Портрет Доріана Грея

           Iamboundtostatethatsheateanenormousdinner,soIdidnotfeelanyanxiety. Butwhatalackoftastesheshowed! Theonecharmofthepastisthatitisthepast. Butwomenneverknowwhenthecurtainhasfallen. Theyalwayswantasixthact,andassoonastheinterestoftheplayisentirelyovertheyproposetocontinueit. Iftheywereallowedtheirownway,everycomedywouldhaveatragicending,andeverytragedywouldculminateinafarce. Theyarecharminglyartificial,buttheyhavenosenseofart. YouaremorefortunatethanIam. Iassureyou,Dorian,thatnotoneofthewomenIhaveknownwouldhavedoneformewhatSibylVanedidforyou. Ordinarywomenalwaysconsolethemselves. Someofthemdoitbygoinginforsentimentalcolours. Nevertrustawomanwhowearsmauve,whateverheragemaybe,orawomanoverthirty-fivewhoisfondofpinkribbons. Italwaysmeansthattheyhaveahistory. Othersfindagreatconsolationinsuddenlydiscoveringthegoodqualitiesoftheirhusbands. Theyflaunttheirconjugalfelicityinone’sface,asifitwerethemostfascinatingofsins. Religionconsolessome. Itsmysterieshaveallthecharmofaflirtation,awomanoncetoldme;andIcanquiteunderstandit. Besides,nothingmakesonesovainasbeingtoldthatoneisasinner. Consciencemakesegotistsofusall. Yes;thereisreallynoendtotheconsolationsthatwomenfindinmodernlife. Indeed,Ihavenotmentionedthemostimportantone." 

           "Whatisthat,Harry? "saidthelad,listlessly. 

           "Oh,theobviousconsolation. Takingsomeoneelse’sadmirerwhenonelosesone’sown. Ingoodsocietythatalwayswhitewashesawoman. Butreally,Dorian,howdifferentSibylVanemusthavebeenfromallthewomenonemeets! Thereissomethingtomequitebeautifulaboutherdeath. IamgladIamlivinginacenturywhensuchwondershappen.