CHAPTER VI.

civilizedmaneverregretsapleasure,andnouncivilizedmaneverknowswhatapleasureis.” “Iknowwhatpleasureis,”criedDorianGray.“Itistoadoresomeone.” “Thatiscertainlybetterthanbeingadored,”heanswered,toyingwithsomefruits.“Beingadoredisanuisance.Womentreatusjustashumanitytreatsitsgods.Theyworshipus,andarealwaysbotheringustodosomethingforthem.” “Ishouldhavesaidthatwhatevertheyaskfortheyhadfirstgiventous,”murmuredtheladgravely.“Theycreateloveinournatures.Theyhavearighttodemanditback.” “Thatisquitetrue,Dorian,”criedHallward. “Nothingiseverquitetrue,”saidLordHenry. “Thisis,”interruptedDorian.“Youmustadmit,Harry,thatwomengivetomentheverygoldoftheirlives.” “Possibly,”hesighed,“buttheyinvariablywantitbackinsuchverysmallchange.Thatistheworry.Women,assomewittyFrenchmanonceputit,inspireuswiththedesiretodomasterpiecesandalwayspreventusfromcarryingthemout.” “Harry,youaredreadful!Idon’tknowwhyIlikeyousomuch.” “Youwillalwayslikeme,Dorian,”hereplied.“Willyouhavesomecoffee,youfellows?Waiter,bringcoffee,andfine-champagne,andsomecigarettes.No,don’tmindthecigarettes—Ihavesome.Basil,Ican’tallowyoutosmokecigars.Youmusthaveacigarette.Acigaretteistheperfecttypeofaperfectpleasure.Itisexquisite,anditleavesoneunsatisfied.Whatmorecanonewant?Yes,Dorian,youwillalwaysbefondofme.Irepresenttoyouallthesinsyouhaveneverhadthecouragetocommit.” “Whatnonsenseyoutalk,Harry!”criedthelad,takingalightfromafire-breathingsilverdragonthatthewaiterhadplacedonthetable.“Letusgodowntothetheatre.WhenSibylcomesonthestageyouwillhaveanewidealoflife.Shewillrepresentsomethingtoyouthatyouhaveneverknown.” “Ihaveknowneverything,”saidLordHenry,withatiredlookinhiseyes,“butIamalwaysreadyforanewemotion.Iamafraid,however,that,formeatanyrate,thereisnosuchthing.Still,yourwonderfulgirlmaythrillme.Iloveacting.Itissomuchmorerealthanlife.Letusgo.Dorian,youwillcomewithme.Iamsosorry,Basil,butthereisonlyroomfortwointhebrougham.Youmustfollowusinahansom.” Theygotupandputontheircoats,sippingtheircoffeestanding.Thepainterwassilentandpreoccupied.Therewasagloomoverhim.Hecouldnotbearthismarriage,andyetitseemedtohimtobebetterthanmanyotherthingsthatmighthavehappened.Afterafewminutes,theyallpasseddownstairs.Hedroveoffbyhimself,ashadbeenarranged,andwatchedtheflashinglightsofthelittlebroughaminfrontofhim.Astrangesenseoflosscameoverhim.HefeltthatDorianGraywouldneveragainbetohimallthathehadbeeninthepast.Lifehadcomebetweenthem....Hiseyesdarkened,andthecrowdedflaringstreetsbecameblurredtohiseyes.Whenthecabdrewupatthetheatre,itseemedtohimthathehadgrownyearsolder.