第27章

I suppose you have heard the news, Basil?" said Lord Henry that evening as Hallward was shown into a little private room at the Bristol where dinner had been laid for three.

"No, Harry," answered the artist, giving his hat and coat to the bowing waiter."What is it? Nothing about politics, I hope! They don't interest me.There is hardly a single person in the House of Commons worth painting, though many of them would be the better for a little whitewashing.""Dorian Gray is engaged to be married," said Lord Henry, watching him as he spoke.

Hallward started and then frowned."Dorian engaged to be married!"he cried."Impossible!"

"It is perfectly true."

"To whom?"

"To some little actress or other."

"I can't believe it.Dorian is far too sensible.""Dorian is far too wise not to do foolish things now and then, my dear Basil.""Marriage is hardly a thing that one can do now and then, Harry.""Except in America," rejoined Lord Henry languidly."But I didn't say he was married.I said he was engaged to be married.There is a great difference.I have a distinct remembrance of being married, but I have no recollection at all of being engaged.I am inclined to think that Inever was engaged."

"But think of Dorian's birth, and position, and wealth.It would be absurd for him to marry so much beneath him.""If you want to make him marry this girl, tell him that, Basil.

He is sure to do it, then.Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.""I hope the girl is good, Harry.I don't want to see Dorian tied to some vile creature, who might degrade his nature and ruin his intellect.""Oh, she is better than good--she is beautiful," murmured Lord Henry, sipping a glass of vermouth and orange-bitters."Dorian says she is beautiful, and he is not often wrong about things of that kind.Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearance of other people.It has had that excellent effect, amongst others.We are to see her to-night, if that boy doesn't forget his appointment.""Are you serious?"

"Quite serious, Basil.I should be miserable if I thought I should ever be more serious than I am at the present moment.""But do you approve of it, Harry?" asked the painter, walking up and down the room and biting his lip."You can't approve of it, possibly.

It is some silly infatuation."

"I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now.It is an absurd attitude to take towards life.We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices.I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do.If a personality fascinates me, whatever mode of expression that personality selects is absolutely delightful to me.Dorian Gray falls in love with a beautiful girl who acts Juliet, and proposes to marry her.Why not? If he wedded Messalina, he would be none the less interesting.You know I am not a champion of marriage.

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They become more highly organized, and to be highly organized is, I should fancy, the object of man's existence.Besides, every experience is of value, and whatever one may say against marriage, it is certainly an experience.

I hope that Dorian Gray will make this girl his wife, passionately adore her for six months, and then suddenly become fascinated by some one else.

He would be a wonderful study."

"You don't mean a single word of all that, Harry; you know you don't.If Dorian Gray's life were spoiled, no one would be sorrier than yourself.You are much better than you pretend to be."Lord Henry laughed."The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves.The basis of optimism is sheer terror.We think that we are generous because we credit our neighbour with the possession of those virtues that are likely to be a benefit to us.We praise the banker that we may overdraw our account, and find good qualities in the highwayman in the hope that he may spare our pockets.

I mean everything that I have said.I have the greatest contempt for optimism.

As for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested.

If you want to mar a nature, you have merely to reform it.As for marriage, of course that would be silly, but there are other and more interesting bonds between men and women.I will certainly encourage them.They have the charm of being fashionable.But here is Dorian himself.He will tell you more than I can.""My dear Harry, my dear Basil, you must both congratulate me!"said the lad, throwing off his evening cape with its satin-lined wings and shaking each of his friends by the hand in turn."I have never been so happy.Of course, it is sudden-- all really delightful things are.And yet it seems to me to be the one thing I have been looking for all my life."He was flushed with excitement and pleasure, and looked extraordinarily handsome.

"I hope you will always be very happy, Dorian," said Hallward, "but I don't quite forgive you for not having let me know of your engagement.

You let Harry know."

"And I don't forgive you for being late for dinner," broke in Lord Henry, putting his hand on the lad's shoulder and smiling as he spoke.