Портрет Дориана Грея
Chapter 2
Shewrungherhandsinmockdespair. "Howannoying!"shecried."Imustgo.Ihavetocallformyhusbandattheclub,totakehimtosomeabsurdmeetingatWillis’sRooms,whereheisgoingtobeinthechair. IfIamlate,heissuretobefurious,andIcouldn’thaveasceneinthisbonnet. Itisfartoofragile.Aharshwordwouldruinit. No,Imustgo,dearAgatha.Good-bye,LordHenry,youarequitedelightful,anddreadfullydemoralising. IamsureIdon’tknowwhattosayaboutyourviews.Youmustcomeanddinewithussomenight.Tuesday?AreyoudisengagedTuesday?"
"ForyouIwouldthrowoveranybody,Duchess,"saidLordHenry,withabow.
"Ah!thatisverynice,andverywrongofyou,"shecried;"somindyoucome;"andshesweptoutoftheroom,followedbyLadyAgathaandtheotherladies.
WhenLordHenryhadsatdownagain,Mr.Erskinemovedround,andtakingachairclosetohim,placedhishanduponhisarm.
"Youtalkbooksaway,"hesaid;"whydon’tyouwriteone?"
"Iamtoofondofreadingbookstocaretowritethem,Mr.Erskine. Ishouldliketowriteanovelcertainly;anovelthatwouldbeaslovelyasaPersiancarpet,andasunreal. ButthereisnoliterarypublicinEnglandforanythingexceptnewspapers,primers,andencyclopædias. OfallpeopleintheworldtheEnglishhavetheleastsenseofthebeautyofliterature."
"Ifearyouareright,"answeredMr.Erskine."Imyselfusedtohaveliteraryambitions,butIgavethemuplongago. Andnow,mydearyoungfriend,ifyouwillallowmetocallyouso, mayIaskifyoureallymeantallthatyousaidtousatlunch?"
"IquiteforgetwhatIsaid,"smiledLordHenry. "Wasitallverybad?"
