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 Hallward 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 Hallward’s face.
Basil Hallward was very surprised. He looked angry. "Dorian Gray is engaged to be married!" he cried. "That is impossible!"
"It is true," Lord Henry said.
"Who is the girl?" Basil Hallward asked.
"She is an actress," Lord Henry said.
"I cannot believe it," Basil Hallward said. "Dorian Gray is too smart for that."
"Dorian Gray is smart," Lord Henry said. "But even smart people do foolish things."
Basil Hallward thought about Dorian Gray’s family and his money. He thought it was a mistake for Dorian Gray to marry a poor actress. He was worried. "I hope the girl is good, Harry," Basil Hallward said. "I do not want her to hurt Dorian Gray."
"She is beautiful," Lord Henry said. "That is better than being good. We will see her act tonight."
Basil Hallward 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 love."
"I do not care if it is good or bad," Lord Henry said. "I think it is interesting. Dorian Gray 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 Gray to have many different experiences. He wanted to watch Dorian Gray like an experiment.
"You do not mean that, Harry," Basil Hallward said. "If Dorian Gray’s life is ruined, you will be sad. You are a better person than you say."
Lord Henry laughed. "I am not an optimist (a person who thinks good things will happen)," he said. "I think most people are afraid. But here is Dorian Gray. He can tell you his story."
Dorian Gray came into the room. He looked very happy and very handsome. He shook hands with his friends. "Congratulate me!" Dorian Gray said. "I have never been so happy."
"I hope you are happy, Dorian," Basil Hallward said. "But I am sad you did not tell me about your engagement (a promise to get married)."
"I am sorry I was late for dinner," Dorian Gray said. They sat down at a small table to eat.
Dorian Gray 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 Gray sat in the theatre and felt very happy.
After the play, Dorian Gray went to see Sibyl Vane. They sat together and they kissed. "I cannot describe how I felt," Dorian Gray said. "It was a perfect moment."
Dorian Gray said the engagement was a secret. He did not even tell Sibyl Vane’s mother. He knew his guardians (people who look after a young person and their money) would be angry. But he did not care. He loved Sibyl Vane.
"Did you talk about marriage?" Lord Henry asked.
"I told her I loved her," Dorian Gray said. "She said she was not good enough for me. But she is everything to me."
"Women are very practical," Lord Henry said. "They always remember to talk about marriage."
"Don’t, Harry," Basil Hallward said. "You are annoying Dorian Gray. He is a good man."
Dorian Gray laughed. "I am not angry," he said. "But when you see Sibyl Vane, 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 Gray 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 Hallward 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 Hallward did not agree. He thought people should worry about their actions. He thought people should feel remorse (a feeling of being sorry for doing something bad) if they did something wrong.
Lord Henry disagreed. He thought rich people should enjoy beautiful things. He thought no person should regret a pleasure.
"I know what pleasure is," Dorian Gray said. "It is loving someone."
They finished their dinner. They drank coffee and smoked cigarettes. "Let’s go to the theatre," Dorian Gray said. "Sibyl Vane 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 Gray went in a brougham (a closed carriage pulled by horses). There was only room for two people. Basil Hallward had to follow them in a hansom (a small, open carriage for one or two people).
Basil Hallward felt sad as he drove to the theatre. He felt that he was losing Dorian Gray. He felt that Dorian Gray was not the same person anymore. Life was changing his friend. Basil Hallward felt much older. He watched the lights of the carriage in front of him. When he arrived at the theatre, he felt very lonely.