Basil Hallward came into the room the next morning. Dorian Gray sat at the table and ate breakfast. Basil Hallward looked very serious. He told Dorian Gray that he was glad to find him.
Basil Hallward said he went to Dorian Gray’s house last night. The servants told him that Dorian Gray was at the opera. Basil Hallward did not believe the servants. He stayed at his club and read a late newspaper. He read about the death of Sibyl Vane.
Basil Hallward felt very sad and miserable. He thought Dorian Gray was suffering too. He asked Dorian Gray if he saw the mother of Sibyl Vane. Basil Hallward wanted to help the poor woman because she lost her only child.
Dorian Gray drank some yellow wine from a beautiful glass. He looked very bored. Dorian Gray said he was at the opera last night. He met a charming lady and heard a great singer. He told Basil Hallward not to talk about sad things.
Basil Hallward spoke very slowly. He felt a lot of pain. He asked how Dorian Gray could go to the opera. Sibyl Vane was dead in a dirty room, but Dorian Gray was happy. Basil Hallward said this was a horrible thing.
Dorian Gray stood up quickly. He told Basil Hallward to stop talking. Dorian Gray said the past was the past. He said that only weak people feel sad for a long time. He wanted to control his emotions.
Basil Hallward said that Dorian Gray was different now. Before, Dorian Gray was simple and kind. Now, he spoke like he had no heart. Basil Hallward said this was the influence of Lord Henry Wotton.
Dorian Gray looked out the window at the garden. He said he learned a lot from Lord Henry Wotton. He said Basil Hallward only taught him to be vain (thinking you are very beautiful or important). Basil Hallward felt very sad to hear this.
Dorian Gray told Basil Hallward that Sibyl Vane killed herself. Basil Hallward covered his face with his hands. He felt a shudder (a quick shake of the body because of fear or cold) go through him. He thought the news was terrible.
Dorian Gray said the death of Sibyl Vane was like a play. He said she was a heroine (the most important woman in a story or play). He said she died for love. Dorian Gray said he cried yesterday, but now he was fine.
Dorian Gray said he loved beautiful things and luxury. He said he was a man now with new ideas. He told Basil Hallward to stay his friend. Basil Hallward decided not to talk about Sibyl Vane again.
Basil Hallward said an inquest (an official meeting to find the cause of a death) was happening that day. He asked if the police called Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray said no. The police did not know his name.
Sibyl Vane only called him Prince Charming. Dorian Gray asked Basil Hallward to draw a picture of Sibyl Vane. Basil Hallward said he would try. Then Basil Hallward asked Dorian Gray to sit for a new portrait.
Dorian Gray said he could never sit for a portrait again. Basil Hallward was surprised. He saw a screen (a large piece of furniture used to hide things) in front of the old portrait. He wanted to look at his work.
Dorian Gray ran between Basil Hallward and the screen. He looked very pale. He told Basil Hallward not to look at the painting. He said their friendship was over if Basil Hallward touched the screen.
Basil Hallward was thunderstruck (very surprised and shocked). He did not understand why Dorian Gray was angry. Basil Hallward said he wanted to exhibit (to show something in a public place) the portrait in Paris. He wanted to show it in October.
Dorian Gray felt a lot of terror. He did not want the world to see his secret. He reminded Basil Hallward of a promise. Basil Hallward once said he would never show the painting to anyone.
Dorian Gray asked Basil Hallward for his secret. He asked why Basil Hallward originally refused to show the painting. Basil Hallward sat down. He looked very troubled and worried.
Basil Hallward said Dorian Gray had a great influence on him. He said he worshipped (loved someone or something very much) Dorian Gray. He said he put too much of his own heart into the painting. He was afraid people would see his secret love.
Basil Hallward said he changed his mind later. He thought art was more important than his feelings. But he saw that Dorian Gray was right. The portrait must stay hidden. He promised not to look at it again.
Dorian Gray felt safe. He felt sorry for Basil Hallward. He thought Basil Hallward was a good man, but Lord Henry Wotton was more interesting. Basil Hallward said goodbye and left the room.
Dorian Gray smiled when Basil Hallward left. He was happy because his secret was safe. But he knew he must hide the portrait in a better place. He did not want any of his friends to see it.