`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。