Портрет Доріана Грея
Chapter 5
"Haveyouseenherto-day?"askedLordHenry.
DorianGrayshookhishead. "IleftherintheforestofArden,IshallfindherinanorchardinVerona."
LordHenrysippedhischampagneinameditativemanner. "Atwhatparticularpointdidyoumentionthewordmarriage,Dorian?Andwhatdidshesayinanswer? Perhapsyouforgotallaboutit."
"MydearHarry,Ididnottreatitasabusinesstransaction,andIdidnotmakeanyformalproposal. ItoldherthatIlovedher,andshesaidshewasnotworthytobemywife.Notworthy! Why,thewholeworldisnothingtomecomparedwithher."
"Womenarewonderfullypractical,"murmuredLordHenry—"muchmorepracticalthanweare. Insituationsofthatkindweoftenforgettosayanythingaboutmarriage,andtheyalwaysremindus."
Hallwardlaidhishanduponhisarm. "Don’t,Harry.YouhaveannoyedDorian.Heisnotlikeothermen. Hewouldneverbringmiseryuponanyone.Hisnatureistoofineforthat."
LordHenrylookedacrossthetable. "Dorianisneverannoyedwithme,"heanswered. "Iaskedthequestionforthebestreasonpossible,fortheonlyreason,indeed,thatexcusesoneforaskinganyquestion—simplecuriosity. Ihaveatheorythatitisalwaysthewomenwhoproposetous,andnotwewhoproposetothewomen. Except,ofcourse,inmiddle-classlife.Butthenthemiddleclassesarenotmodern."
DorianGraylaughed,andtossedhishead. "Youarequiteincorrigible,Harry;butIdon’tmind.Itisimpossibletobeangrywithyou.