Портрет Доріана Грея

           "Stop,Jim!"sheexclaimed."Youmustnotsayanythingagainsthim.Ilovehim." 

           "Why,youdon’tevenknowhisname,"answeredthelad."Whoishe?Ihavearighttoknow." 

           "HeiscalledPrinceCharming.Don’tyoulikethename?Oh!yousillyboy!youshouldneverforgetit. Ifyouonlysawhim,youwouldthinkhimthemostwonderfulpersonintheworld. Somedayyouwillmeethim:whenyoucomebackfromAustralia.Youwilllikehimsomuch.Everybodylikeshim,andI...lovehim. Iwishyoucouldcometothetheatreto-night.Heisgoingtobethere,andIamtoplayJuliet.Oh!howIshallplayit! Fancy,Jim,tobeinloveandplayJuliet!Tohavehimsittingthere!Toplayforhisdelight!IamafraidImayfrightenthecompany,frightenorenthrallthem. Tobeinloveistosurpassone’sself.PoordreadfulMr.Isaacswillbeshouting‘genius’tohisloafersatthebar. Hehaspreachedmeasadogma;to-nighthewillannouncemeasarevelation.Ifeelit.Anditisallhis,hisonly,PrinceCharming,mywonderfullover,mygodofgraces. ButIampoorbesidehim.Poor?Whatdoesthatmatter?Whenpovertycreepsinatthedoor,lovefliesinthroughthewindow. Ourproverbswantre-writing.Theyweremadeinwinter,anditissummernow;spring-timeforme,Ithink,averydanceofblossomsinblueskies." 

           "Heisagentleman,"saidthelad,sullenly. 

           "APrince!"shecried,musically."Whatmoredoyouwant?" 

           "Hewantstoenslaveyou." 

           "Ishudderatthethoughtofbeingfree."