“But think of Dorian’s birth, and position, and wealth.  It would be absurd for him to marry so much beneath him.”

“If you want him to marry this girl, tell him that, Basil.  He is sure to do it then.  Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.”

“I hope the girl is good, Harry.  I don’t want to see Dorian tied to some vile creature, who might degrade his nature and ruin his intellect.”

“Oh, she is more than good—­she is beautiful,” murmured Lord Henry, sipping a glass of vermouth and orange-bitters.  “Dorian says she is beautiful; and he is not often wrong about things of that kind. [33] Your portrait of him has quickened his appreciation of the personal appearance of other people.  It has had that excellent effect, among others.  We are to see her to-night, if that boy doesn’t forget his appointment.”

“But do you approve of it, Harry?” asked Hallward, walking up and down the room, and biting his lip.  “You can’t approve of it, really.  It is some silly infatuation.”

“I never approve, or disapprove, of anything now.  It is an absurd attitude to take towards life.  We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices.  I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do.  If a personality fascinates me, whatever the personality chooses to do is absolutely delightful to me.  Dorian Gray falls in love with a beautiful girl who acts Shakespeare, and proposes to marry her.  Why not?  If he wedded Messalina he would be none the less interesting.  You know I am not a champion of marriage.  The real drawback to marriage is that it makes one unselfish.  And unselfish people are colorless.  They lack individuality.  Still, there are certain temperaments that marriage makes more complex.  They retain their egotism, and add to it many other egos.  They are forced to have more than one life.  They become more highly organized.  Besides, every experience is of value, and, whatever one may say against marriage, it is certainly an experience.  I hope that Dorian Gray will make this girl his wife, passionately adore her for six months, and then suddenly become fascinated by some one else.  He would be a wonderful study.”

“You don’t mean all that, Harry; you know you don’t.  If Dorian Gray’s life were spoiled, no one would be sorrier than yourself.  You are much better than you pretend to be.”

Lord Henry laughed.  “The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves.  The basis of optimism is sheer terror.  We think that we are generous because we credit our neighbor with those virtues that are likely to benefit ourselves.  We praise the banker that we may overdraw our account, and find good qualities in the highwayman in the hope that he may spare our pockets.  I mean everything that I have said.  I have the greatest contempt for optimism.  And as for a spoiled life, no life is spoiled but one whose growth is arrested.  If you want to mar a nature, you have merely to reform it.  But here is Dorian himself.  He will tell you more than I can.”