Портрет Доріана Грея

           Ishouldfancyitwasprussicacid,assheseemstohavediedinstantaneously." 

           "Harry,Harry,itisterrible! "criedthelad. 

           "Yes;itisverytragic,ofcourse,butyoumustnotgetyourselfmixedupinit. IseebyTheStandardthatshewasseventeen. Ishouldhavethoughtshewasalmostyoungerthanthat. Shelookedsuchachild,andseemedtoknowsolittleaboutacting. Dorian,youmustn’tletthisthinggetonyournerves. Youmustcomeanddinewithme,andafterwardswewilllookinattheOpera. ItisaPattinight,andeverybodywillbethere. Youcancometomysister’sbox. Shehasgotsomesmartwomenwithher." 

           "SoIhavemurderedSibylVane,"saidDorianGray,halftohimself—"murderedherassurelyasifIhadcutherlittlethroatwithaknife. Yettherosesarenotlesslovelyforallthat. Thebirdssingjustashappilyinmygarden. Andto-nightIamtodinewithyou,andthengoontotheOpera,andsupsomewhere,Isuppose,afterwards. Howextraordinarilydramaticlifeis! IfIhadreadallthisinabook,Harry,IthinkIwouldhaveweptoverit. Somehow,nowthatithashappenedactually,andtome,itseemsfartoowonderfulfortears. Hereisthefirstpassionatelove-letterIhaveeverwritteninmylife. Strange,thatmyfirstpassionatelove-lettershouldhavebeenaddressedtoadeadgirl. Cantheyfeel,Iwonder,thosewhitesilentpeoplewecallthedead? Sibyl!Canshefeel,orknow,orlisten? Oh,Harry,howIlovedheronce! Itseemsyearsagotomenow. Shewaseverythingtome. Thencamethatdreadfulnight—wasitreallyonlylastnight? —whensheplayedsobadly,andmyheartalmostbroke. Sheexplaineditalltome. Itwasterriblypathetic.