第184页 / 共490页

Even the common uneducated audience of the pit and gallery lost

their interest in the play. They got restless, and began to talk

loudly and to whistle. The Jew manager, who was standing at the

back of the dress-circle, stamped and swore with rage. The only

person unmoved was the girl herself.

When the second act was over, there came a storm of hisses, and

Lord Henry got up from his chair and put on his coat. "She is

quite beautiful, Dorian," he said, "but she can't act. Let us

go."

"I am going to see the play through," answered the lad, in a hard

bitter voice. "I am awfully sorry that I have made you waste an

evening, Harry. I apologize to you both."

"My dear Dorian, I should think Miss Vane was ill," interrupted

Hallward. "We will come some other night."

"I wish she were ill," he rejoined. "But she seems to me to be

simply callous and cold. She has entirely altered. Last night she

was a great artist. This evening she is merely a commonplace

mediocre actress."