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“Ah! but you don’t like being kissed, Jim,” she cried. “You
love. Besides, what do you know of this young man? You
are a dreadful old bear.” And she ran across the room and
don’t even know his name. The whole thing is most incon-
hugged him.
venient, and really, when James is going away to Australia,
James Vane looked into his sister’s face with tenderness. “I
and I have so much to think of, I must say that you should
want you to come out with me for a walk, Sibyl. I don’t
have shown more consideration. However, as I said before, if
suppose I shall ever see this horrid London again. I am sure
he is rich ….”
I don’t want to.”
“Ah! Mother, Mother, let me be happy!”
“My son, don’t say such dreadful things,” murmured Mrs.
Mrs. Vane glanced at her, and with one of those false the-
Vane, taking up a tawdry theatrical dress, with a sigh, and
atrical gestures that so often become a mode of second na-
beginning to patch it. She felt a little disappointed that he
ture to a stage-player, clasped her in her arms. At this mo-
had not joined the group. It would have increased the theat-
ment, the door opened and a young lad with rough brown
rical picturesqueness of the situation.
hair came into the room. He was thick-set of figure, and his
“Why not, Mother? I mean it.”
hands and feet were large and somewhat clumsy in move-
“You pain me, my son. I trust you will return from Austra-
ment. He was not so finely bred as his sister. One would
lia in a position of affluence. I believe there is no society of
57
The Picture of Dorian Gray
any kind in the Colonies—nothing that I would call soci-
He walked up and down the room two or three times.
ety—so when you have made your fortune, you must come
Then he turned to the still figure in the chair. “Mother, are
back and assert yourself in London.”
my things ready?” he asked.
“Society!” muttered the lad. “I don’t want to know any-
“Quite ready, James,” she answered, keeping her eyes on her
thing about that. I should like to make some money to take
work. For some months past she had felt ill at ease when she
you and Sibyl off the stage. I hate it.”
was alone with this rough stern son of hers. Her shallow secret
“Oh, Jim!” said Sibyl, laughing, “how unkind of you! But
nature was troubled when their eyes met. She used to wonder
are you really going for a walk with me? That will be nice! I
if he suspected anything. The silence, for he made no other
was afraid you were going to say good-bye to some of your
observation, became intolerable to her. She began to com-
friends—to Tom Hardy, who gave you that hideous pipe, or
plain. Women defend themselves by attacking, just as they
Ned Langton, who makes fun of you for smoking it. It is
attack by sudden and strange surrenders. “I hope you will be
very sweet of you to let me have your last afternoon. Where
contented, James, with your sea-faring life,” she said. “You
shall we go? Let us go to the park.”
must remember that it is your own choice. You might have
“I am too shabby,” he answered, frowning. “Only swell
entered a solicitor’s office. Solicitors are a very respectable class,
people go to the park.”
and in the country often dine with the best families.”
“Nonsense, Jim,” she whispered, stroking the sleeve of his
“I hate offices, and I hate clerks,” he replied. “But you are
coat.
quite right. I have chosen my own life. All I say is, watch
He hesitated for a moment. “Very well,” he said at last,
over Sibyl. Don’t let her come to any harm. Mother, you
“but don’t be too long dressing.” She danced out of the door.
must watch over her.”
One could hear her singing as she ran upstairs. Her little feet
“James, you really talk very strangely. Of course I watch
pattered overhead.
over Sibyl.”
58
Oscar Wilde
“I hear a gentleman comes every night to the theatre and
him. I trust he is one of the aristocracy. He has all the ap-
goes behind to talk to her. Is that right? What about that?”
pearance of it, I must say. It might be a most brilliant mar-
“You are speaking about things you don’t understand,
riage for Sibyl. They would make a charming couple. His
James. In the profession we are accustomed to receive a great
good looks are really quite remarkable; everybody notices
deal of most gratifying attention. I myself used to receive
them.”
many bouquets at one time. That was when acting was really
The lad muttered something to himself and drummed on
understood. As for Sibyl, I do not know at present whether
the window-pane with his coarse fingers. He had just turned
her attachment is serious or not. But there is no doubt that
round to say something when the door opened and Sibyl
the young man in question is a perfect gentleman. He is
ran in.
always most polite to me. Besides, he has the appearance of
“How serious you both are!” she cried. “What is the matter?”
being rich, and the flowers he sends are lovely.”
“Nothing,” he answered. “I suppose one must be serious
“You don’t know his name, though,” said the lad harshly.
sometimes. Good-bye, Mother; I will have my dinner at five
“No,” answered his mother with a placid expression in her
o’clock. Everything is packed, except my shirts, so you need
face. “He has not yet revealed his real name. I think it is
not trouble.”
quite romantic of him. He is probably a member of the aris-
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