道林格雷的画像_奥斯卡·王尔德-第44节

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。　that　is　all。　i　am　afraid　i　walked　too　far　this　morning。　i　didnt　hear　what　harry　said。　was　it　very　bad？　you　must　tell　me　some　other　time。　i　think　i　must　go　and　lie　down。　you　will　excuse　me；　wont　you？〃

they　had　reached　the　great　flight　of　steps　that　led　from　the　conservatory　on　to　the　terrace。　as　the　glass　door　closed　behind　dorian；　lord　henry　turned　and　looked　at　the　duchess　with　his　slumberous　eyes。　〃are　you　very　much　in　love　with　him？〃　he　asked。

she　did　not　answer　for　some　time；　but　stood　gazing　at　the　landscape。　〃i　wish　i　knew；〃　she　said　at　last。

he　shook　his　head。　〃knowledge　would　be　fatal。　it　is　the　uncertainty　that　charms　one。　a　mist　makes　things　wonderful。〃

〃one　may　lose　ones　way。〃

〃all　ways　end　at　the　same　point；　my　dear　gladys。〃

〃what　is　that？〃

〃disillusion。〃

〃it　was　my　debut　in　life；〃　she　sighed。

〃it　came　to　you　crowned。〃

〃i　am　tired　of　strawberry　leaves。〃

〃they　bee　you。〃

〃only　in　public。〃

〃you　would　miss　them；〃　said　lord　henry。

〃i　will　not　part　with　a　petal。〃

〃monmouth　has　ears。〃

〃old　age　is　dull　of　hearing。〃

〃has　he　never　been　jealous？〃

〃i　wish　he　had　been。〃

he　glanced　about　as　if　in　search　of　something。　〃what　are　you　looking　for？〃　she　inquired。

〃the　button　from　your　foil；〃　he　answered。　〃you　have　dropped　it。〃

she　laughed。　〃i　have　still　the　mask。〃

〃it　makes　your　eyes　lovelier；〃　was　his　reply。

she　laughed　again。　her　teeth　showed　like　white　seeds　in　a　scarlet　fruit。

upstairs；　in　his　own　room；　dorian　gray　was　lying　on　a　sofa；　with　terror　in　every　tingling　fibre　of　his　body。　life　had　suddenly　bee　too　hideous　a　burden　for　him　to　bear。　the　dreadful　death　of　the　unlucky　beater；　shot　in　the　thicket　like　a　wild　animal；　had　seemed　to　him　to　pre…figure　death　for　himself　also。　he　had　nearly　swooned　at　what　lord　henry　had　said　in　a　chance　mood　of　cynical　jesting。

at　five　oclock　he　rang　his　bell　for　his　servant　and　gave　him　orders　to　pack　his　things　for　the　night…express　to　town；　and　to　have　the　brougham　at　the　door　by　eight…thirty。　he　was　determined　not　to　sleep　another　night　at　selby　royal。　it　was　an　ill…omened　place。　death　walked　there　in　the　sunlight。　the　grass　of　the　forest　had　been　spotted　with　blood。

then　he　wrote　a　note　to　lord　henry；　telling　him　that　he　was　going　up　to　town　to　consult　his　doctor　and　asking　him　to　entertain　his　guests　in　his　absence。　as　he　was　putting　it　into　the　envelope；　a　knock　came　to　the　door；　and　his　valet　informed　him　that　the　head…keeper　wished　to　see　him。　he　frowned　and　bit　his　lip。　〃send　him　in；〃　he　muttered；　after　some　moments　hesitation。

as　soon　as　the　man　entered；　dorian　pulled　his　chequebook　out　of　a　drawer　and　spread　it　out　before　him。

〃i　suppose　you　have　e　about　the　unfortunate　accident　of　this　morning；　thornton？〃　he　said；　taking　up　a　pen。

〃yes；　sir；〃　answered　the　gamekeeper。

〃was　the　poor　fellow　married？　had　he　any　people　dependent　on　him？〃　asked　dorian；　looking　bored。　〃if　so；　i　should　not　like　them　to　be　left　in　want；　and　will　send　them　any　sum　of　money　you　may　think　necessary。〃

〃we　dont　know　who　he　is；　sir。　that　is　what　i　took　the　liberty　of　ing　to　you　about。〃

〃dont　know　who　he　is？〃　said　dorian；　listlessly。　〃what　do　you　mean？　wasnt　he　one　of　your　men？〃

〃no；　sir。　never　saw　him　before。　seems　like　a　sailor；　sir。〃

the　pen　dropped　from　dorian　grays　hand；　and　he　felt　as　if　his　heart　had　suddenly　stopped　beating。　〃a　sailor？〃　he　cried　out。　〃did　you　say　a　sailor？〃

〃yes；　sir。　he　looks　as　if　he　had　been　a　sort　of　sailor；　tattooed　on　both　arms；　and　that　kind　of　thing。〃

〃was　there　anything　found　on　him？〃　said　dorian；　leaning　forward　and　looking　at　the　man　with　startled　eyes。　〃anything　that　would　tell　his　name？〃

〃some　money；　sirnot　much；　and　a　six…shooter。　there　was　no　name　of　any　kind。　a　decent…looking　man；　sir；　but　rough…like。　a　sort　of　sailor　we　think。〃

dorian　started　to　his　feet。　a　terrible　hope　fluttered　past　him。　he　clutched　at　it　madly。　〃where　is　the　body？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃quick！　i　must　see　it　at　once。〃

〃it　is　in　an　empty　stable　in　the　home　farm；　sir。　the　folk　dont　like　to　have　that　sort　of　thing　in　their　houses。　they　say　a　corpse　brings　bad　luck。〃

〃the　home　farm！　go　there　at　once　and　meet　me。　tell　one　of　the　grooms　to　bring　my　horse　round。　no。　never　mind。　ill　go　to　the　stables　myself。　it　will　save　time。〃

in　less　than　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　dorian　gray　was　galloping　down　the　long　avenue　as　hard　as　he　could　go。　the　trees　seemed　to　sweep　past　him　in　spectral　procession；　and　wild　shadows　to　fling　themselves　across　his　path。　once　the　mare　swerved　at　a　white　gate…post　and　nearly　threw　him。　he　lashed　her　across　the　neck　with　his　crop。　she　cleft　the　dusky　air　like　an　arrow。　the　stones　flew　from　her　hoofs。

at　last　he　reached　the　home　farm。　two　men　were　loitering　in　the　yard。　he　leaped　from　the　saddle　and　threw　the　reins　to　one　of　them。　in　the　farthest　stable　a　light　was　glimmering。　something　seemed　to　tell　him　that　the　body　was　there；　and　he　hurried　to　the　door　and　put　his　hand　upon　the　latch。

there　he　paused　for　a　moment；　feeling　that　he　was　on　the　brink　of　a　discovery　that　would　either　make　or　mar　his　life。　then　he　thrust　the　door　open　and　entered。

on　a　heap　of　sacking　in　the　far　corner　was　lying　the　dead　body　of　a　man　dressed　in　a　coarse　shirt　and　a　pair　of　blue　trousers。　a　spotted　handkerchief　had　been　placed　over　the　face。　a　coarse　candle；　stuck　in　a　bottle；　sputtered　beside　it。

dorian　gray　shuddered。　he　felt　that　his　could　not　be　the　hand　to　take　the　handkerchief　away；　and　called　out　to　one　of　the　farm…servants　to　e　to　him。

〃take　that　thing　off　the　face。　i　wish　to　see　it；〃　he　said；　clutching　at　the　door…post　for　support。

when　the　farm…servant　had　done　so；　he　stepped　forward。　a　cry　of　joy　broke　from　his　lips。　the　man　who　had　been　shot　in　the　thicket　was　james　vane。

he　stood　there　for　some　minutes　looking　at　the　dead　body。　as　he　rode　home；　his　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　for　he　knew　he　was　safe。　

xia锛�锛砲u锛痶x锛础ｏ迹om



Chapter　19

灏忥紝璇达蓟t。xt锛诲ぉ鍫傦綕
chapter　19

there　is　no　use　your　telling　me　that　you　are　going　to　be　good；〃　cried　lord　henry；　dipping　his　white　fingers　into　a　red　copper　bowl　filled　with　rose…water。　〃you　are　quite　perfect。　pray；　dont　change。〃

dorian　gray　shook　his　head。　〃no；　harry；　i　have　done　too　many　dreadful　things　in　my　life。　i　am　not　going　to　do　any　more。　i　began　my　good　actions　yesterday。〃

〃where　were　you　yesterday？〃

〃in　the　country；　harry。　i　was　staying　at　a　little　inn　by　myself。〃

〃my　dear　boy；〃　said　lord　henry；　smiling；　〃anybody　can　be　good　in　the　country。　there　are　no　temptations　there。　that　is　the　reason　why　people　who　live　out　of　town　are　so　absolutely　uncivilized。　civilization　is　not　by　any　means　an　easy　thing　to　attain　to。　there　are　only　two　ways　by　which　man　can　reach　it。　one　is　by　being　cultured；　the　other　by　being　corrupt。　country　people　have　no　opportunity　of　being　either；　so　they　stagnate。〃

〃culture　and　corruption；〃　echoed　dorian。　〃i　have　known　something　of　both。　it　seems　terrible　to　me　now　that　they　should　ever　be　found　together。　for　i　have　a　new　ideal；　harry。　i　am　going　to　alter。　i　think　i　have　altered。〃

〃you　have　not　yet　told　me　what　your　good　action　was。　or　did　you　say　you　had　done　more　than　one？〃　asked　his　panion　as　he　spilled　into　his　plate　a　little　crimson　pyramid　of　seeded　strawberries　and；　through　a　perforated；　shell…shaped　spoon；　snowed　white　sugar　upon　them。

〃i　can　tell　you；　harry。　it　is　not　a　story　i　could　tell　to　any　one　else。　i　spared　somebody。　it　sounds　vain；　but　you　understand　what　i　mean。　she　was　quite　beautiful　and　wonderfully　like　sibyl　vane。　i　think　it　was　that　which　first　attracted　me　to　her。　you　remember　sibyl；　dont　you？　how　long　ago　that　seems！　well；　hetty　was　not　one　of　our　own　class；　of　course。　she　was　simply　a　girl　in　a　village。　but　i　really　loved　her。　i　am　quite　sure　that　i　loved　her。　all　during　this　wonderful　may　that　we　have　been　having；　i　used　to　run　down　and　see　her　two　or　three　times　a　week。　yesterday　she　met　me　in　a　little　orchard。　the　apple…blossoms　kept　tumbling　down　on　her　hair；　and　she　was　laughing。　we　were　to　have　gone　away　together　this　morning　at　dawn。　suddenly　i　determined　to　leave　her　as　flowerlike　as　i　had　found　her。〃

〃i　should　think　the　novelty　of　the　emotion　must　have　given　you　a　thrill　of　real　pleasure；　dorian；〃　interrupted　lord　henry。　〃but　i　can　finish　your　idyll　for　you。　you　gave　her　good　advice　and　broke　her　heart。　that　was　the　beginning　of　your　reformation。〃

〃harry；　you　are　horrible！　you　mustnt　say　these　dreadful　things。　hettys　heart　is　not　broken。　of　course；　she　cried　and　all　that。　but　there　is　no　disgrace　upon　her。　she　can　live；　like　perdita；　in　her　garden　of　mint　and　marigold。〃

〃and　weep　over　a　faithless　florizel；〃　said　lord　henry；　laughing；　as　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃my　dear　dorian；　you　have　the　most　curiously　boyish　moods。　do　you　think　this　girl　will　ever　be　really　content　now　with　any　one　of　her　own　rank？　i　suppose　she　will　be　married　some　day　to　a　rough　carter　or　a　grinning　ploughman。　well；　the　fact　of　having　met　you；　and　loved　you；　will　teach　her　to　despise　her　husband；　and　she　will　be　wretched。　from　a　moral　point　of　view；　i　cannot　say　that　i　think　much　of　your　great　renunciation。　even　as　a　beginning；　it　is　poor。　besides