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The lad started and drew back. He was bareheaded, and the leaves

had tossed his rebellious curls and tangled all their gilded

threads. There was a look of fear in his eyes, such as people

have when they are suddenly awakened. His finely chiselled

nostrils quivered, and some hidden nerve shook the scarlet of his

lips and left them trembling.

"Yes," continued Lord Henry, "that is one of the great secrets of

life-to cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by

means of the soul. You are a wonderful creation. You know more

than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to

know."