CHAPTER XV.

,LadyNarborough.Ismokeagreatdealtoomuch.Iamgoingtolimitmyself,forthefuture.” “Praydon’t,LadyRuxton,”saidLordHenry.“Moderationisafatalthing.Enoughisasbadasameal.Morethanenoughisasgoodasafeast.” LadyRuxtonglancedathimcuriously.“Youmustcomeandexplainthattomesomeafternoon,LordHenry.Itsoundsafascinatingtheory,”shemurmured,asshesweptoutoftheroom. “Now,mindyoudon’tstaytoolongoveryourpoliticsandscandal,”criedLadyNarboroughfromthedoor.“Ifyoudo,wearesuretosquabbleupstairs.” Themenlaughed,andMr.Chapmangotupsolemnlyfromthefootofthetableandcameuptothetop.DorianGraychangedhisseatandwentandsatbyLordHenry.Mr.ChapmanbegantotalkinaloudvoiceaboutthesituationintheHouseofCommons.Heguffawedathisadversaries.Theworddoctrinaire—wordfullofterrortotheBritishmind—reappearedfromtimetotimebetweenhisexplosions.Analliterativeprefixservedasanornamentoforatory.HehoistedtheUnionJackonthepinnaclesofthought.Theinheritedstupidityoftherace—soundEnglishcommonsensehejoviallytermedit—wasshowntobetheproperbulwarkforsociety. AsmilecurvedLordHenry’slips,andheturnedroundandlookedatDorian. “Areyoubetter,mydearfellow?”heasked.“Youseemedratheroutofsortsatdinner.” “Iamquitewell,Harry.Iamtired.Thatisall.” “Youwerecharminglastnight.Thelittleduchessisquitedevotedtoyou.ShetellsmesheisgoingdowntoSelby.” “Shehaspromisedtocomeonthetwentieth.” “IsMonmouthtobethere,too?” “Oh,yes,Harry.” “Heboresmedreadfully,almostasmuchasheboresher.Sheisveryclever,toocleverforawoman.Shelackstheindefinablecharmofweakness.Itisthefeetofclaythatmakethegoldoftheimageprecious.Herfeetareverypretty,buttheyarenotfeetofclay.Whiteporcelainfeet,ifyoulike.Theyhavebeenthroughthefire,andwhatfiredoesnotdestroy,ithardens.Shehashadexperiences.” “Howlonghasshebeenmarried?”askedDorian. “Aneternity,shetellsme.Ibelieve,accordingtothepeerage,itistenyears,buttenyearswithMonmouthmusthavebeenlikeeternity,withtimethrownin.Whoelseiscoming?” “Oh,theWilloughbys,LordRugbyandhiswife,ourhostess,GeoffreyClouston,theusualset.IhaveaskedLordGrotrian.” “Ilikehim,”saidLordHenry.“Agreatmanypeopledon’t,butIfindhimcharming.Heatonesforbeingoccasionallysomewhatoverdressedbybeingalwaysabsolutelyover-educated.Heisaverymoderntype.” “Idon’tknowifhewillbeabletocome,Harry.HemayhavetogotoMonteCarlowithhisfather.” “Ah!whatanuisancepeople’speopleare!Tryandmakehimcome.Bytheway,Dorian,youranoffveryearlylastnight.Youleftbeforeeleven.Whatdidyoudoafterwards?Didyougostraighthome?” Dorianglancedathimhurriedlyandfrowned. “No,Harry,”hesaidatlast,“Ididnotgethometillnearlythree.” “Didyougototheclub?” “Yes,”heanswered.Thenhebithislip.“No,Idon’tmeanthat.Ididn’tgototheclub.Iwalkedabout.IforgetwhatIdid....Howinquisitiveyouare,Harry!Youalwayswanttoknowwhatonehasbeendoing.IalwayswanttoforgetwhatIhavebeendoing.Icameinathalf-pasttwo,ifyouwishtoknowtheexacttime.Ihadleftmylatch-keyathome,andmyservanthadtoletmein.Ifyouwantanycorroborative