TPoDG ch. 10

"Perhaps some day the cruel look would have passed away from the scarlet sensitive mouth, and he might show to the world Basil Hallward's masterpiece. No; that was impossible. Hour by hour week by week the thing upon the canvas was growing old. It might escape the hideousness of sin, but the hideousness of age was in store for it" (126).

This realization really makes Dorian paranoid. He starts to think everyone wants to see the picture: "He felt ready to leap upon [Mr. Hubbard] and fling him to the ground if he dared lift the gorgeous hanging that concealed the secret of his life" (126). Dorian believes everyone is out to get him now. There is nothing good in holding back this kind of a secret! He even begins to suspect Victor, his servant, of wanting to deceive him: "Perhaps some night he might find [Victor] creeping up-stairs and trying to force the door of the room" (127). Dorian is losing trust in people quickly and becoming very defensive. He is going to lose is mind while the painting ages.

"'Yes? I thought you would like it,' replied the host, rising from his chair.
'I didn't say I liked it, Harry. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference.'
'Ah, so you have discovered that?' murmured Lord Henry"(129).

I feel bad for Lord Henry! Dorian says that you do not necessarily need to like something that fascinates you. Something can fascinate you, and when it ceases to fascinate you, you may stop liking it. That is what Lord Henry is to Dorian. Henry is simply something that fascinates Dorian; he is not something Dorian necessarily likes. Henry is boring without his outrageous theories. Without his theories, he is nothing more than a loner who has no interest in the world. Without his theories, Dorian would have no reason to spend time with him.