Портрет Дориана Грея
Chapter 1
Hallwardbithislip. "IfDorianwishesit,ofcourseyoumuststay.'Dorian’swhimsarelawstoeverybody,excepthimself." LordHenrytookuphishatandgloves. "Youareverypressing,Basil,butIamafraidImustgo.IhavepromisedtomeetamanattheOrleans. Good-bye,Mr.Gray.ComeandseemesomeafternooninCurzonStreet. Iamnearlyalwaysathomeatfiveo’clock.Writetomewhenyouarecoming.Ishouldbesorrytomissyou."
"Basil,"criedDorianGray,"ifLordHenryWottongoesIshallgotoo. Youneveropenyourlipswhileyouarepainting,anditishorriblydullstandingonaplatformandtryingtolookpleasant. Askhimtostay.Iinsistuponit."
"Stay,Harry,toobligeDorian,andtoobligeme,"saidHallward,gazingintentlyathispicture. "Itisquitetrue,InevertalkwhenIamworking,andneverlisteneither,anditmustbedreadfullytediousformyunfortunatesitters. Ibegyoutostay."
"ButwhataboutmymanattheOrleans?"
Thepainterlaughed."Idon’tthinktherewillbeanydifficultyaboutthat.Sitdownagain,Harry. Andnow,Dorian,getupontheplatform,anddon’tmoveabouttoomuch,orpayanyattentiontowhatLordHenrysays. Hehasaverybadinfluenceoverallhisfriends,withthesingleexceptionofmyself."
DorianGraysteppeduponthedais,withtheairofayoungGreekmartyr,andmadealittlemoueofdiscontenttoLordHenry,towhomhehadrathertakenafancy. HewassounlikeBasil.Theymadeadelightfulcontrast.Andhehadsuchabeautifulvoice.Afterafewmomentshesaidtohim, "Haveyoureallyaverybadinfluence,LordHenry?AsbadasBasilsays?"
"Thereisnosuchthingasagoodinfluence,Mr.Gray.Allinfluenceisimmoral—immoralfromthescientificpointofview."
"Why?"
