Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 14
"Youwerecharminglastnight. ThelittleDuchessisquitedevotedtoyou. ShetellsmesheisgoingdowntoSelby."
"Shehaspromisedtocomeonthetwentieth."
"IsMonmouthtobetheretoo?"
"Oh,yes,Harry."
"Heboresmedreadfully,almostasmuchasheboresher. Sheisveryclever,toocleverforawoman. Shelackstheindefinablecharmofweakness. Itisthefeetofclaythatmakesthegoldoftheimageprecious. Herfeetareverypretty,buttheyarenotfeetofclay. Whiteporcelainfeet,ifyoulike. Theyhavebeenthroughthefire,andwhatfiredoesnotdestroy,ithardens. Shehashadexperiences."
"Howlonghasshebeenmarried? "askedDorian.
"Aneternity,shetellsme. Ibelieve,accordingtothepeerage,itistenyears, buttenyearswithMonmouthmusthavebeenlikeeternity,withtimethrownin. Whoelseiscoming?"
"Oh,theWilloughbys,LordRugbyandhiswife,ourhostess,GeoffreyClouston,theusualset. IhaveaskedLordGrotrian."
"Ilikehim,"saidLordHenry. "Agreatmanypeopledon’t,butIfindhimcharming. Heatonesforbeingoccasionallysomewhatover-dressed,bybeingalwaysabsolutelyover-educated. Heisaverymoderntype."
"Idon’tknowifhewillbeabletocome,Harry. HemayhavetogotoMonteCarlowithhisfather."