneverbringmiseryuponanyone.Hisnatureistoofineforthat." 

           LordHenrylookedacrossthetable. "Dorianisneverannoyedwithme,"heanswered. "Iaskedthequestionforthebestreasonpossible,fortheonlyreason,indeed,thatexcusesoneforaskinganyquestion—simplecuriosity. Ihaveatheorythatitisalwaysthewomenwhoproposetous,andnotwewhoproposetothewomen. Except,ofcourse,inmiddle-classlife.Butthenthemiddleclassesarenotmodern." 

           DorianGraylaughed,andtossedhishead. "Youarequiteincorrigible,Harry;butIdon’tmind.Itisimpossibletobeangrywithyou.