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"There is no use your telling me that you are going to be good,"

cried Lord Henry, dipping his white fingers into a red copper

bowl filled with rose-water. "You are quite perfect. Pray, don't

change."

Dorian Gray shook his head. "No, Harry, I have done too many

dreadful things in my life. I am not going to do any more. I

began my good actions yesterday."

"Where were you yesterday?"

"In the country, Harry. I was staying at a little inn by myself."

"My dear boy," said Lord Henry, smiling, "anybody can be good in

the country. There are no temptations there. That is the reason

why people who live out of town are so absolutely uncivilized.

Civilization is not by any means an easy thing to attain to.

There are only two ways by which man can reach it. One is by

being cultured, the other by being corrupt. Country people have

no opportunity of being either, so they stagnate."