Портрет Доріана Грея

           Iknowyouaresurprisedatmytalkingtoyoulikethis. YouhavenotrealisedhowIhavedeveloped. Iwasaschoolboywhenyouknewme. Iamamannow. Ihavenewpassions,newthoughts,newideas. Iamdifferent,butyoumustnotlikemeless. Iamchanged,butyoumustalwaysbemyfriend. OfcourseIamveryfondofHarry. ButIknowthatyouarebetterthanheis. Youarenotstronger—youaretoomuchafraidoflife—butyouarebetter. Andhowhappyweusedtobetogether! Don’tleaveme,Basil,anddon’tquarrelwithme. IamwhatIam. Thereisnothingmoretobesaid." 

           Thepainterfeltstrangelymoved. Theladwasinfinitelydeartohim,andhispersonalityhadbeenthegreatturning-pointinhisart. Hecouldnotbeartheideaofreproachinghimanymore. Afterall,hisindifferencewasprobablymerelyamoodthatwouldpassaway. Therewassomuchinhimthatwasgood,somuchinhimthatwasnoble. 

           "Well,Dorian,"hesaid,atlength,withasadsmile, "Iwon’tspeaktoyouagainaboutthishorriblething,afterto-day. Ionlytrustyournamewon’tbementionedinconnectionwithit. Theinquestistotakeplacethisafternoon. Havetheysummonedyou?" 

           Dorianshookhisheadandalookofannoyancepassedoverhisfaceatthementionoftheword"inquest. "Therewassomethingsocrudeandvulgarabouteverythingofthekind. "Theydon’tknowmyname,"heanswered. 

           "Butsurelyshedid?" 

           "OnlymyChristianname,andthatIamquitesureshenevermentionedtoanyone. ShetoldmeoncethattheywereallrathercurioustolearnwhoIwas,andthatsheinvariablytoldthemmynamewasPrinceCharming.