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Dorian Gray laughed, and tossed his head. "You are quite

incorrigible, Harry; but I don't mind. It is impossible to be

angry with you. When you see Sibyl Vane, you will feel that the

man who could wrong her would be a beast, a beast without a

heart. I cannot understand how any one can wish to shame the

thing he loves. I love Sibyl Vane. I want to place her on a

pedestal of gold and to see the world worship the woman who is

mine. What is marriage? An irrevocable vow. You mock at it for

that. Ah! don't mock. It is an irrevocable vow that I want to

take. Her trust makes me faithful, her belief makes me good. When

I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become

different from what you have known me to be. I am changed, and

the mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand makes me forget you and all

your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories."

"And those are ...?" asked Lord Henry, helping himself to some

salad.