CHAPTER VI.
關燈
小
中
大
“Isupposeyouhaveheardthenews,Basil?”saidLordHenrythateveningasHallwardwasshownintoalittleprivateroomattheBristolwheredinnerhadbeenlaidforthree.
“No,Harry,”answeredtheartist,givinghishatandcoattothebowingwaiter.“Whatisit?Nothingaboutpolitics,Ihope!Theydon’tinterestme.ThereishardlyasinglepersonintheHouseofCommonsworthpainting,thoughmanyofthemwouldbethebetterforalittlewhitewashing.”
“DorianGrayisengagedtobemarried,”saidLordHenry,watchinghimashespoke.
Hallwardstartedandthenfrowned.“Dorianengagedtobemarried!”hecried.“Impossible!”
“Itisperfectlytrue.”
“Towhom?”
“Tosomelittleactressorother.”
“Ican’tbelieveit.Dorianisfartoosensible.”
“Dorianisfartoowisenottodofoolishthingsnowandthen,mydearBasil.”
“Marriageishardlyathingthatonecandonowandthen,Harry.”
“ExceptinAmerica,”rejoinedLordHenrylanguidly.“ButIdidn’tsayhewasmarried.Isaidhewasengagedtobemarried.Thereisagreatdifference.Ihaveadistinctremembranceofbeingmarried,butIhavenorecollectionatallofbeingengaged.IaminclinedtothinkthatIneverwasengaged.”
“ButthinkofDorian’sbirth,andposition,andwealth.Itwouldbeabsurdforhimtomarrysomuchbeneathhim.”
“Ifyouwanttomakehimmarrythisgirl,tellhimthat,Basil.Heissuretodoit,then.Wheneveramandoesathoroughlystupidthing,itisalwaysfromthenoblestmotives.”
“Ihopethegirlisgood,Harry.Idon’twanttoseeDoriantiedtosomevilecreature,whomightdegradehisnatureandruinhisintellect.”
“Oh,sheisbetterthangood—sheisbeautiful,”murmuredLordHenry,sippingaglassofvermouthandorange-bitters.“Doriansayssheisbeautiful,andheisnotoftenwrongaboutthingsofthatkind.Yourportraitofhimhasquickenedhisappreciationofthepersonalappearanceofotherpeople.Ithashadthatexcellenteffect,amongstothers.Wearetoseeherto-night,ifthatboydoesn’tforgethisappointment.”
“Areyouserious?”
“Quiteserious,Basil.IshouldbemiserableifIthoughtIshouldeverbemoreseriousthanIamatthepresentmoment.”
“Butdoyouapproveofit,Harry?”askedthepainter,walkingupanddowntheroomandbitinghislip.“Youcan’tapproveofit,possibly.Itissomesillyinfatuation.”
“Ineverapprove,ordisapprove,ofanythingnow.Itisanabsurdattitudetotaketowardslife.Wearenotsentintotheworldtoairourmoralprejudices.Inevertakeanynoticeofwhatcommonpeoplesay,andIneverinterferewithwhatcharmingpeopledo.Ifapersonalityfascinatesme,whatevermodeofexpressionthatpersonalityselectsisabsolutelydelightfultome.DorianGrayfallsinlovewithabeautifulgirlwhoactsJuliet,andproposestomarryher.Whynot?IfheweddedMessalina,hewouldbenonethelessinteresting.YouknowIamnotachampionofmarriage.Therealdrawbacktomarriageisthatitmakesoneunselfish.Andunself
