道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第13章

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latter　of　street…cabs；　he　could　hear　the　droning　voice　devouring　each　minute　that　was　left　to　him。

after　some　time；　he　thrust　away　his　plate　and　put　his　head　in　his　hands。　he　felt　that　he　had　a　right　to　know。　it　should　have　been　told　to　him　before；　if　it　was　as　he　suspected。　leaden　with　fear；　his　mother　watched　him。　words　dropped　mechanically　from　her　lips。　a　tattered　lace　handkerchief　twitched　in　her　fingers。　when　the　clock　struck　six；　he　got　up　and　went　to　the　door。　then　he　turned　back　and　looked　at　her。　their　eyes　met。　in　hers　he　saw　a　wild　appeal　for　mercy。　it　enraged　him。

〃mother；　i　have　something　to　ask　you；〃　he　said。　her　eyes　wandered　vaguely　about　the　room。　she　made　no　answer。　〃tell　me　the　truth。　i　have　a　right　to　know。　were　you　married　to　my　father？〃

she　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　it　was　a　sigh　of　relief。　the　terrible　moment；　the　moment　that　night　and　day；　for　weeks　and　months；　she　had　dreaded；　had　e　at　last；　and　yet　she　felt　no　terror。　indeed；　in　some　measure　it　was　a　disappointment　to　her。　the　vulgar　directness　of　the　question　called　for　a　direct　answer。　the　situation　had　not　been　gradually　led　up　to。　it　was　crude。　it　reminded　her　of　a　bad　rehearsal。

〃no；〃　she　answered；　wondering　at　the　harsh　simplicity　of　life。

〃my　father　was　a　scoundrel　then！〃　cried　the　lad；　clenching　his　fists。

she　shook　her　head。　〃i　knew　he　was　not　free。　we　loved　each　other　very　much。　if　he　had　lived；　he　would　have　made　provision　for　us。　dont　speak　against　him；　my　son。　he　was　your　father；　and　a　gentleman。　indeed；　he　was　highly　connected。〃

an　oath　broke　from　his　lips。　〃i　dont　care　for　myself；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃but　dont　let　sibyl。　。　。　。　it　is　a　gentleman；　isnt　it；　who　is　in　love　with　her；　or　says　he　is？　highly　connected；　too；　i　suppose。〃

for　a　moment　a　hideous　sense　of　humiliation　came　over　the　woman。　her　head　drooped。　she　wiped　her　eyes　with　shaking　hands。　〃sibyl　has　a　mother；〃　she　murmured；　〃i　had　none。〃

the　lad　was　touched。　he　went　towards　her；　and　stooping　down；　he　kissed　her。　〃i　am　sorry　if　i　have　pained　you　by　asking　about　my　father；〃　he　said；　〃but　i　could　not　help　it。　i　must　go　now。　good…bye。　dont　forget　that　you　will　have　only　one　child　now　to　look　after；　and　believe　me　that　if　this　man　wrongs　my　sister；　i　will　find　out　who　he　is；　track　him　down；　and　kill　him　like　a　dog。　i　swear　it。〃

the　exaggerated　folly　of　the　threat；　the　passionate　gesture　that　acpanied　it；　the　mad　melodramatic　words；　made　life　seem　more　vivid　to　her。　she　was　familiar　with　the　atmosphere。　she　breathed　more　freely；　and　for　the　first　time　for　many　months　she　really　admired　her　son。　she　would　have　liked　to　have　continued　the　scene　on　the　same　emotional　scale；　but　he　cut　her　short。　trunks　had　to　be　carried　down　and　mufflers　looked　for。　the　lodging…house　drudge　bustled　in　and　out。　there　was　the　bargaining　with　the　cabman。　the　moment　was　lost　in　vulgar　details。　it　was　with　a　renewed　feeling　of　disappointment　that　she　waved　the　tattered　lace　handkerchief　from　the　window；　as　her　son　drove　away。　she　was　conscious　that　a　great　opportunity　had　been　wasted。　she　consoled　herself　by　telling　sibyl　how　desolate　she　felt　her　life　would　be；　now　that　she　had　only　one　child　to　look　after。　she　remembered　the　phrase。　it　had　pleased　her。　of　the　threat　she　said　nothing。　it　was　vividly　and　dramatically　expressed。　she　felt　that　they　would　all　laugh　at　it　some　day。

w锛穡銆倄iaoshuo　txt锛�



Chapter　6

銆傚皬锛胯�达伎txt澶╁爞
chapter　6

i　suppose　you　have　heard　the　news；　basil？〃　said　lord　henry　that　evening　as　hallward　was　shown　into　a　little　private　room　at　the　bristol　where　dinner　had　been　laid　for　three。

〃no；　harry；〃　answered　the　artist；　giving　his　hat　and　coat　to　the　bowing　waiter。　〃what　is　it？　nothing　about　politics；　i　hope！　they　dont　interest　me。　there　is　hardly　a　single　person　in　the　house　of　mons　worth　painting；　though　many　of　them　would　be　the　better　for　a　little　whitewashing。〃

〃dorian　gray　is　engaged　to　be　married；〃　said　lord　henry；　watching　him　as　he　spoke。

hallward　started　and　then　frowned。　〃dorian　engaged　to　be　married！〃　he　cried。　〃impossible！〃

〃it　is　perfectly　true。〃

〃to　whom？〃

〃to　some　little　actress　or　other。〃

〃i　cant　believe　it。　dorian　is　far　too　sensible。〃

〃dorian　is　far　too　wise　not　to　do　foolish　things　now　and　then；　my　dear　basil。〃

〃marriage　is　hardly　a　thing　that　one　can　do　now　and　then；　harry。〃

〃except　in　america；〃　rejoined　lord　henry　languidly。　〃but　i　didnt　say　he　was　married。　i　said　he　was　engaged　to　be　married。　there　is　a　great　difference。　i　have　a　distinct　remembrance　of　being　married；　but　i　have　no　recollection　at　all　of　being　engaged。　i　am　inclined　to　think　that　i　never　was　engaged。〃

〃but　think　of　dorians　birth；　and　position；　and　wealth。　it　would　be　absurd　for　him　to　marry　so　much　beneath　him。〃

〃if　you　want　to　make　him　marry　this　girl；　tell　him　that；　basil。　he　is　sure　to　do　it；　then。　whenever　a　man　does　a　thoroughly　stupid　thing；　it　is　always　from　the　noblest　motives。〃

〃i　hope　the　girl　is　good；　harry。　i　dont　want　to　see　dorian　tied　to　some　vile　creature；　who　might　degrade　his　nature　and　ruin　his　intellect。〃

〃oh；　she　is　better　than　goodshe　is　beautiful；〃　murmured　lord　henry；　sipping　a　glass　of　vermouth　and　orange…bitters。　〃dorian　says　she　is　beautiful；　and　he　is　not　often　wrong　about　things　of　that　kind。　your　portrait　of　him　has　quickened　his　appreciation　of　the　personal　appearance　of　other　people。　it　has　had　that　excellent　effect；　amongst　others。　we　are　to　see　her　to…night；　if　that　boy　doesnt　forget　his　appointment。〃

〃are　you　serious？〃

〃quite　serious；　basil。　i　should　be　miserable　if　i　thought　i　should　ever　be　more　serious　than　i　am　at　the　present　moment。〃

〃but　do　you　approve　of　it；　harry？〃　asked　the　painter；　walking　up　and　down　the　room　and　biting　his　lip。　〃you　cant　approve　of　it；　possibly。　it　is　some　silly　infatuation。〃

〃i　never　approve；　or　disapprove；　of　anything　now。　it　is　an　absurd　attitude　to　take　towards　life。　we　are　not　sent　into　the　world　to　air　our　moral　prejudices。　i　never　take　any　notice　of　what　mon　people　say；　and　i　never　interfere　with　what　charming　people　do。　if　a　personality　fascinates　me；　whatever　mode　of　expression　that　personality　selects　is　absolutely　delightful　to　me。　dorian　gray　falls　in　love　with　a　beautiful　girl　who　acts　juliet；　and　proposes　to　marry　her。　why　not？　if　he　wedded　messalina；　he　would　be　none　the　less　interesting。　you　know　i　am　not　a　champion　of　marriage。　the　real　drawback　to　marriage　is　that　it　makes　one　unselfish。　and　unselfish　people　are　colourless。　they　lack　individuality。　still；　there　are　certain　temperaments　that　marriage　makes　more　plex。　they　retain　their　egotism；　and　add　to　it　many　other　egos。　they　are　forced　to　have　more　than　one　life。　they　bee　more　highly　organized；　and　to　be　highly　organized　is；　i　should　fancy；　the　object　of　mans　existence。　besides；　every　experience　is　of　value；　and　whatever　one　may　say　against　marriage；　it　is　certainly　an　experience。　i　hope　that　dorian　gray　will　make　this　girl　his　wife；　passionately　adore　her　for　six　months；　and　then　suddenly　bee　fascinated　by　some　one　else。　he　would　be　a　wonderful　study。〃

〃you　dont　mean　a　single　word　of　all　that；　harry；　you　know　you　dont。　if　dorian　grays　life　were　spoiled；　no　one　would　be　sorrier　than　yourself。　you　are　much　better　than　you　pretend　to　be。〃

lord　henry　laughed。　〃the　reason　we　all　like　to　think　so　well　of　others　is　that　we　are　all　afraid　for　ourselves。　the　basis　of　optimism　is　sheer　terror。　we　think　that　we　are　generous　because　we　credit　our　neighbour　with　the　possession　of　those　virtues　that　are　likely　to　be　a　benefit　to　us。　we　praise　the　banker　that　we　may　overdraw　our　account；　and　find　good　qualities　in　the　highwayman　in　the　hope　that　he　may　spare　our　pockets。　i　mean　everything　that　i　have　said。　i　have　the　greatest　contempt　for　optimism。　as　for　a　spoiled　life；　no　life　is　spoiled　but　one　whose　growth　is　arrested。　if　you　want　to　mar　a　nature；　you　have　merely　to　reform　it。　as　for　marriage；　of　course　that　would　be　silly；　but　there　are　other　and　more　interesting　bonds　between　men　and　women。　i　will　certainly　encourage　them。　they　have　the　charm　of　being　fashionable。　but　here　is　dorian　himself。　he　will　tell　you　more　than　i　can。〃

〃my　dear　harry；　my　dear　basil；　you　must　both　congratulate　me！〃　said　the　lad；　throwing　off　his　evening　cape　with　its　satin…lined　wings　and　shaking　each　of　his　friends　by　the　hand　in　turn。　〃i　have　never　been　so　happy。　of　course；　it　is　sudden　all　really　delightful　things　are。　and　yet　it　seems　to　me　to　be　the　one　thing　i　have　been　looking　for　all　my　life。〃　he　was　flushed　with　excitement　and　pleasure；　and　looked　extraordinarily　handsome。

〃i　hope　you　will　always　be　very　happy；　dorian；〃　said　hallward；　〃but　i　dont　quite　forgive　you　for　not　having　let　me　know　of　your　engagement。　you　let　harry　know。〃

〃and　i　dont　forgive　you　for　being　late　for　dinner；〃　broke　in　lord　henry；　putting　his　hand　on　the　lads　shoulder　and　smiling　as　he　spoke。　〃e；　let　us　sit　down　and　try　what　the　new　chef　here　is　like；　and　then　you　will　tell　us　how　it　all　came　about。〃

〃there　is　really　not　much　to　tell；〃　cried　dorian　as　they　took　their　seats　at　the　small　round　table。　〃what　happened　was　simply　this。　after　i　left　you　yesterday　evening；　harry；　i　dressed；　had　some　dinner　at　that　little　italian　restaurant　in　rupert　street　you　introduced　me　to；　and　went　down　at　eight　oclock　to　the　theatre。　sibyl　was　playing　rosalind。　of　course；　the　scenery　was　dreadful　and　the　orlando　absurd。　but　sibyl！　you　should　have　seen　her！　when　she　came　on　in　her　boys　clothes；　she　was　perfectly　wonderful。　she　wore　a　moss…coloured　velvet　jerkin　with　cinnamon　sleeves；　slim；　brown；　cross…gartered　hose；　a　dainty　little　green　cap　with　a　hawks　feather　caught　in　a　jewel；　and　a　hooded　cloak　lined　with　dull　red。　she　had　never　seemed　to　me　more　exquisite。　she　had　all　the　delicate　grace　of　that　tanagra　figurine　that　you　have　in　your　studio；　basil。　her　hair　clustered　round　her　face　like　dark　leaves　round　a　pale　rose。　as　for　her　actingwell；　you　shall　see　her　to…night。　she　is　simply　a　born　artist。　i　sat　in　the　dingy　box　absolutely　enthralled。　i　forgot　that　i　was　in　london　and　in　the　nineteenth　century。　i　was　away　with　my　love　in　a　forest　that　no　man　had　ever　seen。　after　the　performance　was　over；　i　went　behind　and　spoke　to　her。　as　we　were　sitting　together；　suddenly　there　came　into　her　eyes　a　look　that　i　had　never　seen　there　before。　my　lips　moved　towards　hers。　we　kissed　each　other。　i　cant　describe　to　you　what　i　felt　at　that　moment。　it　seemed　to　me　that　all　my　life　had　been　narrowed　to　one　perfect　point　of　rose…coloured　joy。　she　trembled　all　over　and　shook　like　a　white　narcissus。　then　she　flung　herself　on　her　knees　and　kissed　my　hands。　i　feel　that　i　should　not　tell　you　all　this；　but　i　cant　help　it。　of　course；　our　engagement　is　a　dead　secret。　she　has　not　even　told　her　own　mother。　i　dont　know　what　my　guardians　will　say。　lord　radley　is　sure　to　be　furious。　i　dont　care。　i　shall　be　of　age　in　less　than　a　year；　and　then　i　can　do　what　i　like。　i　have　been　right；　basil；　havent　i；　to　take　my　love　out　of　poetry　and　to　find　my　wife　in　shakespeares　plays？　lips　that　shakespeare　taught　to　speak　have　whispered　their　secret　in　my　ear。　i　have　had　the　arms　of　rosalind　around　me；　and　kissed　juliet　on　the　mouth。〃

〃yes；　dorian；　i　suppose　you　were　right；〃　said　hal