`Butisitanyuse？’saidMrsBolton。`Can’tyoulethergo，andberidofher？’
　　`No!Shesaidshewascomingback，andshe’sgottocome。’
　　MrsBoltonopposedhimnomore。Sheknewwhatshewasdealingwith。Ineedn’ttellyouwhateffectyourletterhashadonme[hewrotetoConnietoLondon]。Perhapsyoucanimagineitifyoutry，thoughnodoubtyouwon’ttroubletouseyourimaginationonmybehalf。
　　Icanonlysayonethinginanswer：Imustseeyoupersonally，hereatWragby，beforeIcandoanything。YoupromisedfaithfullytocomebacktoWragby，andIholdyoutothepromise。Idon’tbelieveanythingnorunderstandanythinguntilIseeyoupersonally，hereundernormalcircumstances。
　　Ineedn’ttellyouthatnobodyheresuspectsanything，soyourreturnwouldbequitenormal。Thenifyoufeel，afterwehavetalkedthingsover，thatyoustillremaininthesamemind，nodoubtwecancometoterms。ConnieshowedthislettertoMellors。
　　`Hewantstobeginhisrevengeonyou，’hesaid，handingtheletterback。
　　Conniewassilent。ShewassomewhatsurprisedtofindthatshewasafraidofClifford。Shewasafraidtogonearhim。Shewasafraidofhimasifhewereevilanddangerous。
　　`WhatshallIdo？’shesaid。
　　`Nothing，ifyoudon’twanttodoanything。’
　　Shereplied，tryingtoputCliffordoff。Heanswered：Ifyoudon’tcomebacktoWragbynow，Ishallconsiderthatyouarecomingbackoneday，andactaccordingly。Ishalljustgoonthesame，andwaitforyouhere，ifIwaitforfiftyyears。Shewasfrightened。Thiswasbullyingofaninsidioussort。Shehadnodoubthemeantwhathesaid。Hewouldnotdivorceher，andthechildwouldbehis，unlessshecouldfindsomemeansofestablishingitsillegitimacy。
　　Afteratimeofworryandharassment，shedecidedtogotoWragby。Hildawouldgowithher。ShewrotethistoClifford。Hereplied：Ishallnotwelcomeyoursister，butIshallnotdeityherthedoor。Ihavenodoubtshehasconnivedatyourdesertionofyourdutiesandresponsibilities，sodonotexpectmetoshowpleasureinseeingher。TheywenttoWragby。Cliffordwasawaywhentheyarrived。MrsBoltonreceivedthem。
　　`Oh，yourLadyship，itisn’tthehappyhome-comingwehopedfor，isit!’shesaid。
　　`Isn’tit？’saidConnie。
　　Sothiswomanknew!Howmuchdidtherestoftheservantsknoworsuspect？
　　Sheenteredthehouse，whichnowshehatedwitheveryfibreinherbody。
　　Thegreat，ramblingmassofaplaceseemedeviltoher，justamenaceoverher。Shewasnolongeritsmistress，shewasitsvictim。
　　`Ican’tstaylonghere，’shewhisperedtoHilda，terrified。
　　Andshesufferedgoingintoherownbedroom，re-enteringintopossessionasifnothinghadhappened。ShehatedeveryminuteinsidetheWragbywalls。
　　TheydidnotmeetCliffordtilltheywentdowntodinner。Hewasdressed，andwithablacktie：ratherreserved，andverymuchthesuperiorgentleman。
　　Hebehavedperfectlypolitelyduringthemealandkeptapolitesortofconversationgoing：butitseemedalltouchedwithinsanity。
　　`Howmuchdotheservantsknow？’askedConnie，whenthewomanwasoutoftheroom。
　　`Ofyourintentions？Nothingwhatsoever。’
　　`MrsBoltonknows。’
　　Hechangedcolour。
　　`MrsBoltonisnotexactlyoneoftheservants，’hesaid。
　　`Oh，Idon’tmind。’
　　Therewastensiontillaftercoffee，whenHildasaidshewouldgouptoherroom。
　　CliffordandConniesatinsilencewhenshehadgone。Neitherwouldbegintospeak。Conniewassogladthathewasn’ttakingthepatheticline，shekepthimuptoasmuchhaughtinessaspossible。Shejustsatsilentandlookeddownatherhands。
　　`Isupposeyoudon’tatallmindhavinggonebackonyourword？’hesaidatlast。
　　`Ican’thelpit，’shemurmured。
　　`Butifyoucan’t，whocan？’
　　`Isupposenobody。’
　　Helookedatherwithcuriouscoldrage。Hewasusedtoher。Shewasasitwereembeddedinhiswill。Howdaredshenowgobackonhim，anddestroythefabricofhisdailyexistence？Howdaredshetrytocausethisderangementofhispersonality？
　　`Andforwhatdoyouwanttogobackoneverything？’heinsisted。
　　`Love!’shesaid。Itwasbesttobehackneyed。
　　`LoveofDuncanForbes？Butyoudidn’tthinkthatworthhaving，whenyoumetme。Doyoumeantosayyounowlovehimbetterthananythingelseinlife？’
　　`Onechanges，’shesaid。
　　`Possibly!Possiblyyoumayhavewhims。Butyoustillhavetoconvincemeoftheimportanceofthechange。Imerelydon’tbelieveinyourloveofDuncanForbes。’
　　`Butwhyshouldyoubelieveinit？Youhaveonlytodivorceme，nottobelieveinmyfeelings。’
　　`AndwhyshouldIdivorceyou？’
　　`BecauseIdon’twanttolivehereanymore。Andyoureallydon’twantme。’
　　`Pardonme!Idon’tchange。Formypart，sinceyouaremywife，Ishouldpreferthatyoushouldstayundermyroofindignityandquiet。Leavingasidepersonalfeelings，andIassureyou，onmypartitisleavingasideagreatdeal，itisbitterasdeathtometohavethisorderoflifebrokenup，hereinWragby，andthedecentroundofdailylifesmashed，justforsomewhimofyours。’
　　Afteratimeofsilenceshesaid：
　　`Ican’thelpit。I’vegottogo。IexpectIshallhaveachild。’
　　Hetoowassilentforatime。
　　`Andisitforthechild’ssakeyoumustgo？’heaskedatlength。
　　Shenodded。
　　`Andwhy？IsDuncanForbessokeenonhisspawn？’
　　`Surelykeenerthanyouwouldbe，’shesaid。
　　`Butreally？Iwantmywife，andIseenoreasonforlettinghergo。
　　Ifshelikestobearachildundermyroof，sheiswelcome，andthechildiswelcome：providedthatthedecencyandorderoflifeispreserved。DoyoumeantotellmethatDuncanForbeshasagreaterholdoveryou？Idon’tbelieveit。’
　　Therewasapause。
　　`Butdon’tyousee，’saidConnie。`Imustgoawayfromyou，andImustlivewiththemanIlove。’
　　`No，Idon’tseeit!Idon’tgivetuppenceforyourlove，norforthemanyoulove。Idon’tbelieveinthatsortofcant。’
　　`Butyousee，Ido。’
　　`Doyou？MydearMadam，youaretoointelligent，Iassureyou，tobelieveinyourownloveforDuncanForbes。Believeme，evennowyoureallycaremoreforme。SowhyshouldIgiveintosuchnonsense!’
　　Shefelthewasrightthere。Andshefeltshecouldkeepsilentnolonger。
　　`Becauseitisn’tDuncanthatIdolove，’shesaid，lookingupathim。
　　`WeonlysaiditwasDuncan，tospareyourfeelings。’
　　`Tosparemyfeelings？’
　　`Yes!BecausewhoIreallylove，andit’llmakeyouhateme，isMrMellors，whowasourgame-keeperhere。’
　　Ifhecouldhavesprungoutofhischair，hewouldhavedoneso。Hisfacewentyellow，andhiseyesbulgedwithdisasterasheglaredather。
　　Thenhedroppedbackinthechair，gaspingandlookingupattheceiling。
　　Atlengthhesatup。
　　`Doyoumeantosayyouretellingmethetruth？’heasked，lookinggruesome。
　　`Yes!YouknowIam。’
　　`Andwhendidyoubeginwithhim？’
　　`Inthespring。’
　　Hewassilentlikesomebeastinatrap。
　　`Anditwasyou，then，inthebedroomatthecottage？’
　　Sohehadreallyinwardlyknownallthetime。
　　`Yes!’
　　Hestillleanedforwardinhischair，gazingatherlikeacorneredbeast。
　　`MyGod，yououghttobewipedoffthefaceoftheearth!’
　　`Why？’sheejaculatedfaintly。
　　Butheseemednottohear。
　　`Thatscum!Thatbumptiouslout!Thatmiserablecad!Andcarryingonwithhimallthetime，whileyouwerehereandhewasoneofmyservants!
　　MyGod，myGod，isthereanyendtothebeastlylownessofwomen!’
　　Hewasbesidehimselfwithrage，assheknewhewouldbe。
　　`Andyoumeantosayyouwanttohaveachildtoacadlikethat？’
　　`Yes!I’mgoingto。’
　　`You’regoingto!Youmeanyou’resure!Howlonghaveyoubeensure？’
　　`SinceJune。’
　　Hewasspeechless，andthequeerblanklookofachildcameoverhimagain。
　　`You’dwonder，’hesaidatlast，`thatsuchbeingswereeverallowedtobeborn。’
　　`Whatbeings？’sheasked。
　　Helookedatherweirdly，withoutananswer。Itwasobvious，hecouldn’tevenacceptthefactoftheexistenceofMellors，inanyconnexionwithhisownlife。Itwassheer，unspeakable，impotenthate。
　　`Anddoyoumeantosayyou’dmarryhim？——andbearhisfoulname？’
　　heaskedatlength。
　　`Yes，that’swhatIwant。’
　　Hewasagainasifdumbfounded。
　　`Yes!’hesaidatlast。`ThatprovesthatwhatI’vealwaysthoughtaboutyouiscorrect：you’renotnormal，you’renotinyourrightsenses。You’reoneofthosehalf-insane，pervertedwomenwhomustrunafterdepravity，thenostalgiedelaboue。’
　　Suddenlyhehadbecomealmostwistfullymoral，seeinghimselftheincarnationofgood，andpeoplelikeMellorsandConnietheincarnationofmud，ofevil。Heseemedtobegrowingvague，insideanimbus。
　　`Sodon’tyouthinkyou’dbetterdivorcemeandhavedonewithit？’
　　shesaid。
　　`No!Youcangowhereyoulike，butIshan’tdivorceyou，’hesaididiotically。
　　`Whynot？’
　　Hewassilent，inthesilenceofimbecileobstinacy。
　　`Wouldyouevenletthechildbelegallyyours，andyourheir？’shesaid。
　　`Icarenothingaboutthechild。’
　　`Butifit’saboyitwillbelegallyyourson，anditwillinherityourtitle，andhaveWragby。’
　　`Icarenothingaboutthat，’hesaid。
　　`Butyoumust!Ishallpreventthechildfrombeinglegallyyours，ifIcan。I’dsomuchratheritwereillegitimate，andmine：ifitcan’tbeMellors’。’
　　`Doasyoulikeaboutthat。’
　　Hewasimmovable。
　　`Andwon’tyoudivorceme？’shesaid。`YoucanuseDuncanasapretext!
　　There’dbenoneedtobringintherealname。Duncandoesn’tmind。’
　　`Ishallneverdivorceyou，’hesaid，asifanailhadbeendrivenin。
　　`Butwhy？BecauseIwantyouto？’
　　`BecauseIfollowmyowninclination，andI’mnotinclinedto。’
　　Itwasuseless。ShewentupstairsandtoldHildatheupshot。
　　`Bettergetawaytomorrow，’saidHilda，`andlethimcometohissenses。’
　　SoConniespenthalfthenightpackingherreallyprivateandpersonaleffects。Inthemorningshehadhertrunkssenttothestation，withouttellingClifford。Shedecidedtoseehimonlytosaygood-bye，beforelunch。
　　ButshespoketoMrsBolton。
　　`Imustsaygood-byetoyou，MrsBolton，youknowwhy。ButIcantrustyounottotalk。’
　　`Oh，youcantrustme，yourLadyship，thoughit’sasadblowforushere，indeed。ButIhopeyou’llbehappywiththeothergentleman。’
　　`Theothergentleman!It’sMrMellors，andIcareforhim。SirCliffordknobs。Butdon’tsayanythingtoanybody。AndifonedayyouthinkSirCliffordmaybewillingtodivorceme，letmeknow，willyou？IshouldliketobeproperlymarriedtothemanIcarefor。’
　　`I’msureyouwould，myLady。Oh，youcantrustme。I’llbefaithfultoSirClifford，andI’llbefaithfultoyou，forIcanseeyou’rebothrightinyourownways。’
　　`Thankyou!Andlook!Iwanttogiveyouthis——mayI？’SoConnieleftWragbyoncemore，andwentonwithHildatoScotland。Mellorswentintothecountryandgotworkonafarm。Theideawas，heshouldgethisdivorce，ifpossible，whetherConniegothersornot。Andforsixmonthsheshouldworkatfarming，sothateventuallyheandConniecouldhavesomesmallfarmoftheirown，intowhichhecouldputhisenergy。Forhewouldhavetohavesomework，evenhardwork，todo，andhewouldhavetomakehisownliving，evenifhercapitalstartedhim。
　　Sotheywouldhavetowaittillspringwasin，tillthebabywasborn，tilltheearlysummercameroundagain。TheGrangeFarmOldHeanor29SeptemberIgotonherewithabitofcontriving，becauseIknewRichards，thecompanyengineer，inthearmy。ItisafarmbelongingtoButlerandSmithamCollieryCompany，theyuseitforraisinghayandoatsforthepit-ponies；
　　notaprivateconcern。Butthey’vegotcowsandpigsandalltherestofit，andIgetthirtyshillingsaweekaslabourer。Rowley，thefarmer，putsmeontoasmanyjobsashecan，sothatIcanlearnasmuchaspossiblebetweennowandnextEaster。I’venotheardathingaboutBertha。I’venoideawhyshedidn’tshowupatthedivorce，norwheresheisnorwhatshe’supto。ButifIkeepquiettillMarchIsupposeIshallbefree。
　　Anddon’tyoubotheraboutSirClifford。He’llwanttogetridofyouoneofthesedays。Ifheleavesyoualone，it’salot。
　　I’vegotlodginginabitofanoldcottageinEngineRowverydecent。
　　Themanisengine-driveratHighPark，tall，withabeard，andverychapel。
　　Thewomanisabirdybitofathingwholovesanythingsuperior。King’sEnglishandallow-me!allthetime。Buttheylosttheironlysoninthewar，andit’ssortofknockedaholeinthem。There’salonggawkylassofadaughtertrainingforaschool-teacher，andIhelpherwithherlessonssometimes，sowe’requitethefamily。Butthey’reverydecentpeople，andonlytookindtome。IexpectI’mmorecoddledthanyouare。
　　Ilikefarmingallright。It’snotinspiring，butthenIdon’tasktobeinspired。I’musedtohorses，andcows，thoughtheyareveryfemale，haveasoothingeffectonme。WhenIsitwithmyheadinherside，milking，Ifeelverysolaced。TheyhavesixratherfineHerefords。Oat-harvestisjustoverandIenjoyedit，inspiteofsorehandsandalotofrain。I
　　don’ttakemuchnoticeofpeople，butgetonwiththemallright。Mostthingsonejustignores。