Shewasquitedeterminednowthatthereshouldbenopartingbetweenhimandher。Butthewaysandmeanswerestilltosettle。
　　`DidyouhateBerthaCoutts？’sheaskedhim。
　　`Don’ttalktomeabouther。’
　　`Yes!Youmustletme。Becauseonceyoulikedher。Andonceyouwereasintimatewithherasyouarewithme。Soyouhavetotellme。Isn’titratherterrible，whenyou’vebeenintimatewithher，tohateherso？
　　Whyisit？’
　　`Idon’tknow。Shesortofkeptherwillreadyagainstme，always，always：
　　herghastlyfemalewill：herfreedom!Awoman’sghastlyfreedomthatendsinthemostbeastlybullying!Oh，shealwayskeptherfreedomagainstme，likevitriolinmyface。’
　　`Butshe’snotfreeofyouevennow。Doesshestillloveyou？’
　　`No，no!Ifshe’snotfreeofme，it’sbecauseshe’sgotthatmadrage，shemusttrytobullyme。’
　　`Butshemusthavelovedyou。’
　　`No!Well，inspecksshedid。Shewasdrawntome。AndIthinkeventhatshehated。Shelovedmeinmoments。Butshealwaystookitback，andstartedbullying。Herdeepestdesirewastobullyme，andtherewasnoalteringher。Herwillwaswrong，fromthefirst。’
　　`Butperhapsshefeltyoudidn’treallyloveher，andshewantedtomakeyou。’
　　`MyGod，itwasbloodymaking。’
　　`Butyoudidn’treallyloveher，didyou？Youdidherthatwrong。’
　　`HowcouldI？Ibeganto。Ibegantoloveher。Butsomehow，shealwaysrippedmeup。No，don’tlet’stalkofit。Itwasadoom，thatwas。Andshewasadoomedwoman。Thislasttime，I’dhaveshotherlikeIshootastoat，ifI’dbutbeenallowed：araving，doomedthingintheshapeofawoman!IfonlyIcouldhaveshother，andendedthewholemisery!Itoughttobeallowed。Whenawomangetsabsolutelypossessedbyherownwill，herownwillsetagainsteverything，thenit’sfearful，andsheshouldbeshotatlast。’
　　`Andshouldn’tmenbeshotatlast，iftheygetpossessedbytheirownwill？’
　　`Ay!——thesame!ButImustgetfreeofher，orshe’llbeatmeagain。
　　Iwantedtotellyou。ImustgetadivorceifIpossiblycan。Sowemustbecareful。Wemustn’treallybeseentogether，youandI。Inever，nevercouldstanditifshecamedownonmeandyou。’
　　Connieponderedthis。
　　`Thenwecan’tbetogether？’shesaid。
　　`Notforsixmonthsorso。ButIthinkmydivorcewillgothroughinSeptember；thentillMarch。’
　　`ButthebabywillprobablybebornattheendofFebruary，’shesaid。
　　Hewassilent。
　　`IcouldwishtheCliffordsandBerthasalldead，’hesaid。
　　`It’snotbeingverytendertothem，’shesaid。
　　`Tendertothem？Yea，eventhenthetenderestthingyoucoulddoforthem，perhaps，wouldbetogivethemdeath。Theycan’tlive!Theyonlyfrustratelife。Theirsoulsareawfulinsidethem。Deathoughttobesweettothem。AndIoughttobeallowedtoshootthem。’
　　`Butyouwouldn’tdoit，’shesaid。
　　`Iwouldthough!andwithlessqualmsthanIshootaweasel。Itanyhowhasaprettinessandaloneliness。Buttheyarelegion。Oh，I’dshootthem。’
　　`Thenperhapsitisjustaswellyoudaren’t。’
　　`Well。’
　　Conniehadnowplentytothinkof。ItwasevidenthewantedabsolutelytobefreeofBerthaCoutts。Andshefelthewasright。Thelastattackhadbeentoogrim——Thismeantherlivingalone，tillspring。PerhapsshecouldgetdivorcedfromClifford。Buthow？IfMellorswerenamed，thentherewasanendtohisdivorce。Howloathsome!Couldn’tonegorightaway，tothefarendsoftheearth，andbefreefromitall？
　　Onecouldnot。ThefarendsoftheworldarenotfiveminutesfromCharingCross，nowadays。Whilethewirelessisactive，therearenofarendsoftheearth。KingsofDahomeyandLamasofTibetlistenintoLondonandNewYork。
　　Patience!Patience!Theworldisavastandghastlyintricacyofmechanism，andonehastobeverywary，nottogetmangledbyit。
　　Connieconfidedinherfather。
　　`Yousee，Father，hewasClifford’sgame-keeper：buthewasanofficerinthearmyinIndia。OnlyheislikeColonelC。E。Florence，whopreferredtobecomeaprivatesoldieragain。’
　　SirMalcolm，however，hadnosympathywiththeunsatisfactorymysticismofthefamousC。E。Florence。Hesawtoomuchadvertisementbehindallthehumility。Itlookedjustlikethesortofconceittheknightmostloathed，theconceitofself-abasement。
　　`Wheredidyourgame-keeperspringfrom？’askedSirMalcolmirritably。
　　`Hewasacollier’ssoninTevershall。Buthe’sabsolutelypresentable。’
　　Theknightedartistbecamemoreangry。
　　`Lookstomelikeagold-digger，’hesaid。`Andyou’reaprettyeasygold-mine，apparently。’
　　`No，Father，it’snotlikethat。You’dknowifyousawhim。He’saman。
　　Cliffordalwaysdetestedhimfornotbeinghumble。’
　　`Apparentlyhehadagoodinstinct，foronce。’
　　WhatSirMalcolmcouldnotbearwasthescandalofhisdaughter’shavinganintriguewithagame-keeper。Hedidnotmindtheintrigue：hemindedthescandal。
　　`Icarenothingaboutthefellow。He’sevidentlybeenabletogetroundyouallright。But，byGod，thinkofallthetalk。Thinkofyourstep-motherhowshe’lltakeit!’
　　`Iknow，’saidConnie。`Talkisbeastly：especiallyifyouliveinsociety。
　　Andhewantssomuchtogethisowndivorce。Ithoughtwemightperhapssayitwasanotherman’schild，andnotmentionMellors’nameatall。’
　　`Anotherman’s!Whatotherman’s？’
　　`PerhapsDuncanForbes。Hehasbeenourfriendallhislife。’
　　`Andhe’safairlywell-knownartist。Andhe’sfondofme。’
　　`WellI’mdamned!PoorDuncan!Andwhat’shegoingtogetoutofit？’
　　`Idon’tknow。Buthemightratherlikeit，even。’
　　`Hemight，mighthe？Well，he’safunnymanifhedoes。Why，you’veneverevenhadanaffairwithhim，haveyou？’
　　`No!Buthedoesn’treallywantit。Heonlylovesmetobenearhim，butnottotouchhim。’
　　`MyGod，whatageneration!’
　　`Hewouldlikememostofalltobeamodelforhimtopaintfrom。OnlyIneverwantedto。’
　　`Godhelphim!Buthelooksdown-troddenenoughforanything。’
　　`Still，youwouldn’tmindsomuchthetalkabouthim？’
　　`MyGod，Connie，allthebloodycontriving!’
　　`Iknow!It’ssickening!ButwhatcanIdo？’
　　`Contriving，conniving；conniving，contriving!Makesamanthinkhe’slivedtoolong。’
　　`Come，Father，ifyouhaven’tdoneagooddealofcontrivingandconnivinginyourtime，youmaytalk。’
　　`Butitwasdifferent，Iassureyou。’
　　`It’salwaysdifferent。’
　　Hildaarrived，alsofuriouswhensheheardofthenewdevelopments。
　　Andshealsosimplycouldnotstandthethoughtofapublicscandalabouthersisterandagame-keeper。Too，toohumiliating!
　　`Whyshouldwenotjustdisappear，separately，toBritishColumbia，andhavenoscandal？’saidConnie。
　　Butthatwasnogood。Thescandalwouldcomeoutjustthesame。AndifConniewasgoingwiththeman，she’dbetterbeabletomarryhim。ThiswasHilda’sopinion。SirMalcolmwasn’tsure。Theaffairmightstillblowover。
　　`Butwillyouseehim，Father？’
　　PoorSirMalcolm!hewasbynomeanskeenonit。AndpoorMellors，hewasstilllesskeen。Yetthemeetingtookplace：alunchinaprivateroomattheclub，thetwomenalone，lookingoneanotherupanddown。
　　SirMalcolmdrankafairamountofwhisky，Mellorsalsodrank。AndtheytalkedallthewhileaboutIndia，onwhichtheyoungmanwaswellinformed。
　　Thislastedduringthemeal。Onlywhencoffeewasserved，andthewaiterhadgone，SirMalcolmlitacigarandsaid，heartily：
　　`Well，youngman，andwhataboutmydaughter？’
　　ThegrinflickeredonMellors’face。
　　`Well，Sir，andwhatabouther？’
　　`You’vegotababyinherallright。’
　　`Ihavethathonour!’grinnedMellors。
　　`Honour，byGod!’SirMalcolmgavealittlesquirtinglaugh，andbecameScotchandlewd。`Honour!Howwasthegoing，eh？Good，myboy，what？’
　　`Good!’
　　`I’llbetitwas!Ha-ha!Mydaughter，chipoftheoldblock，what!I
　　neverwentbackonagoodbitoffucking，myself。Thoughhermother，oh，holysaints!’Herolledhiseyestoheaven。`Butyouwarmedherup，oh，youwarmedherup，Icanseethat。Ha-ha!Mybloodinher!Yousetfiretoherhaystackallright。Ha-ha-ha!Iwasjollygladofit，Icantellyou。Sheneededit。Oh，she’sanicegirl，she’sanicegirl，andIknewshe’dbegoodgoing，ifonlysomedamnedmanwouldsetherstackonfire!
　　Ha-ha-ha!Agame-keeper，eh，myboy!Bloodygoodpoacher，ifyouaskme。
　　Ha-ha!Butnow，lookhere，speakingseriously，whatarewegoingtodoaboutit？Speakingseriously，youknow!’
　　Speakingseriously，theydidn’tgetveryfar。Mellors，thoughalittletipsy，wasmuchthesobererofthetwo。Hekepttheconversationasintelligentaspossible：whichisn’tsayingmuch。
　　`Soyou’reagame-keeper!Oh，you’requiteright!Thatsortofgameisworthaman’swhile，eh，what？Thetestofawomaniswhenyoupinchherbottom。Youcantelljustbythefeelofherbottomifshe’sgoingtocomeupallright。Ha-ha!Ienvyyou，myboy。Howoldareyou？’
　　`Thirty-nine。’
　　Theknightliftedhiseyebrows。
　　`Asmuchasthat!Well，you’veanothergoodtwentyyears，bythelookofyou。Oh，game-keeperornot，you’reagoodcock。Icanseethatwithoneeyeshut。NotlikethatblastedClifford!Alily-liveredhoundwithneverafuckinhim，neverhad。Ilikeyou，myboy，I’llbetyou’veagoodcodonyou；oh，you’reabantam，Icanseethat。You’reafighter。Game-keeper!
　　Ha-ha，bycrikey，Iwouldn’ttrustmygametoyou!Butlookhere，seriously，whatarewegoingtodoaboutit？Theworld’sfullofblastedoldwomen。’
　　Seriously，theydidn’tdoanythingaboutit，exceptestablishtheoldfree-masonryofmalesensualitybetweenthem。
　　`Andlookhere，myboy，ifeverIcandoanythingforyou，youcanrelyonme。Game-keeper!Christ，butit’srich!Ilikeit!Oh，Ilikeit!Showsthegirl’sgotspunk。What？Afterall，youknow，shehasherownincome，moderate，moderate，butabovestarvation。AndI’llleaveherwhatI’vegot。ByGod，Iwill。Shedeservesitforshowingspunk，inaworldofoldwomen。I’vebeenstrugglingtogetmyselfclearoftheskirtsofoldwomenforseventyyears，andhaven’tmanagedityet。Butyou’retheman，Icanseethat。’
　　`I’mgladyouthinkso。Theyusuallytellme，inasidewaysfashion，thatI’mthemonkey。’
　　`Oh，theywould!Mydearfellow，whatcouldyoubebutamonkey，toalltheoldwomen？’
　　Theypartedmostgenially，andMellorslaughedinwardlyallthetimefortherestoftheday。
　　ThefollowingdayhehadlunchwithConnieandHilda，atsomediscreetplace。
　　`It’saverygreatpityit’ssuchanuglysituationallround，’saidHilda。
　　`Ihadaloto’funoutofit，’saidhe。
　　`Ithinkyoumighthaveavoidedputtingchildrenintotheworlduntilyouwerebothfreetomarryandhavechildren。’
　　`TheLordblewabittoosoononthespark，’saidhe。
　　`IthinktheLordhadnothingtodowithit。Ofcourse，Conniehasenoughmoneytokeepyouboth，butthesituationisunbearable。’
　　`Butthenyoudon’thavetobearmorethanasmallcornerofit，doyou？’saidhe。
　　`Ifyou’dbeeninherownclass。’
　　`OrifI’dbeeninacageattheZoo。’
　　Therewassilence。
　　`Ithink，’saidHilda，`itwillbebestifshenamesquiteanothermanasco-respondentandyoustayoutofitaltogether。’
　　`ButIthoughtI’dputmyfootrightin。’
　　`Imeaninthedivorceproceedings。’
　　Hegazedatherinwonder。ConniehadnotdaredmentiontheDuncanschemetohim。
　　`Idon’tfollow，’hesaid。
　　`Wehaveafriendwhowouldprobablyagreetobenamedasco-respondent，sothatyournameneednotappear，’saidHilda。
　　`Youmeanaman？’
　　`Ofcourse!’
　　`Butshe’sgotnoother？’
　　HelookedinwonderatConnie。
　　`No，no!’shesaidhastily。`Onlythatoldfriendship，quitesimple，nolove。’
　　`Thenwhyshouldthefellowtaketheblame？Ifhe’shadnothingoutofyou？’
　　`Somemenarechivalrousanddon’tonlycountwhattheygetoutofawoman，’saidHilda。
　　`Oneforme，eh？Butwho’sthejohnny？’
　　`Afriendwhomwe’veknownsincewewerechildreninScotland，anartist。’
　　`DuncanForbes!’hesaidatonce，forConniehadtalkedtohim。`Andhowwouldyoushifttheblameontohim？’
　　`Theycouldstaytogetherinsomehotel，orshecouldevenstayinhisapartment。’
　　`Seemstomelikealotoffussfornothing，’hesaid。
　　`Whatelsedoyousuggest？’saidHilda。`Ifyournameappears，youwillgetnodivorcefromyourwife，whoisapparentlyquiteanimpossiblepersontobemixedupwith。’
　　`Allthat!’hesaidgrimly。
　　Therewasalongsilence。
　　`Wecouldgorightaway，’hesaid。
　　`ThereisnorightawayforConnie，’saidHilda。`Cliffordistoowellknown。’
　　Againthesilenceofpurefrustration。
　　`Theworldiswhatitis。Ifyouwanttolivetogetherwithoutbeingpersecuted，youwillhavetomarry。Tomarry，youbothhavetobedivorced。
　　Sohowareyoubothgoingaboutit？’