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Dorian Gray frowned and turned his head away. He could not help

liking the tall, graceful young man who was standing by him. His

romantic, olive-coloured face and worn expression interested him.

There was something in his low languid voice that was absolutely

fascinating. His cool, white, flowerlike hands, even, had a

curious charm. They moved, as he spoke, like music, and seemed to

have a language of their own. But he felt afraid of him, and

ashamed of being afraid. Why had it been left for a stranger to

reveal him to himself? He had known Basil Hallward for months,

but the friendship between them had never altered him. Suddenly

there had come some one across his life who seemed to have

disclosed to him life's mystery. And, yet, what was there to be

afraid of? He was not a schoolboy or a girl. It was absurd to be

frightened.