Calico Illustrated Classics: Picture of Dorian Gray
been telling him what a patient art subject you are Now you’ve spoiled it Henry stepped forward and extended his hand You have not spoiled anything Mr Gray It is my pleasure to meet you My aunt Lady Agatha has often spoken of you You are one of her favorites I’m afraid Lady Agatha is upset with me at present Dorian said I promised to go to the club with her last Tuesday and completely forgot Don’t worry Lord Henry told him She’ll forgive you She likes you very much Lord Henry looked at Dorian thinking he was very handsome with his blue eyes and gold hair And there was something in his face that made you trust him right away The painter set about mixing his colors and getting his brushes ready He looked worried Harry Basil said to Lord Henry would you think I was being rude if I asked you to go away 10
Lord Henry turned to Dorian Do you want me to leave he asked No I’d like you to stay Besides Basil is in one of his bad moods I don’t like being with him when he acts this way Fine Basil said If Dorian wishes you to stay then you must stay But Lord Henry picked up his hat and gloves I really should be going anyway I am meeting someone later Mr Gray come and see me some afternoon I am nearly always at home at fi ve o’clock Let me know ahead of time when you’re coming Basil cried Dorian Gray if Lord Henry goes then I go too You are always so quiet when you paint It gets so boring around here Please ask him to stay Basil let out a sigh Have a seat Harry It seems Dorian wants you here Lord Henry watched as Basil painted The gods have been good to you Dorian You are young and handsome Youth is so important 11
I don’t think so Dorian said You only have a few years of youth before it’s taken away And then your beauty goes with it When you’re old wrinkled and ugly you’ll change your mind You’ll think it is very important Make the most of your youth Live life fully Look for excitement When you’re young the world is yours There is absolutely nothing better in the world than youth Dorian Gray listened open-eyed and wondering There you have it Aren’t you glad you met me Lord Henry asked I’m very glad Dorian replied Then let us always be friends It was then that Basil announced It is fi nished Lord Henry stepped over to admire the portrait My goodness he exclaimed This is your fi nest work Basil Dorian took a look then drew back Joy fi lled his eyes The portrait showed all his splendid 12
youth and beauty He stood gazing at it and thinking of what Lord Henry had said One day he would be old and wrinkled his eyes dim and colorless Don’t you like it cried Basil stung by Dorian’s silence Of course he likes it said Lord Henry Who wouldn’t like it It is one of the greatest pieces of modern art How much do you want for it I must have it It is not my property Harry Basil answered It belongs to Dorian He is a very lucky fellow How sad it is murmured Dorian his eyes still fi xed on his portrait How sad it is I shall grow old and horrible and dreadful But this picture of me will always remain young It will never be older than it is this minute If only it could be the other way around I wish I could stay young and the picture would grow old For that I would give anything I would even give my soul 13
