Hello there and welcome to tonight's episode of Down to Sleep. This is the podcast of softly spoken

stories to help you get a good night's rest. Every week I read books to you to help you get

down to sleep tonight. You can listen to this podcast every week for free on podcast apps and

Spotify or you can join me on Patreon to get access to every single episode

and completed audiobooks so far as well as two episodes every week. Now take a nice deep breath

for me and let's get down to sleep. We continue from where we last left off hour by hour

and 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.

The cheeks would become hollow or flaccid. Yellow crow's feet would creep

around the fading eyes and make them horrible. The hair would lose its brightness. The mouth would

gape or droop, would be foolish or gross as the mouths of old men are.

There would be the wrinkled throat, the cold blue-veined hands, the twisted body,

that he remembered in the grandfather, who had been so stern to him in his boyhood.

The picture had to be concealed. There was no help for it.

Bring it in, Mr. Hubbard, please, he said, wearily, turning around. I'm sorry I kept you so long,

but I was thinking of something else. Always glad to have a rest, Mr. Gray,' answered the frame-maker,

who was still gasping for breath.

"'Where shall we put it, sir?'

"'Oh, anywhere. Here, this'll do.

"'I don't want to have it hung up. Just lean it against the wall, thanks.'

"'Might one look at the work of art, sir?

Dorian started.

...