CHAPTER III.

eroustheory!”camefromSirThomas’stightlips.LadyAgathashookherhead,butcouldnothelpbeingamused.Mr.Erskinelistened. “Yes,”hecontinued,“thatisoneofthegreatsecretsoflife.Nowadaysmostpeopledieofasortofcreepingcommonsense,anddiscoverwhenitistoolatethattheonlythingsoneneverregretsareone’smistakes.” Alaughranroundthetable. Heplayedwiththeideaandgrewwilfultosseditintotheairandtransformeditletitescapeandrecaptureditmadeitiridescentwithfancyandwingeditwithparadox.Thepraiseoffolly,ashewenton,soaredintoaphilosophy,andphilosophyherselfbecameyoung,andcatchingthemadmusicofpleasure,wearing,onemightfancy,herwine-stainedrobeandwreathofivy,dancedlikeaBacchanteoverthehillsoflife,andmockedtheslowSilenusforbeingsober.Factsfledbeforeherlikefrightenedforestthings.HerwhitefeettrodthehugepressatwhichwiseOmarsits,tilltheseethinggrape-juiceroseroundherbarelimbsinwavesofpurplebubbles,orcrawledinredfoamoverthevat’sblack,dripping,slopingsides.Itwasanextraordinaryimprovisation.HefeltthattheeyesofDorianGraywerefixedonhim,andtheconsciousnessthatamongsthisaudiencetherewasonewhosetemperamenthewishedtofascinateseemedtogivehiswitkeennessandtolendcolourtohisimagination.Hewasbrilliant,fantastic,irresponsible.Hecharmedhislistenersoutofthemselves,andtheyfollowedhispipe,laughing.DorianGraynevertookhisgazeoffhim,butsatlikeoneunderaspell,smileschasingeachotheroverhislipsandwondergrowinggraveinhisdarkeningeyes. Atlast,liveriedinthecostumeoftheage,realityenteredtheroomintheshapeofaservanttotelltheduchessthathercarriagewaswaiting.Shewrungherhandsinmockdespair.“Howannoying!”shecried.“Imustgo.Ihavetocallformyhusbandattheclub,totakehimtosomeabsurdmeetingatWillis’sRooms,whereheisgoingtobeinthechair.IfIamlateheissuretobefurious,andIcouldn’thaveasceneinthisbonnet.Itisfartoofragile.Aharshwordwouldruinit.No,Imustgo,dearAgatha.Good-bye,LordHenry,youarequitedelightfulanddreadfullydemoralizing.IamsureIdon’tknowwhattosayaboutyourviews.Youmustcomeanddinewithussomenight.Tuesday?AreyoudisengagedTuesday?” “ForyouIwouldthrowoveranybody,Duchess,”saidLordHenrywithabow. “Ah!thatisverynice,andverywrongofyou,”shecried“somindyoucome”andshesweptoutoftheroom,followedbyLadyAgathaandtheotherladies. WhenLordHenryhadsatdownagain,Mr.Erskinemovedround,andtakingachairclosetohim,placedhishanduponhisarm. “Youtalkbooksaway,”hesaid“whydon’tyouwriteone?” “Iamtoofondofreadingbookstocaretowritethem,Mr.Erskine.Ishouldliketowriteanovelcertainly,anovelthatwouldbeaslovelyasaPersiancarpetandasunreal.ButthereisnoliterarypublicinEnglandforanythingexceptnewspapers,primers,andencyclopaedias.OfallpeopleintheworldtheEnglishhavetheleastsenseofthebeautyofliterature.” “Ifearyouareright,”answeredMr.Erskine.“Imyselfusedtohaveliteraryambitions,butIgavethemuplongago.Andnow,mydearyoungfriend,ifyouwillallowmetocallyouso,mayIaskifyoureallymeantallthatyousaidtousatlunch?” “IquiteforgetwhatIsaid,”smiledLordHenry.“Wasitallverybad?” “Verybadindeed.InfactIconsideryouextremelydangerous,andifanythinghappenstoourgoodduchess,weshallalllookonyouasbeingprimarilyresponsible.ButIshouldliketotalktoyouaboutlife.ThegenerationintowhichIwasbornwastedious.Someday,whenyouaretiredofLondon,comedowntoTreadleyandexpoundtomeyourphilosophyofpleasureoversomeadmirableBurgundyIamfortunateenoughtopossess.” “Ishallbecharmed.AvisittoTreadleywouldbeagreatprivilege.Ithasaperfecthost,andaperfectlibrary.” “Youwillcompleteit,”answeredtheoldgentlemanwithacourteousbow.“AndnowImustbidgood-byetoyourexcellentaunt.IamdueattheAthenaeum.Itisthehourwhenwesleepthere.” “Allofyou,Mr.Erskine?” “Fortyofus,infortyarm-chairs.WearepractisingforanEnglishAcademyofLetters.” LordHenrylaughedandrose.“Iamgoingtothepark,”hecried. Ashewaspassingoutofthedoor,DorianGraytouchedhimonthearm.“Letmecomewithyou,”hemurmured. “ButIthoughtyouhadpromisedBasilHallwardtogoandseehim,”answeredLordHenry. “Iwouldsoonercomewithyouyes,IfeelImustcomewithyou.Doletme.Andyouwillpromisetotalktomeallthetime?Noonetalkssowonderfullyasyoudo.” “Ah!Ihavetalkedquiteenoughforto-day,”saidLordHenry,smiling.“AllIwantnowistolookatlife.Youmaycomeandlookatitwithme,ifyoucareto.”