"To get back one's youth, one has merely to repeat one's follies."

Sigh, the third chapter. Well, to me, it was boring because it was just a bunch of people having dinner. Also, the first half of the chapter I really didn't understand what was going on. But, later on, I did. To say the truth, I thought I wouldn't make it to the end, but I did.

Lord Henry goes to see his dear uncle George and asks him about Dorian's background. When his uncle was describing Dorian's background, I really didn't understand, but to say the truth, I really don't understand A THING IN THIS BOOK, until Lord Henry somewhat explains it. Dorian's mother died and his father too. Here is the story behind Dorian's background:
"Mr. Dorian Gray? Who is he?" asked Lord Fermor, knitting his bushy white eyebrows.

"That is what I have come to learn, Uncle George. Or rather, I know who he is. He is the last Lord Kelso's grandson. His mother was a Devereux, Lady Margaret Devereaux. I want you to tell me about his mother. What was she like? Whom did she marry? You have known nearly everybody in your time, so you might have known her. I am very much interested in Mr. Gray at present. I have only just met him."

"Kelso's grandson!" echoed the old gentleman. "Kelso's grandson! ... Of course.... I knew his mother intimately. I believe I was at her christening. She was an extraordinarily beautiful girl, Margaret Devereux, and made all the men frantic by running away with a penniless young fellow-- a mere nobody, sir, a subaltern in a foot regiment, or something of that kind. Certainly. I remember the whole thing as if it happened yesterday. The poor chap was killed in a duel at Spa a few months after the marriage. There was an ugly story about it. They said Kelso got some rascally adventurer, some Belgian brute, to insult his son-in-law in public--paid him, sir, to do it, paid him-- and that the fellow spitted his man as if he had been a pigeon. The thing was hushed up, but, egad, Kelso ate his chop alone at the club for some time afterwards. He brought his daughter back with him, I was told, and she never spoke to him again. Oh, yes; it was a bad business. The girl died, too, died within a year. So she left a son, did she? I had forgotten that. What sort of boy is he? If he is like his mother, he must be a good-looking chap."

"He is very good-looking," assented Lord Henry.

"I hope he will fall into proper hands," continued the old man. "He should have a pot of money waiting for him if Kelso did the right thing by him. His mother had money, too. All the Selby property came to her, through her grandfather. Her grandfather hated Kelso, thought him a mean dog. He was, too. Came to Madrid once when I was there. Egad, I was ashamed of him. The Queen used to ask me about the English noble who was always quarrelling with the cabmen about their fares. They made quite a story of it. I didn't dare show my face at Court for a month. I hope he treated his grandson better than he did the jarvies."

"I don't know," answered Lord Henry. "I fancy that the boy will be well off. He is not of age yet. He has Selby, I know. He told me so. And . . . his mother was very beautiful?"

"Margaret Devereux was one of the loveliest creatures I ever saw, Harry. What on earth induced her to behave as she did, I never could understand. She could have married anybody she chose. Carlington was mad after her. She was romantic, though. All the women of that family were. The men were a poor lot, but, egad! the women were wonderful. Carlington went on his knees to her. Told me so himself. She laughed at him, and there wasn't a girl in London at the time who wasn't after him. And by the way, Harry, talking about silly marriages, what is this humbug your father tells me about Dartmoor wanting to marry an American? Ain't English girls good enough for him?"(pg. 49-51)

Well, now I'm starting to understand. His father died in a duel, while his mother died a year later. Poor boy. Then, he goes off to his aunt Agatha's house. At his aunt's house, he meets a duchess, a Radical, Tories, one of his aunt's oldest friends, a guy who makes up a bunch of garbage, and a smart middle-aged guy. I also didn't understand what they were talking about because they were talking about a bunch of stuff, sort off like being random. I mean, first they talk about American girls,how they have a charm to get European boys and European girls don't have a chance. Then, they go off talking about they should go to Chicago. Later on, th Dutches talks about how great being young is and ask Lord Henry the secret to being young. He responds, saying "

"A blush is very becoming, Duchess," remarked Lord Henry.

"Only when one is young," she answered. "When an old woman like myself blushes, it is a very bad sign. Ah! Lord Henry, I wish you would tell me how to become young again."

He thought for a moment. "Can you remember any great error that you committed in your early days, Duchess?" he asked, looking at her across the table.

"A great many, I fear," she cried.

"Then commit them over again," he said gravely. "To get back one's youth, one has merely to repeat one's follies."

"A delightful theory!" she exclaimed. "I must put it into practice."(pg 57)

Well, I guess what Lord Henry says is true. He might be a talker, but he makes perfect sense at times. "To get back one's youth, one has merely to repeat one's follies." I love this quote.

Then at the end of the chapter, Lord Henry starts to have this feeling that Dorian is looking at him. Finally, Lord Henry is invited to a practice, but I'm not sure if he said yes or no.

Sorry if I sound confuse, but this chapter is somewhat confusing for me.