Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 17
Atthecornerofthepine-woodhecaughtsightofSirGeoffreyClouston,theDuchess’sbrother,jerkingtwospentcartridgesoutofhisgun. Hejumpedfromthecart,andhavingtoldthegroomtotakethemarehome,madehiswaytowardshisguestthroughthewitheredbrackenandroughundergrowth.
"Haveyouhadgoodsport,Geoffrey? "heasked.
"Notverygood,Dorian. Ithinkmostofthebirdshavegonetotheopen. Idaresayitwillbebetterafterlunch,whenwegettonewground."
Dorianstrolledalongbyhisside. Thekeenaromaticair,thebrownandredlightsthatglimmeredinthewood, thehoarsecriesofthebeatersringingoutfromtimetotime,andthesharpsnapsofthegunsthatfollowed,fascinatedhim,andfilledhimwithasenseofdelightfulfreedom. Hewasdominatedbythecarelessnessofhappiness,bythehighindifferenceofjoy.
Suddenlyfromalumpytussockofoldgrass,sometwentyyardsinfrontofthem,withblack-tippedearserect,andlonghinderlimbsthrowingitforward,startedahare. Itboltedforathicketofalders. SirGeoffreyputhisguntohisshoulder,buttherewassomethingintheanimal’sgraceofmovementthatstrangelycharmedDorianGray,andhecriedoutatonce,"Don’tshootit,Geoffrey. Letitlive."
"Whatnonsense,Dorian! "laughedhiscompanion,andasthehareboundedintothethickethefired. Thereweretwocriesheard,thecryofahareinpain,whichisdreadful,thecryofamaninagony,whichisworse.
"Goodheavens! Ihavehitabeater! "exclaimedSirGeoffrey. "Whatanassthemanwastogetinfrontoftheguns! Stopshootingthere! "hecalledoutatthetopofhisvoice. "Amanishurt."