पृष्ठ 167 / 490

I have been right, Basil, haven't I, to take my love out of

poetry and to find my wife in Shakespeare's plays? Lips that

Shakespeare taught to speak have whispered their secret in my

ear. I have had the arms of Rosalind around me, and kissed Juliet

on the mouth."

"Yes, Dorian, I suppose you were right," said Hallward slowly.

"Have you seen her to-day?" asked Lord Henry.

Dorian Gray shook his head. "I left her in the forest of Arden; I

shall find her in an orchard in Verona."

Lord Henry sipped his champagne in a meditative manner. "At what

particular point did you mention the word marriage, Dorian? And

what did she say in answer? Perhaps you forgot all about it."

"My dear Harry, I did not treat it as a business transaction, and

I did not make any formal proposal. I told her that I loved her,

and she said she was not worthy to be my wife. Not worthy! Why,

the whole world is nothing to me compared with her."