`DoIknowtheman？’askedSirMalcolm。
　　`No!You’veneverseenhim。’
　　Therewasalongpause。
　　`Andwhatareyourplans？’
　　`Idon’tknow。That’sthepoint。’
　　`NopatchingitupwithClifford？’
　　`IsupposeCliffordwouldtakeit，’saidConnie。`Hetoldme，afterlasttimeyoutalkedtohim，hewouldn’tmindifIhadachild，solongasIwentaboutitdiscreetly。’
　　`Onlysensiblethinghecouldsay，underthecircumstances。ThenIsupposeit’llbeallright。’
　　`Inwhatway？’saidConnie，lookingintoherfather’seyes。Theywerebigblueeyesratherlikeherown，butwithacertainuneasinessinthem，alooksometimesofanuneasylittleboy，sometimesalookofsullenselfishness，usuallygood-humouredandwary。
　　`YoucanpresentCliffordwithanheirtoalltheChatterleys，andputanotherbaronetinWragby。’
　　SirMalcolm’sfacesmiledwithahalf-sensualsmile。
　　`ButIdon’tthinkIwantto，’shesaid。
　　`Whynot？Feelingentangledwiththeotherman？Well!Ifyouwantthetruthfromme，mychild，it’sthis。Theworldgoeson。Wragbystandsandwillgoonstanding。Theworldismoreorlessafixedthingand，externally，wehavetoadaptourselvestoit。Privately，inmyprivateopinion，wecanpleaseourselves。Emotionschange。Youmaylikeonemanthisyearandanothernext。ButWragbystillstands。StickbyWragbyasfarasWragbysticksbyyou。Thenpleaseyourself。Butyou’llgetverylittleoutofmakingabreak。Youcanmakeabreakifyouwish。Youhaveanindependentincome，theonlythingthatneverletsyoudown。Butyouwon’tgetmuchoutofit。PutalittlebaronetinWragby。It’sanamusingthingtodo。’
　　AndSirMalcolmsatbackandsmiledagain。Conniedidnotanswer。
　　`Ihopeyouhadarealmanatlast，’hesaidtoherafterawhile，sensuallyalert。
　　`Idid。That’sthetrouble。Therearen’tmanyofthemabout，’shesaid。
　　`No，byGod!’hemused。`Therearen’t!Well，mydear，tolookatyou，hewasaluckyman。Surelyhewouldn’tmaketroubleforyou？’
　　`Ohno!Heleavesmemyownmistressentirely。’
　　`Quite!Quite!Agenuinemanwould。’
　　SirMalcolmwaspleased。Conniewashisfavouritedaughter，hehadalwayslikedthefemaleinher。NotsomuchofhermotherinherasinHilda。
　　AndhehadalwaysdislikedClifford。Sohewaspleased，andverytenderwithhisdaughter，asiftheunbornchildwerehischild。
　　HedrovewithhertoHartland’shotel，andsawherinstalled：thenwentroundtohisclub。Shehadrefusedhiscompanyfortheevening。
　　ShefoundaletterfromMellors。Iwon’tcomeroundtoyourhotel，butI’llwaitforyououtsidetheGoldenCockinAdamStreetatseven。Therehestood，tallandslender，andsodifferent，inaformalsuitofthindarkcloth。Hehadanaturaldistinction，buthehadnotthecut-to-patternlookofherclass。Yet，shesawatonce，hecouldgoanywhere。Hehadanativebreedingwhichwasreallymuchnicerthanthecut-to-patternclassthing。
　　`Ah，thereyouare!Howwellyoulook!’
　　`Yes!Butnotyou。’
　　Shelookedinhisfaceanxiously。Itwasthin，andthecheekbonesshowed。
　　Buthiseyessmiledather，andshefeltathomewithhim。Thereitwas：
　　suddenly，thetensionofkeepingupherappearancesfellfromher。Somethingflowedoutofhimphysically，thatmadeherfeelinwardlyateaseandhappy，athome。Withawoman’snowalertinstinctforhappiness，sheregistereditatonce。`I’mhappywhenhe’sthere!’NotallthesunshineofVenicehadgivenherthisinwardexpansionandwarmth。
　　`Wasithorridforyou？’sheaskedasshesatoppositehimattable。
　　Hewastoothin；shesawitnow。Hishandlayassheknewit，withthecuriouslooseforgottennessofasleepinganimal。Shewantedsomuchtotakeitandkissit。Butshedidnotquitedare。
　　`Peoplearealwayshorrid，’hesaid。
　　`Anddidyoumindverymuch？’
　　`Iminded，asIalwaysshallmind。AndIknewIwasafooltomind。’
　　`Didyoufeellikeadogwithatincantiedtoitstail？Cliffordsaidyoufeltlikethat。’
　　Helookedather。Itwascruelofheratthatmoment：forhispridehadsufferedbitterly。
　　`IsupposeIdid，’hesaid。
　　Sheneverknewthefiercebitternesswithwhichheresentedinsult。
　　Therewasalongpause。
　　`Anddidyoumissme？’sheasked。
　　`Iwasgladyouwereoutofit。’
　　Againtherewasapause。
　　`Butdidpeoplebelieveaboutyouandme？’sheasked。
　　`No!Idon’tthinksoforamoment。’
　　`DidClifford？’
　　`Ishouldsaynot。Heputitoffwithoutthinkingaboutit。Butnaturallyitmadehimwanttoseethelastofme。’
　　`I’mgoingtohaveachild。’
　　Theexpressiondiedutterlyoutofhisface，outofhiswholebody。
　　Helookedatherwithdarkenedeyes，whoselookshecouldnotunderstandatall：likesomedark-flamedspiritlookingather。
　　`Sayyou’reglad!’shepleaded，gropingforhishand。Andshesawacertainexultancespringupinhim。Butitwasnetteddownbythingsshecouldnotunderstand。
　　`It’sthefuture，’hesaid。
　　`Butaren’tyouglad？’shepersisted。
　　`Ihavesuchaterriblemistrustofthefuture。’
　　`Butyouneedn’tbetroubledbyanyresponsibility。Cliffordwouldhaveitashisown，he’dbeglad。’
　　Shesawhimgopale，andrecoilunderthis。Hedidnotanswer。
　　`ShallIgobacktoCliffordandputalittlebaronetintoWragby？’
　　sheasked。
　　Helookedather，paleandveryremote。Theuglylittlegrinflickeredonhisface。
　　`Youwouldn’thavetotellhimwhothefatherwas？’
　　`Oh!’shesaid；`he’dtakeiteventhen，ifIwantedhimto。’
　　Hethoughtforatime。
　　`Ay!’hesaidatlast，tohimself。`Isupposehewould。’
　　Therewassilence。Abiggulfwasbetweenthem。
　　`Butyoudon’twantmetogobacktoClifford，doyou？’sheaskedhim。
　　`Whatdoyouwantyourself？’hereplied。
　　`Iwanttolivewithyou，’shesaidsimply。
　　Inspiteofhimself，littleflamesranoverhisbellyasheheardhersayit，andhedroppedhishead。Thenhelookedupatheragain，withthosehauntedeyes。
　　`Ifit’sworthittoyou，’hesaid。`I’vegotnothing。’
　　`You’vegotmorethanmostmen。Come，youknowit，’shesaid。
　　`Inoneway，Iknowit。’Hewassilentforatime，thinking。Thenheresumed：`TheyusedtosayIhadtoomuchofthewomaninme。Butit’snotthat。I’mnotawomannotbecauseIdon’twanttoshootbirds，neitherbecauseIdon’twanttomakemoney，orgeton。Icouldhavegotoninthearmy，easily，butIdidn’tlikethearmy。ThoughIcouldmanagethemenallright：theylikedmeandtheyhadabitofaholyfearofmewhenI
　　gotmad。No，itwasstupid，dead-handedhigherauthoritythatmadethearmydead：absolutelyfool-dead。Ilikemen，andmenlikeme。ButIcan’tstandthetwaddlingbossyimpudenceofthepeoplewhorunthisworld。That’swhyIcan’tgeton。Ihatetheimpudenceofmoney，andIhatetheimpudenceofclass。Sointheworldasitis，whathaveItoofferawoman？’
　　`Butwhyofferanything？It’snotabargain。It’sjustthatweloveoneanother，’shesaid。
　　`Nay，nay!It’smorethanthat。Livingismovingandmovingon。Mylifewon’tgodownthepropergutters，itjustwon’t。SoI’mabitofawasteticketbymyself。AndI’venobusinesstotakeawomanintomylife，unlessmylifedoessomethingandgetssomewhere，inwardlyatleast，tokeepusbothfresh。Amanmustofferawomansomemeaninginhislife，ifit’sgoingtobeanisolatedlife，andifshe’sagenuinewoman。Ican’tbejustyourmaleconcubine。’
　　`Whynot？’shesaid。
　　`Why，becauseIcan’t。Andyouwouldsoonhateit。’
　　`Asifyoucouldn’ttrustme，’shesaid。
　　Thegrinflickeredonhisface。
　　`Themoneyisyours，thepositionisyours，thedecisionswillliewithyou。I’mnotjustmyLady’sfucker，afterall。’
　　`Whatelseareyou？’
　　`Youmaywellask。Itnodoubtisinvisible。YetI’msomethingtomyselfatleast。Icanseethepointofmyownexistence，thoughIcanquiteunderstandnobodyelse’sseeingit。’
　　`Andwillyourexistencehavelesspoint，ifyoulivewithme？’
　　Hepausedalongtimebeforereplying：
　　`Itmight。’
　　Shetoostayedtothinkaboutit。
　　`Andwhatisthepointofyourexistence？’
　　`Itellyou，it’sinvisible。Idon’tbelieveintheworld，notinmoney，norinadvancement，norinthefutureofourcivilization。Ifthere’sgottobeafutureforhumanity，there’llhavetobeaverybigchangefromwhatnowis。’
　　`Andwhatwilltherealfuturehavetobelike？’
　　`Godknows!Icanfeelsomethinginsideme，allmixedupwithalotofrage。Butwhatitreallyamountsto，Idon’tknow。’
　　`ShallItellyou？’shesaid，lookingintohisface。`ShallItellyouwhatyouhavethatothermendon’thave，andthatwillmakethefuture？
　　ShallItellyou？’
　　`Tellmethen，’hereplied。
　　`It’sthecourageofyourowntenderness，that’swhatitis：likewhenyouputyourhandonmytailandsayI’vegotaprettytail。’
　　Thegrincameflickeringonhisface。
　　`That!’hesaid。
　　Thenhesatthinking。
　　`Ay!’hesaid。`You’reright。It’sthatreally。It’sthatallthewaythrough。Iknewitwiththemen。Ihadtobeintouchwiththem，physically，andnotgobackonit。Ihadtobebodilyawareofthemandabittendertothem，evenifIputemthroughhell。It’saquestionofawareness，asBuddhasaid。Butevenhefoughtshyofthebodilyawareness，andthatnaturalphysicaltenderness，whichisthebest，evenbetweenmen；inapropermanlyway。Makes’emreallymanly，notsomonkeyish。Ay!it’stenderness，really；
　　it’scunt-awareness。Sexisreallyonlytouch，theclosestofalltouch。
　　Andit’stouchwe’reafraidof。We’reonlyhalf-conscious，andhalfalive。
　　We’vegottocomealiveandaware。EspeciallytheEnglishhavegottogetintotouchwithoneanother，abitdelicateandabittender。It’sourcryingneed。’
　　Shelookedathim。
　　`Thenwhyareyouafraidofme？’shesaid。
　　Helookedatheralongtimebeforeheanswered。
　　`It’sthemoney，really，andtheposition。It’stheworldinyou。’
　　`Butisn’ttheretendernessinme？’shesaidwistfully。
　　Helookeddownather，withdarkened，abstracteyes。
　　`Ay!Itcomesan’goes，likeinme。’
　　`Butcan’tyoutrustitbetweenyouandme？’sheasked，gazinganxiouslyathim。
　　Shesawhisfaceallsofteningdown，losingitsarmour。`Maybe!’hesaid。Theywerebothsilent。
　　`Iwantyoutoholdmeinyourarms，’shesaid。`Iwantyoutotellmeyouaregladwearehavingachild。’
　　Shelookedsolovelyandwarmandwistful，hisbowelsstirredtowardsher。
　　`Isupposewecangotomyroom，’hesaid。`Thoughit’sscandalousagain。’
　　Butshesawtheforgetfulnessoftheworldcomingoverhimagain，hisfacetakingthesoft，purelookoftenderpassion。
　　TheywalkedbytheremoterstreetstoCoburgSquare，wherehehadaroomatthetopofthehouse，anatticroomwherehecookedforhimselfonagasring。Itwassmall，butdecentandtidy。
　　Shetookoffherthings，andmadehimdothesame。Shewaslovelyinthesoftfirstflushofherpregnancy。
　　`Ioughttoleaveyoualone，’hesaid。
　　`No!’shesaid。`Loveme!Loveme，andsayyou’llkeepme。Sayyou’llkeepme!Sayyou’llneverletmego，totheworldnortoanybody。’
　　Shecreptcloseagainsthim，clingingfasttohisthin，strongnakedbody，theonlyhomeshehadeverknown。
　　`ThenI’llkeepthee，’hesaid。`Ifthawantsit，thenI’llkeepthee。’
　　Heheldherroundandfast。
　　`Andsayyou’regladaboutthechild，’sherepeated。
　　`Kissit!Kissmywombandsayyou’regladit’sthere。’
　　Butthatwasmoredifficultforhim。
　　`I’veadreadofputtin’childreni’th’world，’hesaid。`I’vesuchadreado’th’futurefor’em。’
　　`Butyou’veputitintome。Betendertoit，andthatwillbeitsfuturealready。Kissit!’
　　Hequivered，becauseitwastrue。`Betendertoit，andthatwillbeitsfuture。’——Atthatmomenthefeltasheerloveforthewoman。HekissedherbellyandhermoundofVenus，tokissclosetothewombandthefoetuswithinthewomb。
　　`Oh，youloveme!Youloveme!’shesaid，inalittlecrylikeoneofherblind，inarticulatelovecries。Andhewentintohersoftly，feelingthestreamoftendernessflowinginreleasefromhisbowelstohers，thebowelsofcompassionkindledbetweenthem。
　　Andherealizedashewentintoherthatthiswasthethinghehadtodo，toeintotendertouch，withoutlosinghisprideorhisdignityorhisintegrityasaman。Afterall，ifshehadmoneyandmeans，andhehadnone，heshouldbetooproudandhonourabletoholdbackhistendernessfromheronthataccount。`Istandforthetouchofbodilyawarenessbetweenhumanbeings，’hesaidtohimself，`andthetouchoftenderness。Andsheismymate。Anditisabattleagainstthemoney，andthemachine，andtheinsentientidealmonkeyishnessoftheworld。Andshewillstandbehindmethere。ThankGodI’vegotawoman!ThankGodI’vegotawomanwhoiswithme，andtenderandawareofme。ThankGodshe’snotabully，norafool。ThankGodshe’satender，awarewoman。’Andashisseedspranginher，hissoulsprangtowardshertoo，inthecreativeactthatisfarmorethanprocreative。