Chapter10

    Whenhisservaered,belookedathimsteadfastlyandwonderedifhehadthoughtofpeeringbehindthes.Themanwasquiteimpassiveandwaitedforhisorders.Dorianlitacigaretteandwalkedovertotheglassandglaoit.HecouldseetherefleofVictorsfaceperfectly.Itwaslikeaplacidmaskofservility.Therewasnothingtobeafraidof,there.Yethethoughtitbesttobeonhisguard.

    Speakingveryslowly,hetoldhimtotellthehouse-keeperthathewaoseeher,aogototheframe-makerandaskhimtosendtwoofhismenroundatoseemedtohimthatasthemaheroomhiseyeswahedireofthes.Orwasthatmerelyhisownfancy?

    Afterafewmoments,inherblacksilkdress,withold-fashiohreadmittensonherwrinkledhands,Mrs.Leafbustledintothelibrary.Heaskedherforthekeyoftheschoolroom.

    "Theoldschoolroom,Mr.Dorian?"sheexclaimed."Why,itisfullofdust.Imustgetitarrangedandputstraightbeforeyougointoit.Itisnotfitforyoutosee,sir.Itisnot,indeed."

    "Idontwantitputstraight,Leaf.Ionlywantthekey."

    "Well,sir,youllbecoveredwithcobwebsifyougointoit.Why,ithasntbeenopenedfornearlyfiveyears--notsincehislordshipdied."

    Hewihementionofhisgrandfather.Hehadhatefulmemoriesofhim."Thatdoesnotmatter,"heanswered."Isimplywanttoseetheplace--thatisall.Givemethekey."

    "Andhereisthekey,sir,"saidtheoldlady,goihetentsofherbunchwithtremulouslyuainhands."Hereisthekey.Illhaveitoffthebunamoment.Butyoudontthinkoflivingupthere,sir,andyousofortablehere?"

    "No,no,"hecriedpetulantly.&