Chapter15

    Thatevening,ateight-thirty,exquisitelydressedandwearingalargebutton-holeofParmaviolets,DraywasusheredintoLadyNarbhsdrawing-roombybowingservants.Hisforeheadwasthrobbingwithmaddenednerves,awildlyexcited,buthismannerashebentoverhishostessshandwasaseasyandgracefulasever.Perhapsoneneverseemssomuchatoneseaseaswheoplayapart.CertainlynoonelookingatDraythatnightcouldhavebelievedthathehadpassedthroughatragedyashorribleasanytragedye.Thosefinelyshapedfingerscouldneverhaveclutchedaknifeforsin,northosesmilinglipshavecriedoutonGodandgoodness.Hehimselfcouldnothelpwatthecalmofhisdemeanour,andforamomekeenlytheterriblepleasureofadoublelife.

    Itwasasmallparty,gotupratherinahurrybyLadyNarbh,whowasaverycleverwomanwithwhatLordHenryusedtodescribeastheremainsofreallyremarkableugliness.Shehadprovedanexcellentwifetooneofourmosttediousambassadors,andhavingburiedherhusbandproperlyinamarblemausoleum,whichshehadherselfdesigned,andmarriedoffherdaughterstosomerich,ratherelderlymen,shedevotedherselfnowtothepleasuresofFrenchfi,Frenchcookery,andFrenchespritwhenshecouldgetit.

    Dorianwasoneofherespecialfavourites,andshealwaystoldhimthatshewasextremelygladshehadhiminearlylife."Iknow,mydear,Ishouldhavefallenmadlyihyou,"sheusedtosay,"andthrownmyborightoverthemillsforyoursake.Itismostfortuyouwerenotthoughtofatthetime.Asitwas,ourbosweresounbeing,andthemillsweresooccupiedintryingtoraisethewind,thatIneverhadevenaflirtationwithanybody.However,thatwasallNarbhsfault.Hewasdrea