CHAPTER XII.

nativelandofthehypocrite.” “Dorian,”criedHallward,“thatisnotthequestion.EnglandisbadenoughIknow,andEnglishsocietyisallwrong.ThatisthereasonwhyIwantyoutobefine.Youhavenotbeenfine.Onehasarighttojudgeofamanbytheeffecthehasoverhisfriends.Yoursseemtoloseallsenseofhonour,ofgoodness,ofpurity.Youhavefilledthemwithamadnessforpleasure.Theyhavegonedownintothedepths.Youledthemthere.Yes:youledthemthere,andyetyoucansmile,asyouaresmilingnow.Andthereisworsebehind.IknowyouandHarryareinseparable.Surelyforthatreason,iffornoneother,youshouldnothavemadehissister’snameaby-word.” “Takecare,Basil.Yougotoofar.” “Imustspeak,andyoumustlisten.Youshalllisten.WhenyoumetLadyGwendolen,notabreathofscandalhadevertouchedher.IsthereasingledecentwomaninLondonnowwhowoulddrivewithherinthepark?Why,evenherchildrenarenotallowedtolivewithher.Thenthereareotherstories—storiesthatyouhavebeenseencreepingatdawnoutofdreadfulhousesandslinkingindisguiseintothefoulestdensinLondon.Aretheytrue?Cantheybetrue?WhenIfirstheardthem,Ilaughed.Ihearthemnow,andtheymakemeshudder.Whataboutyourcountry-houseandthelifethatisledthere?Dorian,youdon’tknowwhatissaidaboutyou.Iwon’ttellyouthatIdon’twanttopreachtoyou.IrememberHarrysayingoncethateverymanwhoturnedhimselfintoanamateurcurateforthemomentalwaysbeganbysayingthat,andthenproceededtobreakhisword.Idowanttopreachtoyou.Iwantyoutoleadsuchalifeaswillmaketheworldrespectyou.Iwantyoutohaveacleannameandafairrecord.Iwantyoutogetridofthedreadfulpeopleyouassociatewith.Don’tshrugyourshoulderslikethat.Don’tbesoindifferent.Youhaveawonderfulinfluence.Letitbeforgood,notforevil.Theysaythatyoucorrupteveryonewithwhomyoubecomeintimate,andthatitisquitesufficientforyoutoenterahouseforshameofsomekindtofollowafter.Idon’tknowwhetheritissoornot.HowshouldIknow?Butitissaidofyou.Iamtoldthingsthatitseemsimpossibletodoubt.LordGloucesterwasoneofmygreatestfriendsatOxford.HeshowedmealetterthathiswifehadwrittentohimwhenshewasdyingaloneinhervillaatMentone.YournamewasimplicatedinthemostterribleconfessionIeverread.Itoldhimthatitwasabsurd—thatIknewyouthoroughlyandthatyouwereincapableofanythingofthekind.Knowyou?IwonderdoIknowyou?BeforeIcouldanswerthat,Ishouldhavetoseeyoursoul.” “Toseemysoul!”mutteredDorianGray,startingupfromthesofaandturningalmostwhitefromfear. “Yes,”answeredHallwardgravely,andwithdeep-tonedsorrowinhisvoice,“toseeyoursoul.ButonlyGodcandothat.” Abitterla