The next week, Dorian went to stay at his country house. He needed to get away from London. He invited many wealthy friends to join him. There would be parties and hunting and laughter. Perhaps he could forget the terrible face of James Vane. The first evening was delightful. Dorian laughed with his guests and played music. But when he went to bed, he could not sleep. He kept thinking he heard footsteps outside. The next day, there was a hunting party. Dorian rode out with his guests into the forest. As they rode through a clearing, Dorian froze. A face was watching from behind the trees. A rough, hard face with burning eyes. James Vane had followed him. Dorian's horse reared in panic. He nearly fell to the ground. 'Dorian! Are you all right?' asked a friend. 'I am fine,' he said. 'I thought I saw something.' But when he looked again, the face was gone. Had he imagined it? The hunting party continued, but Dorian could not enjoy it. He kept looking behind him. That evening at dinner, he could barely eat. His friends noticed how pale and nervous he was. 'You seem unwell,' said one of the ladies. 'Perhaps you should rest tomorrow.' 'No,' said Dorian quickly. 'I must go on the hunt.' If James Vane was out there, hiding would not help. The next morning, they hunted again. This time, they were hunting rabbits in the woods. Dorian walked with his gun, trying to stay calm. Suddenly, a rabbit ran across the path. A man nearby raised his gun and fired. But instead of hitting the rabbit, there was a scream. A man had been hiding in the bushes. The bullet had hit him. Everyone rushed to see what had happened. The man was dead. He was a rough-looking sailor. Dorian looked at the face and felt his heart stop. It was James Vane. The man who had sworn to kill him was dead. Shot by accident in Dorian's own forest. 'Does anyone know him?' asked someone. 'No,' said Dorian quickly. 'I have never seen him before.' He should have felt relief. His pursuer was dead. He was safe. But instead, he felt sick with guilt. James Vane had only wanted justice for his sister. And now he was dead, like so many others. Sibyl. Basil. Alan Campbell. And now James. Everyone who got too close to Dorian Gray ended up destroyed. He returned to the house and locked himself in his room. For hours, he sat staring at nothing. What had he become? Was there any way to undo what he had done? Could he ever be good again? He decided to go back to London. He would change his life. He would become a better person. Perhaps then the portrait would change too. Perhaps he could save his soul after all. He said goodbye to his confused guests. He took a carriage back to the city. All the way there, he made plans. He would be kind. He would be good. But could Dorian Gray ever truly change?
B1Chapter 14 / 20514 words70 sentences
Chapter 14: The Body
Chapter 14 · The Picture of Dorian Gray · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Dorian blackmails an old friend, Alan Campbell, a scientist, to destroy Basil's body using chemicals. Alan later kills himself from guilt.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why does Dorian go to his country house?
2
What happens during the hunting party in the forest?
3
How does Dorian feel when he sees James Vane is dead?
4