The picture of Dorian Gray - The Young man in love
‘That’s the reason, I suppose, why you never have dinner with me now,’ said Lord
Henry. ‘But Henry, you and I see each other every day – we always have lunch
together,’ said Dorian in surprise. ‘I've got to go and see Sybil in the
theatre every nigh. You and Basil must come with me to see her. Then you can see
yourself how wonderful she is. Come tomorrow.’
‘Very well, my dear Dorian, we’ll come and watch your Juliet. But you’ll be in
love many times, you know – this is only the beginning.’
After Dorian had gone, Lord Henry smiled to himself. How amusing it was to watch this
young man, he thought. He was very different now from the frightened boy in
Basil Hallward’s house. He had opened like a flower in the sun. and was
learning to enjoy every pleasure in life. ‘And it is I,’ thought Lord Henry,
‘who have taught him how to do this.’ When Lord Henry returned home that
night, there was a letter for him lying on the table. It told him that Dorian
Gray was going to marry Sybil Vane.
Mother, Mother, I’m so happy,’ cried the girl, ‘and you must be happy too.’ Mrs Vane put her thin
white hands on her daughter’s head. ‘I’m only happy when I see you in the
theatre,’ she said. ‘And we are poor. We need the money – don’t forget
that. What do we know about this young man? You don’t know his real name, or
anything about him.’ ‘No, but I call him Prince Charming. He’s everything
to me. I love him and he loves me. Oh, mother, let me be happy!’ ‘You’re
too young to think of love,’ said her mother. She looked at her daughter’s
lovely face and tried to warn her of the dangers of love, but the girl did not
listen. She was locked in her prison of love. At that moment the girl’s
brother entered the room. He was a heavy, dark young man, not at all like his
sister.
