"Why,whatdidyouexpect,Dorian?Youdidhingelseiure,didyou?Therewasnothiosee?"

    "No;therewasnothiosee.Whydoyouask?Butyoumustnttalkaboutworship.Itisfoolish.YouandIarefriends,Basil,aalwaysremainso."

    "YouhavegotHarry,"saidthepaintersadly.

    "Oh,Harry!"criedthelad,leoflaughter."Harryspendshisdaysinsayingwhatisincredibleandhiseveningsindoingwhatisimprobable.JustthesortoflifeIwouldliketolead.ButstillIdontthinkIwouldgotoHarryifIwereintrouble.Iwouldsotoyou,Basil."

    "Youwillsittomeagain?"

    "Impossible!"

    "Youspoilmylifeasanartistbyrefusing,Dorian.Nomanesacrosstwoidealthings.Feweacrossone."

    "Itexplainittoyou,Basil,butImusttoyouagain.Thereissomethingfatalaboutaportrait.Ithasalifeofitsown.Iwilleandhaveteawithyou.Thatwillbejustaspleasant."

    "Pleasanterforyou,Iamafraid,"murmuredHallwardregretfully."Andnowgood-bye.Iamsorryyouwomelookatthepictureonceagain.Butthattbehelped.Iquiteuandwhatyoufeelaboutit."

    Ashelefttheroom,Draysmiledtohimself.PoorBasil!Howlittlehekhetruereason!Andheitwasthat,insteadofhavingbeenforcedtorevealhisow,hehadsucceeded,almostbywrestifromhisfriend!Howmuchthatstrangefessionexplaiohim!Thepaintersabsurdfitsofjealousy,hiswilddevotion,hisextravagantpanegyrics,hiscuriousretices--heuoodthemallnow,asorry.Thereseemedtohimtobesomethingtragiafriendshipsocolouredbyromance.

    Hesighedandtouchedthebell.Theportraitmus