It was long past noon when Dorian Gray woke up. His servant, Victor, had walked into the room many times on tiptoe. Victor wondered why his master slept so late. Finally, Dorian rang his bell. Victor brought a cup of tea and many letters on a small tray. Victor opened the silk curtains at the three large windows.
Victor smiled and said that Dorian slept well. Dorian asked for the time. Victor said it was a quarter past one. Dorian sat up and drank some tea. He looked at his letters. One letter was from Lord Henry. Dorian put it aside and did not read it.
The other letters were invitations to dinners and concerts. There was also a large bill for a silver mirror and some brushes. Dorian did not want to send the bill to his guardians. His guardians were old and did not understand why he bought expensive things. There were also letters from people who wanted to lend him money.
Dorian got up and put on a silk dressing-gown. He went into the bathroom. The cool water made him feel better. He forgot about the bad things from the night before. It all felt like a dream. He felt happy again.
After he was dressed, Dorian went into the library. He sat at a small table by the window and ate breakfast. It was a beautiful, warm day. The air smelled sweet. A bee flew into the room and moved around some yellow roses. Dorian felt very peaceful.
Suddenly, Dorian saw the screen. He remembered that the painting was behind it. He felt a sudden shock. Victor asked if Dorian was cold and offered to close the window. Dorian shook his head. He said he was not cold.
Dorian wondered if the portrait really changed. Was it just his imagination? He thought that a painting could not really change. He thought he might tell Basil Hallward about it one day. They would laugh together about the story.
But Dorian remembered the cruel face in the painting very clearly. He was afraid to be alone with it. He wanted Victor to stay in the room, but when Victor finished his work, there was no reason to keep him there. Dorian had to let him go. Dorian told Victor that he did not want to see any visitors. Victor bowed and left the room.
Dorian sat on a sofa and looked at the screen. The screen was made of old leather with gold patterns. He wondered if he should look behind it. He was afraid of the truth. But he knew he must look. He did not want to be in doubt.
Dorian locked both doors of the library. He wanted to be alone. He moved the screen and looked at the painting. It was true. The portrait was different. The face was cruel.
Dorian looked at the picture with interest. He could not believe it. He wondered if his soul and the painting were connected. Did the painting change when he had bad thoughts? He felt a deep horror. He went back to the sofa and watched the picture.
He felt very sorry for his actions. He was cruel to Sibyl Vane. He decided he must marry her. He wanted to be a good man. He wanted the portrait to be his guide. It would show him when he was doing something wrong. The painting was a sign of his sins.
It was now four o’clock. Dorian did not move. He did not know what to think. Finally, he went to the table. He wrote a long, passionate letter to Sibyl. He asked her to forgive him. He said he had lost his mind the night before and was very sorry. When he finished the letter, he felt better.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was Lord Henry. Lord Henry asked Dorian to open the door. Dorian did not answer at first. Then he moved the screen in front of the painting. He unlocked the door.
Lord Henry came into the room. He said he was sorry about everything. Dorian asked if he meant Sibyl. Lord Henry sat down and took off his gloves. He said it was not Dorian’s fault. He asked if Dorian saw Sibyl after the play.
Dorian said he was very cruel to her. But he said that the terrible night had taught him a lesson. He told Lord Henry that he wanted to be good. He said he wanted to marry Sibyl. Lord Henry was very surprised.
Lord Henry asked if Dorian read his letter. Dorian said he did not read it. Lord Henry walked across the room and took Dorian’s hands. Lord Henry said his letter brought very bad news. Lord Henry said that Sibyl was dead.
Dorian cried out in pain. He stood up quickly. He said it was a lie. Lord Henry said it was true. He said it was in all the newspapers. Lord Henry said there would be an inquest. He hoped no one at the theater knew Dorian’s name, because Dorian must stay out of the inquest.
Dorian was shocked and horrified. He asked how Sibyl died. Lord Henry said it was not an accident. Sibyl went to her dressing-room and swallowed some poison. She died very quickly.
Dorian cried and said it was terrible. Lord Henry told him not to worry. He told Dorian to come to dinner and go to the opera. Dorian said he murdered Sibyl. He said it felt strange and unreal, like a story in a book.
Dorian felt sad, but he also felt that the story was like a play. He asked Lord Henry why he did not feel more pain. Lord Henry said that Dorian was not heartless. He said the tragedy was artistic. Lord Henry said Sibyl died for love.
Lord Henry talked for a long time. He said that Sibyl was never a real person to Dorian. She was always an actress playing a part. He said she was like a dream. Dorian listened to his friend. He felt better because of Lord Henry’s words.
Dorian said that Lord Henry understood him. He decided not to talk about the tragedy again. He asked if Lord Henry would still be his friend when he became old and ugly. Lord Henry said Dorian must always keep his good looks. He told Dorian to get ready for the opera.
Dorian said he would meet Lord Henry at the opera later. Lord Henry said goodbye and left. Victor came into the room with lamps. Dorian waited for Victor to leave. Then he ran to the screen and moved it.
The painting had not changed any more. Dorian realized that the picture had known about Sibyl’s death before he did. The cruel look around the mouth had appeared the night before, at the moment she died. Dorian felt sorry for Sibyl. He thought she died for love. He thought her death was a sacrifice.
Dorian looked at the picture again. He had to make a choice. He decided to choose eternal youth and pleasure. The painting would be ugly and old, but Dorian would stay beautiful. He felt a little pain for the painting, but he wanted to stay young.
He thought about praying to stop the change. But he did not want to lose his youth. He thought it was a magical thing. The portrait was a mirror of his soul. He would be strong and happy like a god. The painting would take all his shame.
Dorian moved the screen back in front of the picture. He smiled. He went into his bedroom to get ready. One hour later, he was at the opera with Lord Henry.