CHAPTER VII.

us.Neitherofhisfriendsdaredtosayanythingtohim.Sheseemedtothemtobeabsolutelyincompetent.Theywerehorriblydisappointed. YettheyfeltthatthetruetestofanyJulietisthebalconysceneofthesecondact.Theywaitedforthat.Ifshefailedthere,therewasnothinginher. Shelookedcharmingasshecameoutinthemoonlight.Thatcouldnotbedenied.Butthestaginessofheractingwasunbearable,andgrewworseasshewenton.Hergesturesbecameabsurdlyartificial.Sheoveremphasizedeverythingthatshehadtosay.Thebeautifulpassage— Thouknowestthemaskofnightisonmyface, Elsewouldamaidenblushbepaintmycheek Forthatwhichthouhastheardmespeakto-night— wasdeclaimedwiththepainfulprecisionofaschoolgirlwhohasbeentaughttorecitebysomesecond-rateprofessorofelocution.Whensheleanedoverthebalconyandcametothosewonderfullines— AlthoughIjoyinthee, Ihavenojoyofthiscontractto-night: Itistoorash,toounadvised,toosudden Toolikethelightning,whichdothceasetobe Ereonecansay,“Itlightens.”Sweet,good-night! Thisbudoflovebysummer’sripeningbreath Mayproveabeauteousflowerwhennextwemeet— shespokethewordsasthoughtheyconveyednomeaningtoher.Itwasnotnervousness.Indeed,sofarfrombeingnervous,shewasabsolutelyself-contained.Itwassimplybadart.Shewasacompletefailure. Eventhecommonuneducatedaudienceofthepitandgallerylosttheirinterestintheplay.Theygotrestless,andbegantotalkloudlyandtowhistle.TheJewmanager,whowasstandingatthebackofthedress-circle,stampedandsworewithrage.Theonlypersonunmovedwasthegirlherself. Whenthesecondactwasover,therecameastormofhisses,andLordHenrygotupfromhischairandputonhiscoat.“Sheisquitebeautiful,Dorian,”hesaid,“butshecan’tact.Letusgo.” “Iamgoingtoseetheplaythrough,”answeredthelad,inahardbittervoice.“IamawfullysorrythatIhavemadeyouwasteanevening,Harry.Iapologizetoyouboth.” “MydearDorian,IshouldthinkMissVanewasill,”interruptedHallward.“Wewillcomesomeothernight.” “Iwishshewereill,”herejoined.“Butsheseemstometobesimplycallousandcold.Shehasentirelyaltered.Lastnightshewasagreatartist.Thiseveningsheismerelyacommonplacemediocreactress.” “Don’ttalklikethataboutanyoneyoulove,Dorian.Loveisamorewonderfulthingthanart.” “Theyarebothsimplyformsofimitation,”remarkedLordHenry.“Butdoletusgo.Dorian,youmustnotstayhereanylonger.Itisnotgoodforone’smoralstoseebadacting.Besides,Idon’tsupposeyouwillwantyourwifetoact,sowhatdoesitmatterifsheplaysJulietlikeawoodendoll?Sheisverylovely,andifsheknowsaslittleaboutlifeasshedoesaboutacting,shewillbeadelightfulexperience.Thereareonlytwokindsofpeoplewhoarereallyfascinating—peoplewhoknowabsolutelyeverything,andpeoplewhoknowabsolutelynothing.Goodheavens,mydearboy,don’tlooksotragic!Thesecretofremainingyoungisnevertohaveanemotionthatisunbecoming.CometotheclubwithBasilandmyself.WewillsmokecigarettesanddrinktothebeautyofSibylVane.Sheisbeautiful.Whatmorecanyouwant?” “Goaway,Harry,”criedthelad.“Iwanttobealone.Basil,youmustgo.Ah!can’tyouseethatmyheartisbreaking?”Thehottearscametohiseyes.Hislipstrembled,andrushingtothebackofthebox,heleanedupagainstthewall,hidinghisfaceinhishands. “Letusgo,Basil,”saidLordHenrywithastrangetendernessinhisvoice,andthetwoyoungmenpassedouttogether. Afewmomentsafterwardsthefootlightsflaredupandthecurtainroseonthethirdact.DorianGraywentbacktohisseat.Helookedpale,andproud,andindifferent.Theplaydraggedon,andseemedinterminable.Halfoftheaudiencewentout,trampinginheavybootsandlaughing.Thewholethingwasafiasco.Thelastactwasplayedtoalmostemptybenches.Thecurtainwentdownonatitterandsomegroans. Assoonasitwasover,DorianGrayrushedbehindthescenesintothegreenroom.Thegirlwasstandingtherealone,withalookoftriumphonherface.Hereyeswerelitwithanexquisitefire.Therewasaradianceabouther.Herpartedlipsweresmilingoversomesecretoftheirown. Whenheentered,shelookedathim,andanexpressionofinfinitejoycameoverher.“HowbadlyIactedto-night,Dorian!”shecried. “Horribly!”heanswered,gazingatherinamazement.“Horribly!Itwasdreadful.Areyouill?Youhavenoideawhatitwas.YouhavenoideawhatIsuffered.”