MrLinleywasthegeneralmanagerofthecollieries，anelderlymanfromthenorth，withnotquiteenoughpunchtosuitClifford；notuptopost-warconditions，norpost-warcollierseither，withtheir`ca’canny’
　　creed。ButConnielikedMrLinley，thoughshewasgladtobesparedthetoadyingofhiswife。
　　Linleystayedtodinner，andConniewasthehostessmenlikedsomuch，somodest，yetsoattentiveandaware，withbig，wideblueeyesaridasoftreposethatsufficientlyhidwhatshewasreallythinking。Conniehadplayedthiswomansomuch，itwasalmostsecondnaturetoher；butstill，decidedlysecond。Yetitwascurioushoweverythingdisappearedfromherconsciousnesswhilesheplayedit。
　　Shewaitedpatientlytillshecouldgoupstairsandthinkherownthoughts。
　　Shewasalwayswaiting，itseemedtobeherforte。
　　Onceinherroom，however，shefeltstillvagueandconfused。Shedidn’tknowwhattothink。Whatsortofamanwashe，really？Didhereallylikeher？Notmuch，shefelt。Yethewaskind。Therewassomething，asortofwarmnaivekindness，curiousandsudden，thatalmostopenedherwombtohim。Butshefelthemightbekindlikethattoanywoman。Thoughevenso，itwascuriouslysoothing，comforting。Andhewasapassionateman，wholesomeandpassionate。Butperhapshewasn’tquiteindividualenough；
　　hemightbethesamewithanywomanashehadbeenwithher。Itreallywasn’tpersonal。Shewasonlyreallyafemaletohim。
　　Butperhapsthatwasbetter。Andafterall，hewaskindtothefemaleinher，whichnomanhadeverbeen。Menwereverykindtothepersonshewas，butrathercrueltothefemale，despisingherorignoringheraltogether。MenwereawfullykindtoConstanceReidortoLadyChatterley；
　　butnottoherwombtheyweren’tkind。AndhetooknonoticeofConstanceorofLadyChatterley；hejustsoftlystrokedherloinsorherbreasts。
　　Shewenttothewoodnextday。Itwasagrey，stillafternoon，withthedark-greendogs-mercuryspreadingunderthehazelcopse，andallthetreesmakingasilentefforttoopentheirbuds。Todayshecouldalmostfeelitinherownbody，thehugeheaveofthesapinthemassivetrees，upwards，up，uptothebud-a，theretopushintolittleflameyoak-leaves，bronzeasblood。Itwaslikeariderunningturgidupward，andspreadingonthesky。
　　Shecametotheclearing，buthewasnotthere。Shehadonlyhalfexpectedhim。Thepheasantchickswererunninglightlyabroad，lightasinsects，fromthecoopswherethefellowhenscluckedanxiously。Conniesatandwatchedthem，andwaited。Sheonlywaited。Eventhechicksshehardlysaw。
　　Shewaited。
　　Thetimepassedwithdream-likeslowness，andhedidnotcome。Shehadonlyhalfexpectedhim。Henevercameintheafternoon。Shemustgohometotea。Butshehadtoforceherselftoleave。
　　Asshewenthome，afinedrizzleofrainfell。
　　`Isitrainingagain？’saidClifford，seeinghershakeherhat。
　　`Justdrizzle。’
　　Shepouredteainsilence，absorbedinasortofobstinacy。Shedidwanttoseethekeepertoday，toseeifitwerereallyreal。Ifitwerereallyreal。
　　`ShallIreadalittletoyouafterwards？’saidClifford。
　　Shelookedathim。Hadhesensedsomething？
　　`Thespringmakesmefeelqueer——IthoughtImightrestalittle，’
　　shesaid。
　　`Justasyoulike。Notfeelingreallyunwell，areyou？’
　　`No!Onlyrathertired——withthespring。WillyouhaveMrsBoltontoplaysomethingwithyou？’
　　`No!IthinkI’lllistenin。’
　　Sheheardthecurioussatisfactioninhisvoice。Shewentupstairstoherbedroom。Theresheheardtheloudspeakerbegintobellow，inanidioticallyvelveteen-genteelsortofvoice，somethingaboutaseriesofstreet-cries，theverycreamofgenteelaffectationimitatingoldcriers。Shepulledonheroldvioletcolouredmackintosh，andslippedoutofthehouseatthesidedoor。
　　Thedrizzleofrainwaslikeaveilovertheworld，mysterious，hushed，notcold。Shegotverywarmasshehurriedacrossthepark。Shehadtoopenherlightwaterproof。
　　Thewoodwassilent，stillandsecretintheeveningdrizzleofrain，fullofthemysteryofeggsandhalf-openbuds，halfunsheathedflowers。
　　Inthedimnessofitalltreesglistenednakedanddarkasiftheyhadunclothedthemselves，andthegreenthingsonearthseemedtohumwithgreenness。
　　Therewasstillnooneattheclearing。Thechickshadnearlyallgoneunderthemother-hens，onlyoneortwolastadventurousonesstilldibbedaboutinthedrynessunderthestrawroofshelter。Andtheyweredoubtfulofthemselves。
　　So!Hestillhadnotbeen。Hewasstayingawayonpurpose。Orperhapssomethingwaswrong。Perhapssheshouldgotothecottageandsee。
　　Butshewasborntowait。Sheopenedthehutwithherkey。Itwasalltidy，thecornputinthebin，theblanketsfoldedontheshelf，thestrawneatinacorner；anewbundleofstraw。Thehurricanelamphungonanail。
　　Thetableandchairhadbeenputbackwhereshehadlain。
　　Shesatdownonastoolinthedoorway。Howstilleverythingwas!Thefinerainblewverysoftly，filmily，butthewindmadenonoise。Nothingmadeanysound。Thetreesstoodlikepowerfulbeings，dim，twilit，silentandalive。Howaliveeverythingwas!
　　Nightwasdrawingnearagain；shewouldhavetogo。Hewasavoidingher。
　　Butsuddenlyhecamestridingintotheclearing，inhisblackoilskinjacketlikeachauffeur，shiningwithwet。Heglancedquicklyatthehut，half-saluted，thenveeredasideandwentontothecoops。Therehecrouchedinsilence，lookingcarefullyateverything，thencarefullyshuttingthehensandchicksupsafeagainstthenight。
　　Atlasthecameslowlytowardsher。Shestillsatonherstool。Hestoodbeforeherundertheporch。
　　`Youcomethen，’hesaid，usingtheintonationofthedialect。
　　`Yes，’shesaid，lookingupathim。`You’relate!’
　　`Ay!’hereplied，lookingawayintothewood。
　　Sheroseslowly，drawingasideherstool。
　　`Didyouwanttocomein？’sheasked。
　　Helookeddownathershrewdly。
　　`Won’tfolksbethinkin’somethink，youcomin’hereeverynight？’hesaid。
　　`Why？’Shelookedupathim，ataloss。`IsaidI’dcome。Nobodyknows。’
　　`Theysoonwill，though，’hereplied。`An’whatthen？’
　　Shewasatalossforananswer。
　　`Whyshouldtheyknow？’shesaid。
　　`Folksalwaysdoes，’hesaidfatally。
　　Herlipquiveredalittle。
　　`WellIcan’thelpit，’shefaltered。
　　`Nay，’hesaid。`Youcanhelpitbynotcomin’——ifyerwantto，’headded，inalowertone。
　　`ButIdon’twantto，’shemurmured。
　　Helookedawayintothewood，andwassilent。
　　`Butwhatwhenfolksfindsout？’heaskedatlast。`Thinkaboutit!
　　Thinkhowloweredyou’llfeel，oneofyourhusband’sservants。’
　　Shelookedupathisavertedface。
　　`Isit，’shestammered，`isitthatyoudon’twantme？’
　　`Think!’hesaid。`ThinkwhatiffolksfindoutSirCliffordan’a’——an’
　　everybodytalkin’——’
　　`Well，Icangoaway。’
　　`Whereto？’
　　`Anywhere!I’vegotmoneyofmyown。Mymotherleftmetwentythousandpoundsintrust，andIknowCliffordcan’ttouchit。Icangoaway。’
　　`But’appenyoudon’twanttogoaway。’
　　`Yes，yes!Idon’tcarewhathappenstome。’
　　`Ay，youthinkthat!Butyou’llcare!You’llhavetocare，everybodyhas。You’vegottorememberyourLadyshipiscarryingonwithagame-keeper。
　　It’snotasifIwasagentleman。Yes，you’dcare。You’dcare。’
　　`Ishouldn’t。WhatdoIcareaboutmyladyship!Ihateitreally。I
　　feelpeoplearejeeringeverytimetheysayit。Andtheyare，theyare!
　　Evenyoujeerwhenyousayit。’
　　`Me!’
　　Forthefirsttimehelookedstraightather，andintohereyes。`I
　　don’tjeeratyou，’hesaid。
　　Ashelookedintohereyesshesawhisowneyesgodark，quitedark，thepupilsdilating。
　　`Don’tyoucareabouta’therisk？’heaskedinahuskyvoice。`Youshouldcare。Don’tcarewhenit’stoolate!’
　　Therewasacuriouswarningpleadinginhisvoice。
　　`ButI’venothingtolose，’shesaidfretfully。`Ifyouknewwhatitis，you’dthinkI’dbegladtoloseit。Butareyouafraidforyourself？’
　　`Ay!’hesaidbriefly。`Iam。I’mafraid。I’mafraid。I’mafraidO’
　　things。’
　　`Whatthings？’sheasked。
　　Hegaveacuriousbackwardjerkofhishead，indicatingtheouterworld。
　　`Things!Everybody!Thelotof’em。’
　　Thenhebentdownandsuddenlykissedherunhappyface。
　　`Nay，Idon’tcare，’hesaid。`Let’shaveit，an’damntherest。Butifyouwastofeelsorryyou’deverdoneit——!’
　　`Don’tputmeoff，’shepleaded。
　　Heputhisfingerstohercheekandkissedheragainsuddenly。
　　`Letmecomeinthen，’hesaidsoftly。`An’takeoffyourmackintosh。’
　　Hehunguphisgun，slippedoutofhiswetleatherjacket，andreachedfortheblankets。
　　`Ibroughtanotherblanket，’hesaid，`sowecanputoneoverusifyoulike。’
　　`Ican’tstaylong，’shesaid。`Dinnerishalf-pastseven。’
　　Helookedatherswiftly，thenathiswatch。
　　`Allright，’hesaid。
　　Heshutthedoor，andlitatinylightinthehanginghurricanelamp。
　　`Onetimewe’llhavealongtime，’hesaid。
　　Heputtheblanketsdowncarefully，onefoldedforherhead。Thenhesatdownamomentonthestool，anddrewhertohim，holdingherclosewithonearm，feelingforherbodywithhisfreehand。Sheheardthecatchofhisintakenbreathashefoundher。Underherfrailpetticoatshewasnaked。
　　`Eh!whatitistotouchthee!’hesaid，ashisfingercaressedthedelicate，warm，secretskinofherwaistandhips。Heputhisfacedownandrubbedhischeekagainstherbellyandagainstherthighsagainandagain。Andagainshewonderedalittleoverthesortofraptureitwastohim。Shedidnotunderstandthebeautyhefoundinher，throughtouchuponherlivingsecretbody，almosttheecstasyofbeauty。Forpassionaloneisawaketoit。Andwhenpassionisdead，orabsent，thenthemagnificentthrobofbeautyisincomprehensibleandevenalittledespicable；warm，livebeautyofcontact，somuchdeeperthanthebeautyofvision。Shefelttheglideofhischeekonherthighsandbellyandbuttocks，andtheclosebrushingofhismoustacheandhissoftthickhair，andherkneesbegantoquiver。Fardowninhershefeltanewstirring，anewnakednessemerging。
　　Andshewashalfafraid。Halfshewishedhewouldnotcaressherso。Hewasencompassinghersomehow。Yetshewaswaiting，waiting。
　　Andwhenhecameintoher，withanintensificationofreliefandconsummationthatwaspurepeacetohim，stillshewaswaiting。Shefeltherselfalittleleftout。Andsheknew，partlyitwasherownfault。Shewilledherselfintothisseparateness。Nowperhapsshewascondemnedtoit。Shelaystill，feelinghismotionwithinher，hisdeep-sunkintentness，thesuddenquiverofhimatthespringingofhisseed，thentheslow-subsidingthrust。Thatthrustofthebuttocks，surelyitwasalittleridiculous。Ifyouwereawoman，andapartinallthebusiness，surelythatthrustingoftheman’sbuttockswassupremelyridiculous。Surelythemanwasintenselyridiculousinthispostureandthisact!
　　Butshelaystill，withoutrecoil。Evenwhenhehadfinished，shedidnotrouseherselftogetagriponherownsatisfaction，asshehaddonewithMichaelis；shelaystill，andthetearsslowlyfilledandranfromhereyes。
　　Helaystill，too。Butheheldhercloseandtriedtocoverherpoornakedlegswithhislegs，tokeepthemwarm。Helayonherwithaclose，undoubtingwarmth。
　　`Areyercold？’heasked，inasoft，smallvoice，asifshewereclose，soclose。Whereasshewasleftout，distant。
　　`No!ButImustgo，’shesaidgently。
　　Hesighed，heldhercloser，thenrelaxedtorestagain。
　　Hehadnotguessedhertears。Hethoughtshewastherewithhim。
　　`Imustgo，’sherepeated。
　　Heliftedhimselfkneeledbesideheramoment，kissedtheinnersideofherthighs，thendrewdownherskirts，buttoninghisownclothesunthinking，noteventurningaside，inthefaint，faintlightfromthelantern。
　　`Thamuncometerth’cottageonetime，’hesaid，lookingdownatherwithawarm，sure，easyface。
　　Butshelaythereinert，andwasgazingupathimthinking：Stranger!
　　Stranger!Sheevenresentedhimalittle。
　　Heputonhiscoatandlookedforhishat，whichhadfallen，thenheslungonhisgun。
　　`Comethen!’hesaid，lookingdownatherwiththosewarm，peacefulsortofeyes。
　　Sheroseslowly。Shedidn’twanttogo。Shealsoratherresentedstaying。
　　Hehelpedherwithherthinwaterproofandsawshewastidy。
　　Thenheopenedthedoor。Theoutsidewasquitedark。Thefaithfuldogundertheporchstoodupwithpleasureseeinghim。Thedrizzleofraindriftedgreylypastuponthedarkness。Itwasquitedark。
　　`Ahmunta’eth’lantern，’hesaid。`The’llbenob’dy。’
　　Hewalkedjustbeforeherinthenarrowpath，swingingthehurricanelamplow，revealingthewetgrass，theblackshinytree-rootslikesnakes，wanflowers。Fortherest，allwasgreyrain-mistandcompletedarkness。
　　`Thamuncometothecottageonetime，’hesaid，`shallta？Wemightaswellbehungforasheepasforalamb。’
　　Itpuzzledher，hisqueer，persistentwantingher，whentherewasnothingbetweenthem，whenheneverreallyspoketoher，andinspiteofherselfsheresentedthedialect。His`thamuncome’seemednotaddressedtoher，butsomecommonwoman。Sherecognizedthefoxgloveleavesoftheridingandknew，moreorless，wheretheywere。
　　`It’squarterpastseven，’hesaid，`you’lldoit。’Hehadchangedhisvoice，seemedtofeelherdistance。Astheyturnedthelastbendintheridingtowardsthehazelwallandthegate，heblewoutthelight。`We’llseefromhere，’besaid，takinghergentlybythearm。