astheyare--myart,whateveritmaybeworth;Draysgoodlooks--weshallallsufferforwhatthegodshavegivenus,sufferterribly."

    "Dray?Isthathisname?"askedLordHenry,walkingacrossthestudiotowardsBasilHallward.

    "Yes,thatishisname.Ididntiotellittoyou."

    "Butwhynot?"

    "Oh,Itexplain.WhenIlikepeopleimmensely,Ielltheiroaislikesurrenderingapartofthem.Ihavegrowntolovesecrecy.Itseemstobetheohingthatmakemodereriousormarvelloustous.Theohingisdelightfulifoneonlyhidesit.WheownnowIellmypeoplewhereIamgoing.IfIdid,Iwouldloseallmypleasure.Itisasillyhabit,Idaresay,butsomehowitseemstagreatdealofromaooneslife.Isupposeyouthinkmeawfullyfoolishaboutit?"

    "Notatall,"answeredLordHenry,"notatall,mydearBasil.YouseemtetthatIammarried,andtheonecharmeisthatitmakesalifeofdeceptionabsolutelynecessaryforbothparties.Ineverknowwheremywifeis,andmywifeneverknowswhatIamdoing.Whe--wedomeetoccasionally,whenwediogether,odowntotheDukes--wetelleachotherthemostabsurdstorieswiththemostseriousfaces.Mywifeisverygoodatit--muchbetter,infact,thanIam.Shesfusedoverherdates,andIalwaysdo.Butwhenshedoesfi,shemakesnorowatall.Isometimeswishshewould;butshemerelylaughsatme."

    "Ihatethewayyoutalkaboutyourmarriedlife,Harry,"saidBasilHallward,strollingtowardsthedoorthatledintothegarden."Ibelievethatyouarereallyaverygoodhusband,butthatyouarethhlyashamedofyourownvirtues.Youarearaordinaryfellow.Youneversayamoralthing,andyouneverdthing.Youri