Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 2
"Iamquitecontentwithphilosophiccontemplation. But,asthenineteenthcenturyhasgonebankruptthroughanover-expenditureofsympathy,IwouldsuggestthatweshouldappealtoSciencetoputusstraight. Theadvantageoftheemotionsisthattheyleadusastray,andtheadvantageofScienceisthatitisnotemotional."
"Butwehavesuchgraveresponsibilities,"venturedMrs.Vandeleur,timidly.
"Terriblygrave,"echoedLadyAgatha.
LordHenrylookedoveratMr.Erskine. "Humanitytakesitselftooseriously.Itistheworld’soriginalsin. Ifthecavemanhadknownhowtolaugh,Historywouldhavebeendifferent." "Youarereallyverycomforting,"warbledtheDuchess. "IhavealwaysfeltratherguiltywhenIcametoseeyourdearaunt,forItakenointerestatallintheEastEnd. ForthefutureIshallbeabletolookherinthefacewithoutablush."
"Ablushisverybecoming,Duchess,"remarkedLordHenry.
"Onlywhenoneisyoung,"sheanswered."Whenanoldwomanlikemyselfblushes,itisaverybadsign. Ah!LordHenry,Iwishyouwouldtellmehowtobecomeyoungagain." Hethoughtforamoment. "Canyourememberanygreaterrorthatyoucommittedinyourearlydays,Duchess?"heasked,lookingatheracrossthetable.
"Agreatmany,Ifear,"shecried.
"Thencommitthemoveragain,"hesaid,gravely."Togetbackone’syouth,onehasmerelytorepeatone’sfollies."
"Adelightfultheory!"sheexclaimed."Imustputitintopractice."