Chapter 5

           Isupposeyouhaveheardthenews,Basil?"saidLordHenrythatevening, asHallwardwasshownintoalittleprivateroomattheBristolwheredinnerhadbeenlaidforthree. 

           "No,Harry,"answeredtheartist,givinghishatandcoattothebowingwaiter. "Whatisit?Nothingaboutpolitics,Ihope?Theydon’tinterestme. ThereishardlyasinglepersonintheHouseofCommonsworthpainting; thoughmanyofthemwouldbethebetterforalittlewhite-washing." 

           "DorianGrayisengagedtobemarried,"saidLordHenry,watchinghimashespoke. 

           Hallwardstarted,andthenfrowned. "Dorianengagedtobemarried!"hecried."Impossible!" 

           "Itisperfectlytrue." 

           "Towhom?" 

           "Tosomelittleactressorother." 

           "Ican’tbelieveit.Dorianisfartoosensible." 

           "Dorianisfartoowisenottodofoolishthingsnowandthen,mydearBasil." 

           "Marriageishardlyathingthatonecandonowandthen,Harry." 

           "ExceptinAmerica,"rejoinedLordHenry,languidly. "ButIdidn’tsayhewasmarried.Isaidhewasengagedtobemarried. Thereisagreatdifference.Ihaveadistinctremembranceofbeingmarried,butIhavenorecollectionatallofbeingengaged.IaminclinedtothinkthatIneverwasengaged."