Iamassiduously，admirablylookedafterbyMrsBolton。Sheisaqueerspecimen。ThemoreIlive，themoreIrealizewhatstrangecreatureshumanbeingsare。SomeofthemmightJustaswellhaveahundredlegs，likeacentipede，orsix，likealobster。Thehumanconsistencyanddignityonehasbeenledtoexpectfromone’sfellow-menseemactuallynonexistent。
　　Onedoubtsiftheyexisttoanystartlingdegreeevenisoneself。
　　Thescandalofthekeepercontinuesandgetsbiggerlikeasnowball。
　　MrsBoltonkeepsmeinformed。Sheremindsmeofafishwhich，thoughdumb，seemstobebreathingsilentgossipthroughitsgills，whileeveritlives。
　　Allgoesthroughthesieveofhergills，andnothingsurprisesher。Itisasiftheeventsofotherpeople’sliveswerethenecessaryoxygenofherown。
　　SheispreoccupiedwithtieMellorsscandal，andifIwillletherbegin，shetakesmedowntothedepths。Hergreatindignation，whicheventhenisliketheindignationofanactressplayingarole，isagainstthewifeofMellors，whomshepersistsincallingBerthaCourts。IhavebeentothedepthsofthemuddyliesoftheBerthaCouttsesofthisworld，andwhen，releasedfromthecurrentofgossip，Islowlyrisetothesurfaceagain，Ilookatthedaylightitswonderthatitevershouldbe。
　　Itseemstomeabsolutelytrue，thatourworld，whichappearstousthesurfaceofallthings，isreallythebottomofadeepocean：
　　allourtreesaresubmarinegrowths，andweareweird，scaly-cladsubmarinefauna，feedingourselvesonoffallikeshrimps。Onlyoccasionallythesoulrisesgaspingthroughthefathomlessfathomsunderwhichwelive，faruptothesurfaceoftheether，wherethereistrueair。Iamconvincedthattheairwenormallybreatheisakindofwater，andmenandwomenareaspeciesoffish。
　　Butsometimesthesouldoescomeup，shootslikeakittiwakeintothelight，withecstasy，afterhavingpreyedonthesubmarinedepths。Itisourmortaldestiny，Isuppose，topreyupontheghastlysubaqueouslifeofourfellow-men，inthesubmarinejungleofmankind。Butourimmortaldestinyistoescape，oncewehaveswallowedourswimmycatch，upagainintothebrightether，burstingoutfromthesurfaceofOldOceanintoreallight。Thenonerealizesone’seternalnature。
　　WhenIhearMrsBoltontalk，Ifeelmyselfplungingdown，down，tothedepthswherethefishofhumansecretswriggleandswim。Carnalappetitemakesoneseizeabeakfulofprey：thenup，upagain，outofthedenseintotheethereal，fromthewetintothedry。ToyouIcantellthewholeprocess。ButwithMrsBoltonIonlyfeelthedownwardplunge，down，horribly，amongthesea-weedsandthepallidmonstersoftheverybottom。
　　Iamafraidwearegoingtoloseourgame-keeper。Thescandalofthetruantwife，insteadofdyingdown，hasreverberatedtogreaterandgreaterdimensions。Heisaccusedofallunspeakablethingsandcuriouslyenough，thewomanhasmanagedtogetthebulkofthecolliers’wivesbehindher，gruesomefish，andthevillageisputrescentwithtalk。
　　IhearthisBerthaCouttsbesiegesMellorsinhismother’shouse，havingransackedthecottageandthehut。Sheseizedonedayuponherowndaughter，asthatchipofthefemaleblockwasreturningfromschool；butthelittleone，insteadofkissingthelovingmother’shand，bititfirmly，andsoreceivedfromtheotherhandasmackinthefacewhichsentherreelingintothegutter：whenceshewasrescuedbyanindignantandharassedgrandmother。
　　Thewomanhasblownoffanamazingquantityofpoison-gas。Shehasairedindetailallthoseincidentsofherconjugallifewhichareusuallyburieddowninthedeepestgraveofmatrimonialsilence，betweenmarriedcouples。
　　Havingchosentoexhumethem，aftertenyearsofburial，shehasaweirdarray。IhearthesedetailsfromLinleyandthedoctor：thelatterbeingamused。Ofcoursethereisreallynothinginit。Humanityhasalwayshadastrangeavidityforunusualsexualpostures，andifamanlikestousehiswife，asBenvenutoCellinisays，`intheItalianway’，wellthatisamatteroftaste。ButIhadhardlyexpectedourgame-keepertobeuptosomanytricks。NodoubtBerthaCouttsherselffirstputhimuptothem。
　　Inanycase，itisamatteroftheirownpersonalsqualor，andnothingtodowithanybodyelse。
　　However，everybodylistens：asIdomyself。Adozenyearsago，commondecencywouldhavehushedthething。Butcommondecencynolongerexists，andthecolliers’wivesareallupinarmsandunabashedinvoice。OnewouldthinkeverychildinTevershall，forthelastfiftyyears，hadbeenanimmaculateconception，andeveryoneofournonconformistfemaleswasashiningJoanofArc。Thatourestimablegame-keepershouldhaveabouthimatouchofRabelaisseemstomakehimmoremonstrousandshockingthanamurdererlikeCrippen。YetthesepeopleinTevershallarealooselot，ifoneistobelieveallaccounts。
　　Thetroubleis，however，theexecrableBerthaCouttshasnotconfinedherselftoherownexperiencesandsufferings。Shehasdiscovered，atthetopofhervoice，thatherhusbandhasbeen`keeping’womendownatthecottage，andhasmadeafewrandomshotsatnamingthewomen。Thishasbroughtafewdecentnamestrailingthroughthemud，andthethinghasgonequiteconsiderablytoofar。Aninjunctionhasbeentakenoutagainstthewoman。
　　IhavehadtointerviewMellorsaboutthebusiness，asitwasimpossibletokeepthewomanawayfromthewood。Hegoesaboutasusual，withhisMiller-of-the-Deeair，Icarefornobody，nonotI，ifnobodycareforme!Nevertheless，Ishrewdlysuspecthefeelslikeadogwithatincantiedtoitstail：thoughhemakesaverygoodshowofpretendingthetincanisn’tthere。ButIheardthatinthevillagethewomencallawaytheirchildrenifheispassing，asifheweretheMarquisdeSadeinperson。
　　Hegoesonwithacertainimpudence，butIamafraidthetincanisfirmlytiedtohistail，andthatinwardlyherepeats，likeDonRodrigointheSpanishballad：`Ah，nowitbitesmewhereImosthavesinned!’
　　Iaskedhimifhethoughthewouldbeabletoattendtohisdutyinthewood，andhesaidhedidnotthinkhehadneglectedit。Itoldhimitwasanuisancetohavethewomantrespassing：towhichherepliedthathehadnopowertoarresther。ThenIhintedatthescandalanditsunpleasantcourse。`Ay，’hesaid。`folksshoulddotheirownfuckin’，thentheywouldn’twanttolistentoalotofclatfartaboutanotherman’s。’
　　Hesaiditwithsomebitterness，andnodoubtitcontainstherealgermoftruth。Themodeofputtingit，however，isneitherdelicatenorrespectful。
　　Ihintedasmuch，andthenIheardthetincanrattleagain。`It’snotforamantheshapeyou’rein，SirClifford，totwitmeforhavin’acodatweenmylegs。’
　　Thesethings，saidindiscriminatelytoallandsundry，ofcoursedonothelphimatall，andtherector，andFinley，andBurroughsallthinkitwouldbeaswellifthemanlefttheplace。
　　Iaskedhimfitwastruethatheentertainedladiesdownatthecottage，andallhesaidwas：`Why，what’sthattoyou，SirClifford？’ItoldhimIintendedtohavedecencyobservedonmyestate，towhichhereplied：
　　`Thenyoumunbuttonthemouthso’a’th’women。’——WhenIpressedhimabouthismanneroflifeatthecottage，hesaid：`Surelyyoumightma’eascandalouto’mean’mybitchFlossie。You’vemissedsummatthere。’
　　Asamatteroffact，foranexampleofimpertinencehe’dbehardtobeat。
　　Iaskedhimfitwouldbeeasyforhimtofindanotherjob。Hesaid：
　　`Ifyou’rehintin’thatyou’dliketoshuntmeoutofthisjob，it’dbeeasyaswink。’Sohemadenotroubleatallaboutleavingattheendofnextweek，andapparentlyiswillingtoinitiateayoungfellow，JoeChambers，intoasmanymysteriesofthecraftaspossible。ItoldhimIwouldgivehimamonth’swagesextra，whenheleft。Hesaidhe’dratherIkeptmymoney，asI’dnooccasiontoeasemyconscience。Iaskedhimwhathemeant，andhesaid：`Youdon’towemenothingextra，SirClifford，sodon’tpaymenothingextra。Ifyouthinkyouseemyshirthangingout，justtellme。’
　　Well，thereistheendofitforthetimebeing。Thewomanhasgoneaway：wedon’tknowwhereto：butsheisliabletoarrestifsheshowsherfaceinTevershall。AndIheardsheismortallyafraidofgaol，becauseshemeritsitsowell。MellorswilldepartonSaturdayweek，andtheplacewillsoonbecomenormalagain。
　　Meanwhile，mydearConnie，ifyouwouldenjoytostayinVeniceorinSwitzerlandtillthebeginningofAugust，Ishouldbegladtothinkyouwereoutofallthisbuzzofnastiness，whichwillhavediedquiteawaybytheendofthemonth。
　　Soyousee，wearcdeep-seamonsters，andwhenthelobsterwalksonmud，hestirsitupforeverybody。Wemustperforcetakeitphilosophically。Theirritation，andthelackofanysympathyinanydirection，ofClifford’sletter，hadabadeffectonConnie。ButsheunderstooditbetterwhenshereceivedthefollowingfromMellors：Thecatisoutofthebag，alongwithvariousotherpussies。
　　YouhaveheardthatmywifeBerthacamebacktomyunlovingarms，andtookupherabodeinthecottage：where，tospeakdisrespectfully，shesmelledarat，intheshapeofalittlebottleofCoty。Otherevidenceshedidnotfind，atleastforsomedays，whenshebegantohowlabouttheburntphotograph。Shenoticedtheglassandtheback-boardinthesquarebedroom。
　　Unfortunately，ontheback-boardsomebodyhadscribbledlittlesketches，andtheinitials，severaltimesrepeated：C。S。R。This，however，affordednoclueuntilshebrokeintothehut，andfoundoneofyourbooks，anautobiographyoftheactressJudith，withyourname，ConstanceStewartReid，onthefrontpage。Afterthis，forsomedaysshewentroundloudlysayingthatmyparamourwasnolessapersonthanLadyChatterleyherself。Thenewscameatlasttotherector，MrBurroughs，andtoSirClifford。Theythenproceededtotakelegalstepsagainstmyliegelady，whoforherpartdisappeared，havingalwayshadamortalfearofthepolice。
　　SirCliffordaskedtoseeme，soIwenttohim。Hetalkedaroundthingsandseemedannoyedwithme。ThenheaskedifIknewthatevenherladyship’snamehadbeenmentioned。IsaidIneverlistenedtoscandal，andwassurprisedtohearthisbitfromSirCliffordhimself。Hesaid，ofcourseitwasagreatinsult，andItoldhimtherewasQueenMaryonacalendarinthescullery，nodoubtbecauseHerMajestyformedpartofmyharem。Buthedidn’tappreciatethesarcasm。HeasgoodastoldmeIwasadisreputablecharacteralsowalkedaboutwithmybreeches’buttonsundone，andIasgoodastoldhimhe’dnothingtounbuttonanyhow，sohegavemethesack，andIleaveonSaturdayweek，andtheplacethereofshallknowmenomore。
　　IshallgotoLondon，andmyoldlandlady，MrsInger，17CoburgSquare，willeithergivemearoomorwillfindoneforme。
　　Besureyoursinswillfindyouout，especiallyifyou’remarriedandhername’sBertha——Therewasnotawordaboutherself，ortoher。Connieresentedthis。Hemighthavesaidsomefewwordsofconsolationorreassurance。Butsheknewhewasleavingherfree，freetogobacktoWragbyandtoClifford。Sheresentedthattoo。Heneedriotbesofalselychivalrous。ShewishedhehadsaidtoClifford：`Yes，sheismyloverandmymistressandIamproudofit!’Buthiscouragewouldn’tcarryhimsofar。
　　SohernamewascoupledwithhisinTevershall!Itwasamess。Butthatwouldsoondiedown。
　　Shewasangry，withthecomplicatedandconfusedangerthatmadeherinert。Shedidnotknowwhattodonorwhattosay，soshesaidanddidnothing。ShewentonatVenicejustthesame，rowingoutinthegondolawithDuncanForbes，bathing，lettingthedaysslipby。Duncan，whohadbeenratherdepressinglyinlovewithhertenyearsago，wasinlovewithheragain。Butshesaidtohim：`Ionlywantonethingofmen，andthatis，thattheyshouldleavemealone。’
　　SoDuncanleftheralone：reallyquitepleasedtobeableto。Allthesame，heofferedherasoftstreamofaqueer，invertedsortoflove。Hewantedtobewithher。
　　`Haveyoueverthought，’hesaidtoheroneday，`howverylittlepeopleareconnectedwithoneanother。LookatDaniele!Heishandsomeasasonofthesun。Butseehowalonehelooksinhishandsomeness。YetIbethehasawifeandfamily，andcouldn’tpossiblygoawayfromthem。’
　　`Askhim，’saidConnie。
　　Duncandidso。Danielesaidhewasmarried，andhadtwochildren，bothmale，agedsevenandnine。Buthebetrayednoemotionoverthefact。
　　`Perhapsonlypeoplewhoarecapableofrealtogethernesshavethatlookofbeingaloneintheuniverse，’saidConnie。`Theothershaveacertainstickiness，theysticktothemass，likeGiovanni。’`And，’shethoughttoherself，`likeyou，Duncan。’
　　Chapter18
　　Shehadtomakeuphermindwhattodo。ShewouldleaveVeniceontheSaturdaythathewasleavingWragby：insixdays’time。ThiswouldbringhertoLondonontheMondayfollowing，andshewouldthenseehim。ShewrotetohimtotheLondonaddress，askinghimtosendheralettertoHartland’shotel，andtocallforherontheMondayeveningatseven。
　　Insideherselfshewascuriouslyandcomplicatedlyangry，andallherresponseswerenumb。SherefusedtoconfideeveninHilda，andHilda，offendedbyhersteadysilence，hadbecomeratherintimatewithaDutchwoman。Conniehatedtheseratherstiflingintimaciesbetweenwomen，intimacyintowhichHildaalwaysenteredponderously。
　　SirMalcolmdecidedtotravelwithConnie，andDuncancouldcomeonwithHilda。Theoldartistalwaysdidhimselfwell：hetookberthsontheOrientExpress，inspiteofConnie’sdislikeoftrainsdeluxe，theatmosphereofvulgardepravitythereisaboardthemnowadays。However，itwouldmakethejourneytoParisshorter。
　　SirMalcolmwasalwaysuneasygoingbacktohiswife。Itwashabitcarriedoverfromthefirstwife。Buttherewouldbeahouse-partyforthegrouse，andhewantedtobewellahead。Connie，sunburntandhandsome，satinsilence，forgettingallaboutthelandscape。
　　`Alittledullforyou，goingbacktoWragby，’saidherfather，noticingherglumness。
　　`I’mnotsureIshallgobacktoWragby，’shesaid，withstartlingabruptness，lookingintohiseyeswithherbigblueeyes。Hisbigblueeyestookonthefrightenedlookofamanwhosesocialconscienceisnotquiteclear。
　　`Youmeanyou’llstayoninParisawhile？’
　　`No!ImeannevergobacktoWragby。’
　　Hewasbotheredbyhisownlittleproblems，andsincerelyhopedhewasgettingnoneofherstoshoulder。
　　`How’sthat，allatonce？’heasked。
　　`I’mgoingtohaveachild。’
　　Itwasthefirsttimeshehadutteredthewordstoanylivingsoul，anditseemedtomarkacleavageinherlife。
　　`Howdoyouknow？’saidherfather。
　　Shesmiled。
　　`HowshouldIknow？’
　　`ButnotClifford’schild，ofcourse？’
　　`No!Anotherman’s。’
　　Sheratherenjoyedtormentinghim。