Портрет Доріана Грея

           Asforaspoiledlife,nolifeisspoiledbutonewhosegrowthisarrested. Ifyouwanttomaranature,youhavemerelytoreformit. Asformarriage,ofcoursethatwouldbesilly,butthereareotherandmoreinterestingbondsbetweenmenandwomen. Iwillcertainlyencouragethem.Theyhavethecharmofbeingfashionable. ButhereisDorianhimself.HewilltellyoumorethanIcan." 

           "MydearHarry,mydearBasil,youmustbothcongratulateme!"saidthelad,throwingoffhiseveningcapewithitssatin-linedwingsandshakingeachofhisfriendsbythehandinturn. "Ihaveneverbeensohappy.Ofcourseitissudden;allreallydelightfulthingsare. AndyetitseemstometobetheonethingIhavebeenlookingforallmylife." Hewasflushedwithexcitementandpleasure,andlookedextraordinarilyhandsome. 

           "Ihopeyouwillalwaysbeveryhappy,Dorian,"saidHallward, "butIdon’tquiteforgiveyoufornothavingletmeknowofyourengagement. YouletHarryknow." 

           "AndIdon’tforgiveyouforbeinglatefordinner,"brokeinLordHenry, puttinghishandonthelad’sshoulder,andsmilingashespoke. "Come,letussitdownandtrywhatthenewchefhereislike,andthenyouwilltellushowitallcameabout." 

           "Thereisreallynotmuchtotell,"criedDorian,astheytooktheirseatsatthesmallroundtable. "Whathappenedwassimplythis. AfterIleftyouyesterdayevening,Harry,Idressed,hadsomedinneratthatlittleItalianrestaurantinRupertStreetyouintroducedmeto,andwentdownateighto’clocktothetheatre. SibylwasplayingRosalind.Ofcoursethescenerywasdreadful,andtheOrlandoabsurd. ButSibyl!Youshouldhaveseenher!