CHAPTER XV.

-redhairLadyAliceChapman,hishostess’sdaughter,adowdydullgirl,withoneofthosecharacteristicBritishfacesthat,onceseen,areneverrememberedandherhusband,ared-cheeked,white-whiskeredcreaturewho,likesomanyofhisclass,wasundertheimpressionthatinordinatejovialitycanatoneforanentirelackofideas. Hewasrathersorryhehadcome,tillLadyNarborough,lookingatthegreatormolugiltclockthatsprawledingaudycurvesonthemauve-drapedmantelshelf,exclaimed:“HowhorridofHenryWottontobesolate!Isentroundtohimthismorningonchanceandhepromisedfaithfullynottodisappointme.” ItwassomeconsolationthatHarrywastobethere,andwhenthedooropenedandheheardhisslowmusicalvoicelendingcharmtosomeinsincereapology,heceasedtofeelbored. Butatdinnerhecouldnoteatanything.Plateafterplatewentawayuntasted.LadyNarboroughkeptscoldinghimforwhatshecalled“aninsulttopoorAdolphe,whoinventedthemenuspeciallyforyou,”andnowandthenLordHenrylookedacrossathim,wonderingathissilenceandabstractedmanner.Fromtimetotimethebutlerfilledhisglasswithchampagne.Hedrankeagerly,andhisthirstseemedtoincrease. “Dorian,”saidLordHenryatlast,asthechaud-froidwasbeinghandedround,“whatisthematterwithyouto-night?Youarequiteoutofsorts.” “Ibelieveheisinlove,”criedLadyNarborough,“andthatheisafraidtotellmeforfearIshouldbejealous.Heisquiteright.Icertainlyshould.” “DearLadyNarborough,”murmuredDorian,smiling,“Ihavenotbeeninloveforawholeweek—not,infact,sinceMadamedeFerrollefttown.” “Howyoumencanfallinlovewiththatwoman!”exclaimedtheoldlady.“Ireallycannotunderstandit.” “Itissimplybecausesheremembersyouwhenyouwerealittlegirl,LadyNarborough,”saidLordHenry.“Sheistheonelinkbetweenusandyourshortfrocks.” “Shedoesnotremembermyshortfrocksatall,LordHenry.ButIrememberherverywellatViennathirtyyearsago,andhowdécolletéeshewasthen.” “Sheisstilldécolletée,”heanswered,takinganoliveinhislongfingers“andwhensheisinaverysmartgownshelookslikeanéditiondeluxeofabadFrenchnovel.Sheisreallywonderful,andfullofsurprises.Hercapacityforfamilyaffectionisextraordinary.Whenherthirdhusbanddied,herhairturnedquitegoldfromgrief.” “Howcanyou,Harry!”criedDorian. “Itisamostromanticexplanation,”laughedthehostess.“Butherthirdhusband,LordHenry!Youdon’tmeantosayFerrolisthefourth?” “Certainly,LadyNarborough.” “Idon’tbelieveawordofit.” “Well,askMr.Gray.Heisoneofhermostintimatefriends.” “Isittrue,Mr.Gray?” “Sheassuresmeso,LadyNarborough,”saidDorian.“Iaskedherwhether,likeMargueritedeNavarre,shehadtheirheartsembalmedandhungathergirdle.Shetoldmeshedidn’t,becausenoneofthemhadhadanyheartsatall.” “Fourhusbands!Uponmywordthatistropdezêle.” “Tropd’audace,Itellher,”saidDorian. “Oh!sheisaudaciousenoughforanything,mydear.AndwhatisFerrollike?Idon’tknowhim.” “Thehusbandsofverybeautifulwomenbelongtothecriminalclasses,”saidLordHenry,sippinghiswine. LadyNarboroughhithimwithherfan.“LordHenry,Iamnotatallsurprisedthattheworldsay