oolishthingsdurifhttobeentitledtogiveyourselfthatname,Dorian,"answeredLordHenrywithhissweetmelanile.

    Theladfrowned."Idontlikethatexplanation,Harry,"herejoined,"butIamgladyoudontthinkIamheartless.Iamnothingofthekind.IknowIamnot.AImustadmitthatthisthingthathashappeneddoesnotaffectmeasitshould.Itseemstometobesimplylikeawonderfulendingtoawonderfulplay.IthasalltheterriblebeautyofaGreektragedy,atragedyinwhichItookagreatpart,butbywhichIhavenotbeenwounded."

    "Itisaiion,"saidLordHenry,whofoundanexquisitepleasureinplayingontheladsunsciousegotism,"aremelyiiion.Ifancythatthetrueexplanationisthis:Itoftenhappensthattherealtragediesoflifeocsuinartistierthattheyhurtusbytheircrudevioleheirabsoluteincohereheirabsurdwantofmeaning,theirentirelackofstyle.Theyaffectusjustasvulgarityaffectsus.Theygiveusanimpressionofsheerbrutefordwerevoltagainstthat.Sometimes,however,atragedythatpossessesartisticelementsofbeautycrossesourlives.Iftheseelementsofbeautyarereal,thewholethingsimplyappealstooursenseofdramaticeffect.Suddenlywefindthatwearenoloheactors,butthespectatorsoftheplay.Orratherweareboth.Wewatchourselves,andthemerewohespectathrallsus.Inthepresentcase,whatisitthathasreallyhappened?Someonehaskilledherselfforloveofyou.IwishthatIhadeverhadsuexperiewouldhavemademeihlovefortherestofmylife.Thepeoplewhohaveadoredme--therehavenotbeenverymany,buttherehavebeensome--havealwaysinsistedonlivingon,longafterIhadceasedtocareforthem,ortheytocareforme.Theyhavebeest