Портрет Доріана Грея
Preface
"Youknowquitewell."
"Idonot,Harry."
"Well,Iwilltellyouwhatitis.Iwantyoutoexplaintomewhyyouwon’texhibitDorianGray’spicture.Iwanttherealreason."
"Itoldyoutherealreason."
"No,youdidnot.Yousaiditwasbecausetherewastoomuchofyourselfinit.Now,thatischildish."
"Harry,"saidBasilHallward,lookinghimstraightintheface, "everyportraitthatispaintedwithfeelingisaportraitoftheartist,notofthesitter. Thesitterismerelytheaccident,theoccasion.Itisnothewhoisrevealedbythepainter;itisratherthepainterwho,onthecolouredcanvas,revealshimself. ThereasonIwillnotexhibitthispictureisthatIamafraidthatIhaveshowninitthesecretofmyownsoul."
LordHenrylaughed. "Andwhatisthat?"heasked.
"Iwilltellyou,"saidHallward;butanexpressionofperplexitycameoverhisface.
"Iamallexpectation,Basil,"continuedhiscompanion,glancingathim.
"Oh,thereisreallyverylittletotell,Harry,"answeredthepainter; "andIamafraidyouwillhardlyunderstandit.Perhapsyouwillhardlybelieveit."
LordHenrysmiled,and,leaningdown,pluckedapink-petalleddaisyfromthegrass,andexaminedit.
