ner,afterall?Therewasnoreasonthatthefutureshouldbesofullofshame.Somelovemighteacrosshislife,andpurifyhim,andshieldhimfromthosesinsthatseemedtobealreadystirringinspiritandinflesh--thosecuriousunpicturedsinswhoseverymysteryleheirsubtletyandtheircharm.Perhaps,someday,thecruellookwouldhavepassedawayfromthescarletsensitivemouth,andhemightshowtotheworldBasilHallwardsmasterpiece.

    No;thatossible.Hourbyhour,andweekbyweek,thethinguponthevaswasgrowingold.Itmightescapethehideousnessofsin,butthehideousnessofagewasinstoreforit.Thecheekswouldbeeholloworflaccid.Yellowcrowsfeetwouldcreeproundthefadingeyesandmakethemhorrible.Thehairwouldloseitsbrighthemouthwouldgapeordroop,wouldbefoolishross,asthemouthsofoldmeherewouldbethewrihroat,thecold,blue-veinedhands,thetwistedbody,thatherememberedinthegrandfatherwhohadbeensosterntohiminhisboyhood.Thepicturehadtobecealed.Therewasnohelpforit.

    &quitin,Mr.Hubbard,please,"hesaid,wearily,turninground."IamsorryIkeptyousolong.Iwasthinkingofsomethingelse."

    "Alwaysgladtohavearest,Mr.Gray,"aheframe-maker,whowasstillgaspingforbreath."Whereshallweputit,sir?"

    "Oh,anywhere.Here:thiswilldo.Idontwanttohaveithungup.Justleanitagainstthewall.Thanks."

    "Mightonelookattheworkofart,sir?"

    Dorianstarted."Itwouldnotiyou,Mr.Hubbard,"hesaid,keepinghiseyeonthemareadytoleapuponhimandflinghimtothegroundifhedaredtoliftthegeoushangingthatcealedthesecretofhislife."Ishanttrouble