athim.Yes,hewascertainlywonderfullyhandsome,withhisfinelycurvedscarletlips,hisfrankblueeyes,hiscrispgoldhair.Therewassomethinginhisfacethatmadeorusthimatonce.Allthedourofyouthwasthere,aswellasallyouthspassionatepurity.Ohathehadkepthimselfunspottedfromtheworld.NowonderBasilHallwardworshippedhim.

    "Youaretotogoinforphilanthropy,Mr.Gray--farto."AndLordHenryflunghimselfdownonthedivanandopenedhiscigarette-case.

    Thepainterhadbeenbusymixinghiscoloursainghisbrushesready.Hewaslookingworried,andwhenheheardLordHenryslastremark,heglahim,hesitatedforamoment,andthensaid,"Harry,Iwanttofinishthispictureto-day.WouldyouthinkitawfullyrudeofmeifIaskedyoutogoaway?"

    LordHenrysmiledandlookedatDray."AmItogray?"heasked.

    "Oh,pleasedont,LordHenry.IseethatBasilisinoneofhissulkymoods,andItbearhimwhenhesulks.Besides,IwantyoutotellmewhyIshouldnotgoinforphilanthropy."

    "IdontknowthatIshalltellyouthat,Mr.Gray.Itissotediousasubjectthatonewouldhavetotalkseriouslyaboutit.ButIcertainlyshallnotrunaway,nowthatyouhaveaskedmetostop.Youdontreallymind,Basil,doyou?Youhaveoftentoldmethatyoulikedyoursitterstohavesomeoochatto."

    Hallwardbithislip."IfDorianwishesit,ofcourseyoumuststay.Dorianswhimsarelawstoeverybody,excepthimself."

    LordHenrytookuphishatandgloves."Youareverypressing,Basil,butIamafraidImustgo.IhavepromisedtomeetamanattheOrleans.Good-bye,Mr.Gray.eandseemesomeafternooninCurzo.Iamnearlyalwaysathomeatfiv