Lord Henry and Basil Hallward met at a restaurant for dinner. They were in a small private room. Lord Henry looked at the artist. "I suppose you heard the news, Basil?" Lord Henry asked.
"No, Harry," Basil answered. He gave his hat and coat to a waiter. "Is it about politics? I do not care about politics."
"Dorian Gray is engaged to be married," Lord Henry said. He watched Basil’s face.
Basil was very surprised. He looked angry. "Dorian is engaged to be married!" he cried. "That is impossible!"
"It is true," Lord Henry said.
"Who is the girl?" Basil asked.
"She is an actress," Lord Henry said.
"I cannot believe it," Basil said. "Dorian is too smart for that."
"Dorian is smart," Lord Henry said. "But even smart people do foolish things."
Basil thought about Dorian’s family and his money. He thought it was a mistake for Dorian to marry a poor actress. He was worried. "I hope the girl is good, Harry," Basil said. "I do not want her to hurt Dorian."
"She is beautiful," Lord Henry said. "That is better than being good. We are going to see her act tonight."
Basil walked up and down the room. "Do you think this is a good idea, Harry?" he asked. "You cannot think it is good. It is just a silly romance."
"I do not care if it is good or bad," Lord Henry said. "I think it is interesting. Dorian is in love with a girl who acts. He wants to marry her. Why not?"
Lord Henry talked more about marriage. He said that marriage makes people unselfish. He thought unselfish people were boring. He wanted Dorian to have many different experiences. He wanted to watch Dorian like an experiment.
"You do not mean that, Harry," Basil said. "If Dorian’s life is ruined, you will be sad. You are a better person than you say."
Lord Henry laughed. "I am not an optimist," he said. "I do not believe people are really good. They are just afraid. But here is Dorian. He can tell you his story."
Dorian came into the room. He looked very happy and very handsome. He shook hands with his friends. "Congratulate me!" Dorian said. "I have never been so happy."
"I hope you are happy, Dorian," Basil said. "But I am sad you did not tell me about your engagement."
"I am sorry I was late for dinner," Dorian said. They sat down at a small table to eat.
Dorian told them what happened. The night before, he went to the theatre. Sibyl Vane was playing a character named Rosalind. She wore beautiful clothes. She was a great artist. Dorian sat in the theatre and felt very happy.
After the play, Dorian went to see Sibyl. They sat together and they kissed. "I cannot describe how I felt," Dorian said. "It was a perfect moment."
Dorian said the engagement was a secret. He did not even tell Sibyl’s mother. He knew his guardians would be angry. But he did not care. He loved Sibyl.
"Did you ask her to marry you?" Lord Henry asked.
"I told her I loved her," Dorian said. "She said she was not good enough to be my wife. But she is everything to me."
"Women are very practical," Lord Henry said. "They always remember to talk about marriage."
"Don’t, Harry," Basil said. "You are annoying Dorian. He is a good man."
Dorian laughed. "I am not angry," he said. "But when you see Sibyl, you will love her, too. I want the whole world to see her. She makes me want to be a good person. When I am with her, I forget your theories, Harry."
"What theories?" Lord Henry asked.
"Your theories about life and pleasure," Dorian said.
"Pleasure is important," Lord Henry said. "Nature wants us to be happy. When we are happy, we are good."
"What does it mean to be good?" Basil asked.
"To be good is to be happy with yourself," Lord Henry said. "It is important to live your own life. Do not worry about other people."
Basil did not agree. He thought people should worry about their actions. He thought people should feel remorse if they did something wrong.
Lord Henry disagreed. He thought rich people should enjoy beautiful things. He thought no one should regret a pleasure.
"I know what pleasure is," Dorian said. "It is loving someone."
They finished their dinner. They drank coffee and smoked cigarettes. "Let’s go to the theatre," Dorian said. "Sibyl will show you a new way to live."
"I am ready to see something new," Lord Henry said. "I love acting. It is more real than life."
They got their coats. Lord Henry and Dorian went in a brougham. There was only room for two people. Basil had to follow them in a hansom.
Basil felt sad as he rode to the theatre. He felt that he was losing Dorian. He felt that Dorian was not the same person anymore. Life was changing his friend. Basil felt much older. He watched the lights of the carriage in front of him. When he arrived at the theatre, he felt very lonely.