CHAPTER XVII.
關燈
小
中
大
withmocksadness.
“MydearGladys!”criedLordHenry.“Howcanyousaythat?Romancelivesbyrepetition,andrepetitionconvertsanappetiteintoanart.Besides,eachtimethatonelovesistheonlytimeonehaseverloved.Differenceofobjectdoesnotaltersinglenessofpassion.Itmerelyintensifiesit.Wecanhaveinlifebutonegreatexperienceatbest,andthesecretoflifeistoreproducethatexperienceasoftenaspossible.”
“Evenwhenonehasbeenwoundedbyit,Harry?”askedtheduchessafterapause.
“Especiallywhenonehasbeenwoundedbyit,”answeredLordHenry.
TheduchessturnedandlookedatDorianGraywithacuriousexpressioninhereyes.“Whatdoyousaytothat,Mr.Gray?”sheinquired.
Dorianhesitatedforamoment.Thenhethrewhisheadbackandlaughed.“IalwaysagreewithHarry,Duchess.”
“Evenwhenheiswrong?”
“Harryisneverwrong,Duchess.”
“Anddoeshisphilosophymakeyouhappy?”
“Ihaveneversearchedforhappiness.Whowantshappiness?Ihavesearchedforpleasure.”
“Andfoundit,Mr.Gray?”
“Often.Toooften.”
Theduchesssighed.“Iamsearchingforpeace,”shesaid,“andifIdon’tgoanddress,Ishallhavenonethisevening.”
“Letmegetyousomeorchids,Duchess,”criedDorian,startingtohisfeetandwalkingdowntheconservatory.
“Youareflirtingdisgracefullywithhim,”saidLordHenrytohiscousin.“Youhadbettertakecare.Heisveryfascinating.”
“Ifhewerenot,therewouldbenobattle.”
“GreekmeetsGreek,then?”
“IamonthesideoftheTrojans.Theyfoughtforawoman.”
“Theyweredefeated.”
“Thereareworsethingsthancapture,”sheanswered.
“Yougallopwithalooserein.”
“Pacegiveslife,”wastheriposte.
“Ishallwriteitinmydiaryto-night.”
“What?”
“Thataburntchildlovesthefire.”
“Iamnotevensinged.Mywingsareuntouched.”
“Youusethemforeverything,exceptflight.”
“Couragehaspassedfrommentowomen.Itisanewexperienceforus.”
“Youhaveariv
