MrLinleywasthegeneralmanagerofthecollieries，anelderlymanfromthenorth，withnotquiteenoughpunchtosuitClifford；notuptopost-warconditions，norpost-warcollierseither，withtheir`ca’canny’
creed。ButConnielikedMrLinley，thoughshewasgladtobesparedthetoadyingofhiswife。
Linleystayedtodinner，andConniewasthehostessmenlikedsomuch，somodest，yetsoattentiveandaware，withbig，wideblueeyesaridasoftreposethatsufficientlyhidwhatshewasreallythinking。Conniehadplayedthiswomansomuch，itwasalmostsecondnaturetoher；butstill，decidedlysecond。Yetitwascurioushoweverythingdisappearedfromherconsciousnesswhilesheplayedit。
Shewaitedpatientlytillshecouldgoupstairsandthinkherownthoughts。
Shewasalwayswaiting，itseemedtobeherforte。
Onceinherroom，however，shefeltstillvagueandconfused。Shedidn’tknowwhattothink。Whatsortofamanwashe，really？Didhereallylikeher？Notmuch，shefelt。Yethewaskind。Therewassomething，asortofwarmnaivekindness，curiousandsudden，thatalmostopenedherwombtohim。Butshefelthemightbekindlikethattoanywoman。Thoughevenso，itwascuriouslysoothing，comforting。Andhewasapassionateman，wholesomeandpassionate。Butperhapshewasn’tquiteindividualenough；
hemightbethesamewithanywomanashehadbeenwithher。Itreallywasn’tpersonal。Shewasonlyreallyafemaletohim。
Butperhapsthatwasbetter。Andafterall，hewaskindtothefemaleinher，whichnomanhadeverbeen。Menwereverykindtothepersonshewas，butrathercrueltothefemale，despisingherorignoringheraltogether。MenwereawfullykindtoConstanceReidortoLadyChatterley；
butnottoherwombtheyweren’tkind。AndhetooknonoticeofConstanceorofLadyChatterley；hejustsoftlystrokedherloinsorherbreasts。
Shewenttothewoodnextday。Itwasagrey，stillafternoon，withthedark-greendogs-mercuryspreadingunderthehazelcopse，andallthetreesmakingasilentefforttoopentheirbuds。Todayshecouldalmostfeelitinherownbody，thehugeheaveofthesapinthemassivetrees，upwards，up，uptothebud-a，theretopushintolittleflameyoak-leaves，bronzeasblood。Itwaslikeariderunningturgidupward，andspreadingonthesky。
Shecametotheclearing，buthewasnotthere。Shehadonlyhalfexpectedhim。Thepheasantchickswererunninglightlyabroad，lightasinsects，fromthecoopswherethefellowhenscluckedanxiously。Conniesatandwatchedthem，andwaited。Sheonlywaited。Eventhechicksshehardlysaw。
Shewaited。
Thetimepassedwithdream-likeslowness，andhedidnotcome。Shehadonlyhalfexpectedhim。Henevercameintheafternoon。Shemustgohometotea。Butshehadtoforceherselftoleave。
Asshewenthome，afinedrizzleofrainfell。
`Isitrainingagain？’saidClifford，seeinghershakeherhat。
`Justdrizzle。’
Shepouredteainsilence，absorbedinasortofobstinacy。Shedidwanttoseethekeepertoday，toseeifitwerereallyreal。Ifitwerereallyreal。
`ShallIreadalittletoyouafterwards？’saidClifford。
Shelookedathim。Hadhesensedsomething？
`Thespringmakesmefeelqueer——IthoughtImightrestalittle，’
shesaid。
`Justasyoulike。Notfeelingreallyunwell，areyou？’
`No!Onlyrathertired——withthespring。WillyouhaveMrsBoltontoplaysomethingwithyou？’
`No!IthinkI’lllistenin。’
Sheheardthecurioussatisfactioninhisvoice。Shewentupstairstoherbedroom。Theresheheardtheloudspeakerbegintobellow，inanidioticallyvelveteen-genteelsortofvoice，somethingaboutaseriesofstreet-cries，theverycreamofgenteelaffectationimitatingoldcriers。Shepulledonheroldvioletcolouredmackintosh，andslippedoutofthehouseatthesidedoor。
Thedrizzleofrainwaslikeaveilovertheworld，mysterious，hushed，notcold。Shegotverywarmasshehurriedacrossthepark。Shehadtoopenherlightwaterproof。
Thewoodwassilent，stillandsecretintheeveningdrizzleofrain，fullofthemysteryofeggsandhalf-openbuds，halfunsheathedflowers。
Inthedimnessofitalltreesglistenednakedanddarkasiftheyhadunclothedthemselves，andthegreenthingsonearthseemedtohumwithgreenness。
Therewasstillnooneattheclearing。Thechickshadnearlyallgoneunderthemother-hens，onlyoneortwolastadventurousonesstilldibbedaboutinthedrynessunderthestrawroofshelter。Andtheyweredoubtfulofthemselves。
So!Hestillhadnotbeen。Hewasstayingawayonpurpose。Orperhapssomethingwaswrong。Perhapssheshouldgotothecottageandsee。
Butshewasborntowait。Sheopenedthehutwithherkey。Itwasalltidy，thecornputinthebin，theblanketsfoldedontheshelf，thestrawneatinacorner；anewbundleofstraw。Thehurricanelamphungonanail。
Thetableandchairhadbeenputbackwhereshehadlain。
Shesatdownonastoolinthedoorway。Howstilleverythingwas!Thefinerainblewverysoftly，filmily，butthewindmadenonoise。Nothingmadeanysound。Thetreesstoodlikepowerfulbeings，dim，twilit，silentandalive。Howaliveeverythingwas!
Nightwasdrawingnearagain；shewouldhavetogo。Hewasavoidingher。
Butsuddenlyhecamestridingintotheclearing，inhisblackoilskinjacketlikeachauffeur，shiningwithwet。Heglancedquicklyatthehut，half-saluted，thenveeredasideandwentontothecoops。Therehecrouchedinsilence，lookingcarefullyateverything，thencarefullyshuttingthehensandchicksupsafeagainstthenight。
Atlasthecameslowlytowardsher。Shestillsatonherstool。Hestoodbeforeherundertheporch。
`Youcomethen，’hesaid，usingtheintonationofthedialect。
`Yes，’shesaid，lookingupathim。`You’relate!’
`Ay!’hereplied，lookingawayintothewood。
Sheroseslowly，drawingasideherstool。
`Didyouwanttocomein？’sheasked。
Helookeddownathershrewdly。
`Won’tfolksbethinkin’somethink，youcomin’hereeverynight？’hesaid。
`Why？’Shelookedupathim，ataloss。`IsaidI’dcome。Nobodyknows。’
`Theysoonwill，though，’hereplied。`An’whatthen？’
Shewasatalossforananswer。
`Whyshouldtheyknow？’shesaid。
`Folksalwaysdoes，’hesaidfatally。
Herlipquiveredalittle。
`WellIcan’thelpit，’shefaltered。
`Nay，’hesaid。`Youcanhelpitbynotcomin’——ifyerwantto，’headded，inalowertone。
`ButIdon’twantto，’shemurmured。
Helookedawayintothewood，andwassilent。
`Butwhatwhenfolksfindsout？’heaskedatlast。`Thinkaboutit!
Thinkhowloweredyou’llfeel，oneofyourhusband’sservants。’
Shelookedupathisavertedface。
`Isit，’shestammered，`isitthatyoudon’twantme？’
`Think!’hesaid。`ThinkwhatiffolksfindoutSirCliffordan’a’——an’
everybodytalkin’——’
`Well，Icangoaway。’
`Whereto？’
`Anywhere!I’vegotmoneyofmyown。Mymotherleftmetwentythousandpoundsintrust，andIknowCliffordcan’ttouchit。Icangoaway。’
`But’appenyoudon’twanttogoaway。’
`Yes，yes!Idon’tcarewhathappenstome。’
`Ay，youthinkthat!Butyou’llcare!You’llhavetocare，everybodyhas。You’vegottorememberyourLadyshipiscarryingonwithagame-keeper。
It’snotasifIwasagentleman。Yes，you’dcare。You’dcare。’
`Ishouldn’t。WhatdoIcareaboutmyladyship!Ihateitreally。I
feelpeoplearejeeringeverytimetheysayit。Andtheyare，theyare!
Evenyoujeerwhenyousayit。’
`Me!’
Forthefirsttimehelookedstraightather，andintohereyes。`I
don’tjeeratyou，’hesaid。
Ashelookedintohereyesshesawhisowneyesgodark，quitedark，thepupilsdilating。
`Don’tyoucareabouta’therisk？’heaskedinahuskyvoice。`Youshouldcare。Don’tcarewhenit’stoolate!’
Therewasacuriouswarningpleadinginhisvoice。
`ButI’venothingtolose，’shesaidfretfully。`Ifyouknewwhatitis，you’dthinkI’dbegladtoloseit。Butareyouafraidforyourself？’
`Ay!’hesaidbriefly。`Iam。I’mafraid。I’mafraid。I’mafraidO’
things。’
`Whatthings？’sheasked。
Hegaveacuriousbackwardjerkofhishead，indicatingtheouterworld。
`Things!Everybody!Thelotof’em。’
Thenhebentdownandsuddenlykissedherunhappyface。
`Nay，Idon’tcare，’hesaid。`Let’shaveit，an’damntherest。Butifyouwastofeelsorryyou’deverdoneit——!’
`Don’tputmeoff，’shepleaded。
Heputhisfingerstohercheekandkissedheragainsuddenly。
`Letmecomeinthen，’hesaidsoftly。`An’takeoffyourmackintosh。’
Hehunguphisgun，slippedoutofhiswetleatherjacket，andreachedfortheblankets。
`Ibroughtanotherblanket，’hesaid，`sowecanputoneoverusifyoulike。’
`Ican’tstaylong，’shesaid。`Dinnerishalf-pastseven。’
Helookedatherswiftly，thenathiswatch。
`Allright，’hesaid。
Heshutthedoor，andlitatinylightinthehanginghurricanelamp。
`Onetimewe’llhavealongtime，’hesaid。
Heputtheblanketsdowncarefully，onefoldedforherhead。Thenhesatdownamomentonthestool，anddrewhertohim，holdingherclosewithonearm，feelingforherbodywithhisfreehand。Sheheardthecatchofhisintakenbreathashefoundher。Underherfrailpetticoatshewasnaked。
`Eh!whatitistotouchthee!’hesaid，ashisfingercaressedthedelicate，warm，secretskinofherwaistandhips。Heputhisfacedownandrubbedhischeekagainstherbellyandagainstherthighsagainandagain。Andagainshewonderedalittleoverthesortofraptureitwastohim。Shedidnotunderstandthebeautyhefoundinher，throughtouchuponherlivingsecretbody，almosttheecstasyofbeauty。Forpassionaloneisawaketoit。Andwhenpassionisdead，orabsent，thenthemagnificentthrobofbeautyisincomprehensibleandevenalittledespicable；warm，livebeautyofcontact，somuchdeeperthanthebeautyofvision。Shefelttheglideofhischeekonherthighsandbellyandbuttocks，andtheclosebrushingofhismoustacheandhissoftthickhair，andherkneesbegantoquiver。Fardowninhershefeltanewstirring，anewnakednessemerging。
Andshewashalfafraid。Halfshewishedhewouldnotcaressherso。Hewasencompassinghersomehow。Yetshewaswaiting，waiting。
Andwhenhecameintoher，withanintensificationofreliefandconsummationthatwaspurepeacetohim，stillshewaswaiting。Shefeltherselfalittleleftout。Andsheknew，partlyitwasherownfault。Shewilledherselfintothisseparateness。Nowperhapsshewascondemnedtoit。Shelaystill，feelinghismotionwithinher，hisdeep-sunkintentness，thesuddenquiverofhimatthespringingofhisseed，thentheslow-subsidingthrust。Thatthrustofthebuttocks，surelyitwasalittleridiculous。Ifyouwereawoman，andapartinallthebusiness，surelythatthrustingoftheman’sbuttockswassupremelyridiculous。Surelythemanwasintenselyridiculousinthispostureandthisact!
Butshelaystill，withoutrecoil。Evenwhenhehadfinished，shedidnotrouseherselftogetagriponherownsatisfaction，asshehaddonewithMichaelis；shelaystill，andthetearsslowlyfilledandranfromhereyes。
Helaystill，too。Butheheldhercloseandtriedtocoverherpoornakedlegswithhislegs，tokeepthemwarm。Helayonherwithaclose，undoubtingwarmth。
`Areyercold？’heasked，inasoft，smallvoice，asifshewereclose，soclose。Whereasshewasleftout，distant。
`No!ButImustgo，’shesaidgently。
Hesighed，heldhercloser，thenrelaxedtorestagain。
Hehadnotguessedhertears。Hethoughtshewastherewithhim。
`Imustgo，’sherepeated。
Heliftedhimselfkneeledbesideheramoment，kissedtheinnersideofherthighs，thendrewdownherskirts，buttoninghisownclothesunthinking，noteventurningaside，inthefaint，faintlightfromthelantern。
`Thamuncometerth’cottageonetime，’hesaid，lookingdownatherwithawarm，sure，easyface。
Butshelaythereinert，andwasgazingupathimthinking：Stranger!
Stranger!Sheevenresentedhimalittle。
Heputonhiscoatandlookedforhishat，whichhadfallen，thenheslungonhisgun。
`Comethen!’hesaid，lookingdownatherwiththosewarm，peacefulsortofeyes。
Sheroseslowly。Shedidn’twanttogo。Shealsoratherresentedstaying。
Hehelpedherwithherthinwaterproofandsawshewastidy。
Thenheopenedthedoor。Theoutsidewasquitedark。Thefaithfuldogundertheporchstoodupwithpleasureseeinghim。Thedrizzleofraindriftedgreylypastuponthedarkness。Itwasquitedark。
`Ahmunta’eth’lantern，’hesaid。`The’llbenob’dy。’
Hewalkedjustbeforeherinthenarrowpath，swingingthehurricanelamplow，revealingthewetgrass，theblackshinytree-rootslikesnakes，wanflowers。Fortherest，allwasgreyrain-mistandcompletedarkness。
`Thamuncometothecottageonetime，’hesaid，`shallta？Wemightaswellbehungforasheepasforalamb。’
Itpuzzledher，hisqueer，persistentwantingher，whentherewasnothingbetweenthem，whenheneverreallyspoketoher，andinspiteofherselfsheresentedthedialect。His`thamuncome’seemednotaddressedtoher，butsomecommonwoman。Sherecognizedthefoxgloveleavesoftheridingandknew，moreorless，wheretheywere。
`It’squarterpastseven，’hesaid，`you’lldoit。’Hehadchangedhisvoice，seemedtofeelherdistance。Astheyturnedthelastbendintheridingtowardsthehazelwallandthegate，heblewoutthelight。`We’llseefromhere，’besaid，takinghergentlybythearm。