Портрет Дориана Грея
Preface
Hallwardshookhishead. "Youdon’tunderstandwhatfriendshipis,Harry,"hemurmured—"orwhatenmityis,forthatmatter. Youlikeeveryone;thatistosay,youareindifferenttoeveryone."
"Howhorriblyunjustofyou!"criedLordHenry,tiltinghishatback,andlookingupatthelittleclouds that,likeravelledskeinsofglossywhitesilk,weredriftingacrossthehollowedturquoiseofthesummersky. "Yes;horriblyunjustofyou.Imakeagreatdifferencebetweenpeople. Ichoosemyfriendsfortheirgoodlooks,myacquaintancesfortheirgoodcharacters,andmyenemiesfortheirgoodintellects. Amancannotbetoocarefulinthechoiceofhisenemies.Ihavenotgotonewhoisafool.Theyareallmenofsomeintellectualpower,andconsequentlytheyallappreciateme. Isthatveryvainofme?Ithinkitisrathervain."
"Ishouldthinkitwas,Harry.ButaccordingtoyourcategoryImustbemerelyanacquaintance."
"MydearoldBasil,youaremuchmorethananacquaintance."
"Andmuchlessthanafriend.Asortofbrother,Isuppose?"
"Oh,brothers!Idon’tcareforbrothers. Myelderbrotherwon’tdie,andmyyoungerbrothersseemnevertodoanythingelse."
"Harry!"exclaimedHallward,frowning.
"Mydearfellow,Iamnotquiteserious.ButIcan’thelpdetestingmyrelations. Isupposeitcomesfromthefactthatnoneofuscanstandotherpeoplehavingthesamefaultsasourselves. IquitesympathisewiththerageoftheEnglishdemocracyagainstwhattheycallthevicesoftheupperorders.