CHAPTER XV.

sthatyouareextremelywicked.” “Butwhatworldsaysthat?”askedLordHenry,elevatinghiseyebrows.“Itcanonlybethenextworld.ThisworldandIareonexcellentterms.” “EverybodyIknowsaysyouareverywicked,”criedtheoldlady,shakingherhead. LordHenrylookedseriousforsomemoments.“Itisperfectlymonstrous,”hesaid,atlast,“thewaypeoplegoaboutnowadayssayingthingsagainstonebehindone’sbackthatareabsolutelyandentirelytrue.” “Isn’theincorrigible?”criedDorian,leaningforwardinhischair. “Ihopeso,”saidhishostess,laughing.“Butreally,ifyouallworshipMadamedeFerrolinthisridiculousway,Ishallhavetomarryagainsoastobeinthefashion.” “Youwillnevermarryagain,LadyNarborough,”brokeinLordHenry.“Youwerefartoohappy.Whenawomanmarriesagain,itisbecauseshedetestedherfirsthusband.Whenamanmarriesagain,itisbecauseheadoredhisfirstwife.Womentrytheirluckmenrisktheirs.” “Narboroughwasn’tperfect,”criedtheoldlady. “Ifhehadbeen,youwouldnothavelovedhim,mydearlady,”wastherejoinder.“Womenloveusforourdefects.Ifwehaveenoughofthem,theywillforgiveuseverything,evenourintellects.Youwillneveraskmetodinneragainaftersayingthis,Iamafraid,LadyNarborough,butitisquitetrue.” “Ofcourseitistrue,LordHenry.Ifwewomendidnotloveyouforyourdefects,wherewouldyouallbe?Notoneofyouwouldeverbemarried.Youwouldbeasetofunfortunatebachelors.Not,however,thatthatwouldalteryoumuch.Nowadaysallthemarriedmenlivelikebachelors,andallthebachelorslikemarriedmen.” “Findesiêcle,”murmuredLordHenry. “Finduglobe,”answeredhishostess. “Iwishitwerefinduglobe,”saidDorianwithasigh.“Lifeisagreatdisappointment.” “Ah,mydear,”criedLadyNarborough,puttingonhergloves,“don’ttellmethatyouhaveexhaustedlife.Whenamansaysthatoneknowsthatlifehasexhaustedhim.LordHenryisverywicked,andIsometimeswishthatIhadbeenbutyouaremadetobegood—youlooksogood.Imustfindyouanicewife.LordHenry,don’tyouthinkthatMr.Grayshouldgetmarried?” “Iamalwaystellinghimso,LadyNarborough,”saidLordHenrywithabow. “Well,wemustlookoutforasuitablematchforhim.IshallgothroughDebrettcarefullyto-nightanddrawoutalistofalltheeligibleyoungladies.” “Withtheirages,LadyNarborough?”askedDorian. “Ofcourse,withtheirages,slightlyedited.Butnothingmustbedoneinahurry.IwantittobewhatTheMorningPostcallsasuitablealliance,andIwantyoubothtobehappy.” “Whatnonsensepeopletalkabouthappymarriages!”exclaimedLordHenry.“Amancanbehappywithanywoman,aslongashedoesnotloveher.” “Ah!whatacynicyouare!”criedtheoldlady,pushingbackherchairandnoddingtoLadyRuxton.“Youmustcomeanddinewithmesoonagain.Youarereallyanadmirabletonic,muchbetterthanwhatSirAndrewprescribesforme.Youmusttellmewhatpeopleyouwouldliketomeet,though.Iwantittobeadelightfulgathering.” “Ilikemenwhohaveafutureandwomenwhohaveapast,”heanswered.“Ordoyouthinkthatwouldmakeitapetticoatparty?” “Ifearso,”shesaid,laughing,asshestoodup.“Athousandpardons,mydearLadyRuxton,”sheadded,“Ididn’tseeyouhadn’tfinishedyourcigarette.” “Nevermind