道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第38节

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dorian　was　one　of　her　especial　favourites；　and　she　always　told　him　that　she　was　extremely　glad　she　had　not　met　him　in　early　life。　〃i　know；　my　dear；　i　should　have　fallen　madly　in　love　with　you；〃　she　used　to　say；　〃and　thrown　my　bonnet　right　over　the　mills　for　your　sake。　it　is　most　fortunate　that　you　were　not　thought　of　at　the　time。　as　it　was；　our　bonnets　were　so　unbeing；　and　the　mills　were　so　occupied　in　trying　to　raise　the　wind；　that　i　never　had　even　a　flirtation　with　anybody。　however；　that　was　all　narboroughs　fault。　he　was　dreadfully　short…sighted；　and　there　is　no　pleasure　in　taking　in　a　husband　who　never　sees　anything。〃

her　guests　this　evening　were　rather　tedious。　the　fact　was；　as　she　explained　to　dorian；　behind　a　very　shabby　fan；　one　of　her　married　daughters　had　e　up　quite　suddenly　to　stay　with　her；　and；　to　make　matters　worse；　had　actually　brought　her　husband　with　her。　〃i　think　it　is　most　unkind　of　her；　my　dear；〃　she　whispered。　〃of　course　i　go　and　stay　with　them　every　summer　after　i　e　from　homburg；　but　then　an　old　woman　like　me　must　have　fresh　air　sometimes；　and　besides；　i　really　wake　them　up。　you　dont　know　what　an　existence　they　lead　down　there。　it　is　pure　unadulterated　country　life。　they　get　up　early；　because　they　have　so　much　to　do；　and　go　to　bed　early；　because　they　have　so　little　to　think　about。　there　has　not　been　a　scandal　in　the　neighbourhood　since　the　time　of　queen　elizabeth；　and　consequently　they　all　fall　asleep　after　dinner。　you　shant　sit　next　either　of　them。　you　shall　sit　by　me　and　amuse　me。〃

dorian　murmured　a　graceful　pliment　and　looked　round　the　room。　yes：　it　was　certainly　a　tedious　party。　two　of　the　people　he　had　never　seen　before；　and　the　others　consisted　of　ernest　harrowden；　one　of　those　middle…aged　mediocrities　so　mon　in　london　clubs　who　have　no　enemies；　but　are　thoroughly　disliked　by　their　friends；　lady　ruxton；　an　overdressed　woman　of　forty…seven；　with　a　hooked　nose；　who　was　always　trying　to　get　herself　promised；　but　was　so　peculiarly　plain　that　to　her　great　disappointment　no　one　would　ever　believe　anything　against　her；　mrs。　erlynne；　a　pushing　nobody；　with　a　delightful　lisp　and　venetian…red　hair；　lady　alice　chapman；　his　hostesss　daughter；　a　dowdy　dull　girl；　with　one　of　those　characteristic　british　faces　that；　once　seen；　are　never　remembered；　and　her　husband；　a　red…cheeked；　white…whiskered　creature　who；　like　so　many　of　his　class；　was　under　the　impression　that　inordinate　joviality　can　atone　for　an　entire　lack　of　ideas。

he　was　rather　sorry　he　had　e；　till　lady　narborough；　looking　at　the　great　ormolu　gilt　clock　that　sprawled　in　gaudy　curves　on　the　mauve…draped　mantelshelf；　exclaimed：　〃how　horrid　of　henry　wotton　to　be　so　late！　i　sent　round　to　him　this　morning　on　chance　and　he　promised　faithfully　not　to　disappoint　me。〃

it　was　some　consolation　that　harry　was　to　be　there；　and　when　the　door　opened　and　he　heard　his　slow　musical　voice　lending　charm　to　some　insincere　apology；　he　ceased　to　feel　bored。

but　at　dinner　he　could　not　eat　anything。　plate　after　plate　went　away　untasted。　lady　narborough　kept　scolding　him　for　what　she　called　〃an　insult　to　poor　adolphe；　who　invented　the　menu　specially　for　you；〃　and　now　and　then　lord　henry　looked　across　at　him；　wondering　at　his　silence　and　abstracted　manner。　from　time　to　time　the　butler　filled　his　glass　with　champagne。　he　drank　eagerly；　and　his　thirst　seemed　to　increase。

〃dorian；〃　said　lord　henry　at　last；　as　the　chaud…froid　was　being　handed　round；　〃what　is　the　matter　with　you　to…night？　you　are　quite　out　of　sorts。〃

〃i　believe　he　is　in　love；〃　cried　lady　narborough；　and　that　he　is　afraid　to　tell　me　for　fear　i　should　be　jealous。　he　is　quite　right。　i　certainly　should。〃

〃dear　lady　narborough；〃　murmured　dorian；　smiling；　〃i　have　not　been　in　love　for　a　whole　weeknot；　in　fact；　since　madame　de　ferrol　left　town。〃

〃how　you　men　can　fall　in　love　with　that　woman！〃　exclaimed　the　old　lady。　〃i　really　cannot　understand　it。〃

〃it　is　simply　because　she　remembers　you　when　you　were　a　little　girl；　lady　narborough；〃　said　lord　henry。　〃she　is　the　one　link　between　us　and　your　short　frocks。〃

〃she　does　not　remember　my　short　frocks　at　all；　lord　henry。　but　i　remember　her　very　well　at　vienna　thirty　years　ago；　and　how　d茅collet茅e　she　was　then。〃

〃she　is　still　d茅collet茅e；〃　he　answered；　taking　an　olive　in　his　long　fingers；　〃and　when　she　is　in　a　very　smart　gown　she　looks　like　an　茅dition　de　luxe　of　a　bad　french　novel。　she　is　really　wonderful；　and　full　of　surprises。　her　capacity　for　family　affection　is　extraordinary。　when　her　third　husband　died；　her　hair　turned　quite　gold　from　grief。〃

〃how　can　you；　harry！〃　cried　dorian。

〃it　is　a　most　romantic　explanation；〃　laughed　the　hostess。　〃but　her　third　husband；　lord　henry！　you　dont　mean　to　say　ferrol　is　the　fourth？〃

〃certainly；　lady　narborough。〃

〃i　dont　believe　a　word　of　it。〃

〃well；　ask　mr。　gray。　he　is　one　of　her　most　intimate　friends。〃

〃is　it　true；　mr。　gray？〃

〃she　assures　me　so；　lady　narborough；〃　said　dorian。　〃i　asked　her　whether；　like　marguerite　de　navarre；　she　had　their　hearts　embalmed　and　hung　at　her　girdle。　she　told　me　she　didnt；　because　none　of　them　had　had　any　hearts　at　all。〃

〃four　husbands！　upon　my　word　that　is　trop　de　z猫le。〃

〃trop　daudace；　i　tell　her；〃　said　dorian。

〃oh！　she　is　audacious　enough　for　anything；　my　dear。　and　what　is　ferrol　like？　i　dont　know　him。〃

〃the　husbands　of　very　beautiful　women　belong　to　the　criminal　classes；〃　said　lord　henry；　sipping　his　wine。

lady　narborough　hit　him　with　her　fan。　〃lord　henry；　i　am　not　at　all　surprised　that　the　world　says　that　you　are　extremely　wicked。〃

〃but　what　world　says　that？〃　asked　lord　henry；　elevating　his　eyebrows。　〃it　can　only　be　the　next　world。　this　world　and　i　are　on　excellent　terms。〃

〃everybody　i　know　says　you　are　very　wicked；〃　cried　the　old　lady；　shaking　her　head。

lord　henry　looked　serious　for　some　moments。　〃it　is　perfectly　monstrous；〃　he　said；　at　last；　〃the　way　people　go　about　nowadays　saying　things　against　one　behind　ones　back　that　are　absolutely　and　entirely　true。〃

〃isnt　he　incorrigible？〃　cried　dorian；　leaning　forward　in　his　chair。

〃i　hope　so；〃　said　his　hostess；　laughing。　〃but　really；　if　you　all　worship　madame　de　ferrol　in　this　ridiculous　way；　i　shall　have　to　marry　again　so　as　to　be　in　the　fashion。〃

〃you　will　never　marry　again；　lady　narborough；〃　broke　in　lord　henry。　〃you　were　far　too　happy。　when　a　woman　marries　again；　it　is　because　she　detested　her　first　husband。　when　a　man　marries　again；　it　is　because　he　adored　his　first　wife。　women　try　their　luck；　men　risk　theirs。〃

〃narborough　wasnt　perfect；〃　cried　the　old　lady。

〃if　he　had　been；　you　would　not　have　loved　him；　my　dear　lady；〃　was　the　rejoinder。　〃women　love　us　for　our　defects。　if　we　have　enough　of　them；　they　will　forgive　us　everything；　even　our　intellects。　you　will　never　ask　me　to　dinner　again　after　saying　this；　i　am　afraid；　lady　narborough；　but　it　is　quite　true。〃

〃of　course　it　is　true；　lord　henry。　if　we　women　did　not　love　you　for　your　defects；　where　would　you　all　be？　not　one　of　you　would　ever　be　married。　you　would　be　a　set　of　unfortunate　bachelors。　not；　however；　that　that　would　alter　you　much。　nowadays　all　the　married　men　live　like　bachelors；　and　all　the　bachelors　like　married　men。〃

〃fin　de　si猫cle；〃　murmured　lord　henry。

〃fin　du　globe；〃　answered　his　hostess。

〃i　wish　it　were　fin　du　globe；〃　said　dorian　with　a　sigh。　〃life　is　a　great　disappointment。〃

〃ah；　my　dear；〃　cried　lady　narborough；　putting　on　her　gloves；　〃dont　tell　me　that　you　have　exhausted　life。　when　a　man　says　that　one　knows　that　life　has　exhausted　him。　lord　henry　is　very　wicked；　and　i　sometimes　wish　that　i　had　been；　but　you　are　made　to　be　good　you　look　so　good。　i　must　find　you　a　nice　wife。　lord　henry；　dont　you　think　that　mr。　gray　should　get　married？〃

〃i　am　always　telling　him　so；　lady　narborough；〃　said　lord　henry　with　a　bow。

〃well；　we　must　look　out　for　a　suitable　match　for　him。　i　shall　go　through　debrett　carefully　to…night　and　draw　out　a　list　of　all　the　eligible　young　ladies。〃

〃with　their　ages；　lady　narborough？〃　asked　dorian。

〃of　course；　with　their　ages；　slightly　edited。　but　nothing　must　be　done　in　a　hurry。　i　want　it　to　be　what　the　morning　post　calls　a　suitable　alliance；　and　i　want　you　both　to　be　happy。〃

〃what　nonsense　people　talk　about　happy　marriages！〃　exclaimed　lord　henry。　〃a　man　can　be　happy　with　any　woman；　as　long　as　he　does　not　love　her。〃

〃ah！　what　a　cynic　you　are！〃　cried　the　old　lady；　pushing　back　her　chair　and　nodding　to　lady　ruxton。　〃you　must　e　and　dine　with　me　soon　again。　you　are　really　an　admirable　tonic；　much　better　than　what　sir　andrew　prescribes　for　me。　you　must　tell　me　what　people　you　would　like　to　meet；　though。　i　want　it　to　be　a　delightful　gathering。〃

〃i　like　men　who　have　a　future　and　women　who　have　a　past；〃　he　answered。　〃or　do　you　think　that　would　make　it　a　petticoat　party？〃

〃i　fear　so；〃　she　said；　laughing；　as　she　stood　up。　〃a　thousand　pardons；　my　dear　lady　ruxton；〃　she　added；　〃i　didnt　see　you　hadnt　finished　your　cigarette。〃

〃never　mind；　lady　narborough。　i　smoke　a　great　deal　too　much。　i　am　going　to　limit　myself；　for　the　future。〃

〃pray　dont；　lady　ruxton；〃　said　lord　henry。　〃moderation　is　a　fatal　thing。　enough　is　as　bad　as　a　meal。　more　than　enough　is　as　good　as　a　feast。〃

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