The next day at half-past twelve, Lord Henry Wotton went to visit his uncle. His uncle’s name was Lord Fermor. He was an old man who lived alone. Some people said he was selfish, but he was just a rich man who liked his own way.
Lord Fermor used to work for the government in other countries. Now he did not work at all. He had two large houses, but he lived in a small apartment because it was easier. He spent most of his time at his club. He was often grumpy and argued with his family.
When Lord Henry entered the room, his uncle was smoking and reading the newspaper. “Well, Harry,” the old man said. “Why are you here so early? I thought you stayed in bed until two o’clock.”
“I am here because I love my family, Uncle George,” Lord Henry said. “And I want some information.”
“You want money, I suppose,” Lord Fermor said. “Young people today think money is everything.”
“I do not want money,” Lord Henry said. “I never pay my bills, so I do not need it. I want to know about a young man named Dorian Gray.”
“Dorian Gray? Who is he?” Lord Fermor asked.
“He is the grandson of the last Lord Kelso,” Lord Henry answered. “His mother was Lady Margaret Devereux. I want to know about her. Who did she marry?”
“I knew his mother very well,” the old man said. “She was a very beautiful girl. All the men loved her. But she ran away with a poor soldier. He had no money and no family. Lord Kelso was very angry about it.”
Lord Fermor continued the story. “The poor soldier was killed in a duel (a formal fight with swords or guns between two people) soon after the marriage. People said Lord Kelso paid a man to start the fight. It was a terrible story.”
“Lady Margaret came back home,” Lord Fermor said. “But she never spoke to her father again. She died within a year. She left a son behind. Is he a good-looking boy?”
“He is very handsome,” Lord Henry said.
“He should have a lot of money,” the old man said. “His mother was very rich. I hope his grandfather treated him well.”
Lord Henry stood up to leave. “Thank you for the information, Uncle George. I like to know everything about my new friends.”
“Where are you going now?” his uncle asked.
“I am having lunch with my aunt, Lady Agatha,” Lord Henry said. “Dorian Gray will be there, too.”
Lord Henry walked to his aunt’s house. He thought about the story of Dorian Gray’s parents. It was a romantic and sad story. He thought about Dorian’s beautiful face. To Lord Henry, talking to Dorian was like playing a fine violin.
Lord Henry wanted to influence (change the way a person thinks or acts) the young man. He wanted to put his own ideas into Dorian’s mind. He wanted to make Dorian’s spirit his own. He thought this was a very exciting thing to do.
He arrived at his aunt’s house. He was late for lunch. He sat down next to his aunt. Dorian Gray was at the other end of the table. He looked at Lord Henry and blushed.
There were many guests at the table. There was a duchess, a politician, and an old gentleman named Mr. Erskine. They were talking about a young man who wanted to marry an American girl.
“Are American girls pretty?” the duchess asked.
“They behave as if they are beautiful,” Lord Henry said. “That is why people like them.”
The politician began to talk about the history of America. He talked for a long time and everyone was bored. The duchess sighed. She wished America was never discovered.
“I think America was just detected, not discovered,” Mr. Erskine said with a smile.
The guests laughed. Then Lady Agatha spoke to Lord Henry. “Harry, I am angry with you. You told Mr. Gray not to help the poor people in East London. He plays the piano beautifully. The poor people would love him.”
“I want him to play for me,” Lord Henry said. He looked at Dorian Gray. Dorian smiled back at him.
“But the people there are so unhappy,” Lady Agatha said.
“I cannot feel sorry for people who suffer,” Lord Henry said. “Suffering is ugly and horrible. We should look at the beauty and joy of life. We should not talk about the bad things.”
“But we must help people,” one woman said quietly.
Lord Henry laughed. “The world takes itself too seriously. That is the problem. If people laughed more, history would be different.”
“You are very funny,” the duchess said. “But I feel old. I wish you could tell me how to be young again.”
Lord Henry looked at her. “Do you remember the mistakes you made when you were young?” he asked.
“Yes, many mistakes,” she said.
“Then do them again,” Lord Henry said. “To become young again, you must repeat your mistakes. That is the secret.”
“That is a wonderful idea!” the duchess cried.
Lord Henry talked more about this idea. He spoke about pleasure and beauty. He said that people should not worry about being good. They should only worry about being happy.
Everyone at the table listened to him. Dorian Gray never took his eyes off Lord Henry. He felt like he was under a magic spell. Lord Henry was brilliant and exciting.
A servant entered the room. He told the duchess that her carriage was ready. She stood up to leave. “Goodbye, Lord Henry,” she said. “You are very dangerous, but you are also delightful. You must come to dinner on Tuesday.”
“I will be there,” Lord Henry said. The ladies left the room.
Mr. Erskine moved his chair closer to Lord Henry. “You talk like a book,” he said. “Why don’t you write one?”
“I like reading books more than writing them,” Lord Henry said.
Mr. Erskine smiled. “I think you are a dangerous man. But I would like to talk to you more about life. Come visit me soon.”
Lord Henry stood up. “I am going to the park now,” he said.
As he walked toward the door, Dorian Gray touched his arm. “Can I come with you?” he whispered.
“But you promised to visit Basil Hallward,” Lord Henry said.
“I want to be with you,” Dorian Gray said. “No one talks as wonderfully as you do. Please let me come.”
Lord Henry smiled. “I have talked enough for today. But you can come and look at the world with me.”