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"Ah, Dorian, I am so glad you take it in that way! I was afraid I

would find you plunged in remorse and tearing that nice curly

hair of yours."

"I have got through all that," said Dorian, shaking his head and

smiling. "I am perfectly happy now. I know what conscience is, to

begin with. It is not what you told me it was. It is the divinest

thing in us. Don't sneer at it, Harry, any more-at least not

before me. I want to be good. I can't bear the idea of my soul

being hideous."

"A very charming artistic basis for ethics, Dorian! I

congratulate you on it. But how are you going to begin?"

"By marrying Sibyl Vane."

"Marrying Sibyl Vane!" cried Lord Henry, standing up and looking

at him in perplexed amazement. "But, my dear Dorian-"

"Yes, Harry, I know what you are going to say. Something dreadful

about marriage. Don't say it. Don't ever say things of that kind

to me again. Two days ago I asked Sibyl to marry me. I am not

going to break my word to her. She is to be my wife."