Chapter6

    Isupposeyouhaveheardthenews,Basil?"saidLordHenrythateveningasHallwardwasshownintoalittleprivateroomattheBristolwheredinnerhadbeenlaidforthree.

    "No,Harry,"aheartist,givinghishatandcoattothebowingwaiter."Whatisit?Nothingaboutpolitics,Ihope!Theydontime.ThereishardlyasinglepersonintheHouseofonsworthpainting,thoughmanyofthemwouldbethebetterforalittlewhitewashing."

    "Drayiseobemarried,"saidLordHenry,watghimashespoke.

    Hallwardstartedandthenfrowned."Dorianeobemarried!"hecried."Impossible!"

    "Itisperfectlytrue."

    "Towhom?"

    "Tosomelittleactressorother."

    "Itbelieveit.Dorianisfartoosensible."

    "Dorianisfartoowisenottodofoolishthingsnowandthen,mydearBasil."

    "Marriageishardlyathingthatonedonowandthen,Harry."

    "ExceptinAmerica,"rejoinedLordHenrylanguidly."ButIdidntsayhewasmarried.Isaidhewaseobemarried.Thereisagreatdifference.Ihaveadistinctremembranceofbeingmarried,butIhavenorecolleatallofbeingengaged.IaminedtothinkthatIneverwasengaged."

    "ButthinkofDoriansbirth,andposition,ah.Itwouldbeabsurdforhimtomarrysomueathhim."

    "Ifyouwanttomakehimmarrythisgirl,tellhimthat,Basil.Heissuretodoit,then.Wheneveramahhlystupidthing,itisalwaysfromthemotives."

    "Ihopethegirlisgood,Harry.IdontwanttoseeDoriaosomevilecreature,whomightdegradehisnatureandru