Onthestrengthofheranger，HildawarmedtowardClifford。
Afterall，hehadamind。Andifhehadnosex，functionally，allthebetter：somuchthelesstoquarrelabout!Hildawantednomoreofthatsexbusiness，wheremenbecamenasty，selfishlittlehorrors。Conniereallyhadlesstoputupwiththanmanywomenifshedidbutknowit。
AndClifforddecidedthatHilda，afterall，wasadecidedlyintelligentwoman，andwouldmakeamanafirst-ratehelpmate，ifheweregoinginforpoliticsforexample。Yes，shehadnoneofConnie’ssilliness，Conniewasmoreachild：youhadtomakeexcusesforher，becauseshewasnotaltogetherdependable。
Therewasanearlycupofteainthehall，wheredoorswereopentoletinthesun。Everybodyseemedtobepantingalittle。
`Good-bye，Conniegirl!Comebacktomesafely。’
`Good-bye，Clifford!Yes，Ishan’tbelong。’Conniewasalmosttender。
`Good-bye，Hilda!Youwillkeepaneyeonher，won’tyou？’
`I’llevenkeeptwo!’saidHilda。`Sheshan’tgoveryfarastray。’
`It’sapromise!’
`Good-bye，MrsBolton!Iknowyou’lllookafterSirCliffordnobly。’
`I’lldowhatIcan，yourLadyship。’
`Andwritetomeifthereisanynews，andtellmeaboutSirClifford，howheis。’
`Verygood，yourLadyship，Iwill。Andhaveagoodtime，andcomebackandcheerusup。’
Everybodywaved。ThecarwentoffConnielookedbackandsawClifford，sittingatthetopofthestepsinhishouse-chair。Afterall，hewasherhusband：Wragbywasherhome：circumstancehaddoneit。
MrsChambersheldthegateandwishedherladyshipahappyholiday。
Thecarslippedoutofthedarkspinneythatmaskedthepark，ontothehighroadwherethecolliersweretrailinghome。HildaturnedtotheCrosshillRoad，thatwasnotamainroad，butrantoMansfield。Connieputongoggles。
Theyranbesidetherailway，whichwasinacuttingbelowthem。Thentheycrossedthecuttingonabridge。
`That’sthelanetothecottage!’saidConnie。
Hildaglancedatitimpatiently。
`It’safrightfulpitywecan’tgostraightoff!’shesaid。WecouldhavebeeninPallMallbynineo’clock。’
`I’msorryforyoursake，’saidConnie，frombehindhergoggles。
TheyweresoonatMansfield，thatonce-romantic，nowutterlydishearteningcollierytown。Hildastoppedatthehotelnamedinthemotor-carbook，andtookaroom。Thewholethingwasutterlyuninteresting，andshewasalmosttooangrytotalk。However，Conniehadtotellhersomethingoftheman’shistory。
`He!He!Whatnamedoyoucallhimby？Youonlysayhe，’
saidHilda。
`I’venevercalledhimbyanyname：norheme：whichiscurious，whenyoucometothinkofit。UnlesswesayLadyJaneandJohnThomas。ButhisnameisOliverMellors。’
`AndhowwouldyouliketobeMrsOliverMellors，insteadofLadyChatterley？’
`I’dloveit。’
TherewasnothingtobedonewithConnie。Andanyhow，ifthemanhadbeenalieutenantinthearmyinIndiaforfourorfiveyears，hemustbemoreorlesspresentable。Apparentlyhehadcharacter。Hildabegantorelentalittle。
`Butyou’llbethroughwithhiminawhile，’shesaid，`andthenyou’llbeashamedofhavingbeenconnectedwithhim。Onecan’tmixupwiththeworkingpeople。’
`Butyouaresuchasocialist!you’realwaysonthesideoftheworkingclasses。’
`Imaybeontheirsideinapoliticalcrisis，butbeingontheirsidemakesmeknowhowimpossibleitistomixone’slifewiththeirs。Notoutofsnobbery，butjustbecausethewholerhythmisdifferent。’
Hildahadlivedamongtherealpoliticalintellectuals，soshewasdisastrouslyunanswerable。
Thenondescripteveninginthehoteldraggedout，andatlasttheyhadanondescriptdinner。ThenConnieslippedafewthingsintoalittlesilkbag，andcombedherhaironcemore。
`Afterall，Hilda，’shesaid，`lovecanbewonderful：whenyoufeelyoulive，andareintheverymiddleofcreation。’Itwasalmostlikebraggingonherpart。
`Isupposeeverymosquitofeelsthesame，’saidHilda。`Doyouthinkitdoes？Howniceforit!’
Theeveningwaswonderfullyclearandlong-lingering，eveninthesmalltown。Itwouldbehalf-lightallnight。Withafacelikeamask，fromresentment，Hildastartedhercaragain，andthetwospedbackontheirtraces，takingtheotherroad，throughBolsover。
Connieworehergogglesanddisguisingcap，andshesatinsilence。
BecauseofHilda’sOpposition，shewasfiercelyonthesidleoftheman，shewouldstandbyhimthroughthickandthin。
Theyhadtheirhead-lightson，bythetimetheypassedCrosshill，andthesmalllit-uptrainthatchuffedpastinthecuttingmadeitseemlikerealnight。Hildahadcalculatedtheturnintothelaneatthebridge-end。
Shesloweduprathersuddenlyandswervedofftheroad，thelightsglaringwhiteintothegrassy，overgrownlane。Connielookedout。Shesawashadowyfigure，andsheopenedthedoor。
`Hereweare!’shesaidsoftly。
ButHildahadswitchedoffthelights，andwasabsorbedbacking，makingtheturn。
`Nothingonthebridge？’sheaskedshortly。`You’reallright，’saidthemall’svoice。Shebackedontothebridge，reversed，letthecarrunforwardsafewyardsalongtheroad，thenbackedintothelane，underawych-elmtree，crushingthegrassandbracken。Thenallthelightswentout。Conniesteppeddown。Themanstoodunderthetrees。
`Didyouwaitlong？’Connieasked。
`Notsovery，’hereplied。
TheybothwaitedforHildatogetout。ButHildashutthedoorofthecarandsattight。
`ThisismysisterHilda。Won’tyoucomeandspeaktoher？Hilda!ThisisMrMellors。’
Thekeeperliftedhishat，butwentnonearer。
`Dowalkdowntothecottagewithus，Hilda，’Conniepleaded。`It’snotfar。’
`Whataboutthecar？’
`Peopledoleavethemonthelanes。Youhavethekey。’
Hildawassilent，deliberating。Thenshelookedbackwardsdownthelane。
`CanIbackroundthebush？’shesaid。
`Ohyes!’saidthekeeper。
Shebackedslowlyroundthecurve，outofsightoftheroad，lockedthecar，andgotdown。Itwasnight，butluminousdark。Thehedgesrosehighandwild，bytheunusedlane，andverydarkseeming。Therewasafreshsweetscentontheair。Thekeeperwentahead，thencameConnie，thenHilda，andinsilence。Helitupthedifficultplaceswithaflash-lighttorch，andtheywentonagain，whileanowlsoftlyhootedovertheoaks，andFlossiepaddedsilentlyaround。Nobodycouldspeak。Therewasnothingtosay。
AtlengthConniesawtheyellowlightofthehouse，andherheartbeatfast。Shewasalittlefrightened。Theytrailedon，stillinIndianfile。
Heunlockedthedoorandprecededthemintothewarmbutbarelittleroom。Thefireburnedlowandredinthegrate。Thetablewassetwithtwoplatesandtwoglassesonaproperwhitetable-clothforOnce。Hildashookherhairandlookedroundthebare，cheerlessroom。Thenshesummonedhercourageandlookedattheman。
Hewasmoderatelytall，andthin，andshethoughthimgood-looking。
Hekeptaquietdistanceofhisown，andseemedabsolutelyunwillingtospeak。
`Dositdown，Hilda，’saidConnie。
`Do!’hesaid。`CanImakeyouteaoranything，orwillyoudrinkaglassofbeer？It’smoderatelycool。’
`Beer!’saidConnie。
`Beerforme，please!’saidHilda，withamocksortofshyness。Helookedatherandblinked。
Hetookabluejugandtrampedtothescullery。Whenhecamebackwiththebeer，hisfacehadchangedagain。
Conniesatdownbythedoor，andHildasatinhisseat，withthebacktothewall，againstthewindowcorner。
`Thatishischair，’saidConniesoftly。’AndHildaroseasifithadburnther。
`Sityerstill，sityerstill!Ta’eonycheerasyo’namindto，noneofusisth’bigbear，’hesaid，withcompleteequanimity。
AndhebroughtHildaaglass，andpouredherbeerfirstfromthebluejug。
`Asforcigarettes，’hesaid，`I’vegotnone，but’appenyou’vegotyourown。Idunnasmoke，mysen。Shally’eatsummat？’HeturneddirecttoConnie。`Shallt’eatasmiteo’summat，ifIbringitthee？Thacanusuallydowi’abite。’Hespokethevernacularwithacuriouscalmassurance，asifhewerethelandlordoftheInn。
`Whatisthere？’askedConnie，flushing。
`Boiledham，cheese，pickledwa’nuts，ifyerlike——Nowtmuch。’
`Yes，’saidConnie。`Won’tyou，Hilda？’
Hildalookedupathim。
`WhydoyouspeakYorkshire？’shesaidsoftly。
`That!That’snonYorkshire，that’sDerby。’
Helookedbackatherwiththatfaint，distantgrin。
`Derby，then!WhydoyouspeakDerby？YouspokenaturalEnglishatfirst。’
`DidAhthough？An’cannaAhchangeifAh’mamindto’t？Nay，nay，letmetalkDerbyifitsuitsme。Ifyo’nnowtagainstit。’
`Itsoundsalittleaffected，’saidHilda。
`Ay，’appenso!An’upi’Tevershallyo’dsoundaffected。’Helookedagainather，withaqueercalculatingdistance，alonghischeek-bone：
asiftosay：Yi，an’whoareyou？
Hetrampedawaytothepantryforthefood。
Thesisterssatinsilence。Hebroughtanotherplate，andknifeandfork。Thehesaid：
`An’ifit’sthesametoyou，Is’llta’emycoatofflikeIallersdo。’
Andhetookoffhiscoat，andhungitonthepeg，thensatdowntotableinhisshirt-sleeves：ashirtofthin，cream-colouredflannel。
`’Elpyerselves!’hesaid。`’Elpyerselves!Dunnawaitf’raxin’!’Hecutthebread，thensatmotionless。Hildafelt，asConnieonceusedto，hispowerofsilenceanddistance。Shesawhissmallish，sensitive，loosehandonthetable。Hewasnosimpleworkingman，nothe：hewasacting!
acting!
`Still!’shesaid，asshetookalittlecheese。`ItwouldbemorenaturalifyouspoketousinnormalEnglish，notinvernacular。’
Helookedather，feelingherdevilofawill。
`Wouldit？’hesaidinthenormalEnglish。`Wouldit？Wouldanythingthatwassaidbetweenyouandmebequitenatural，unlessyousaidyouwishedmetohellbeforeyoursistereversawmeagain：andunlessIsaidsomethingalmostasunpleasantbackagain？Wouldanythingelsebenatural？’
`Ohyes!’saidHilda。`Justgoodmannerswouldbequitenatural。’
`Secondnature，sotospeak!’hesaid：thenhebegantolaugh。`Nay，’
hesaid。`I’mwearyo’manners。Letmebe!’
Hildawasfranklybaffledandfuriouslyannoyed。Afterall，hemightshowthatherealizedhewasbeinghonoured。Insteadofwhich，withhisplay-actingandlordlyairs，heseemedtothinkitwashewhowasconferringthehonour。Justimpudence!PoormisguidedConnie，intheman’sclutches!
Thethreeateinsilence。Hildalookedtoseewhathistable-mannerswerelike。Shecouldnothelprealizingthathewasinstinctivelymuchmoredelicateandwell-bredthanherself。ShehadacertainScottishclumsiness。
Andmoreover，hehadallthequietself-containedassuranceoftheEnglish，nolooseedges。Itwouldbeverydifficulttogetthebetterofhim。
Butneitherwouldhegetthebetterofher。
`Anddoyoureallythink，’shesaid，alittlemorehumanly，`it’sworththerisk。’
`Iswhatworthwhatrisk？’
`Thisescapadewithmysister。’
Heflickeredhisirritatinggrin。
`Yo’maunax’er!’ThenhelookedatConnie。
`Thacomeso’thineownaccord，lass，doesn’tter？It’snonmeasforcesthee？’
ConnielookedatHilda。
`Iwishyouwouldn’tcavil，Hilda。’
`NaturallyIdon’twantto。Butsomeonehastothinkaboutthings。You’vegottohavesomesortofcontinuityinyourlife。Youcan’tjustgomakingamess。’
Therewasamoment’spause。
`Eh，continuity!’hesaid。`An’whatbythat？Whatcontinuityaveyergoti’yourlife？Ithoughtyouwasgettin’divorced。Whatcontinuity’sthat？Continuityo’yerownstubbornness。Icanseethatmuch。An’whatgood’sitgoin’todoyer？You’llbesicko’yercontinuityaforeyerafatsightolder。Astubbornwomananerownself-will：ay，theymakeafastcontinuity，theydo。Thankheaven，itisn’tmeas`asgotth’’andlin’
ofyer!’
`Whatrighthaveyoutospeaklikethattome？’saidHilda。
`Right!Whatrightha’yo’terstartharnessin’otherfolksi’yourcontinuity？Leavefolkstotheirowncontinuities。’
`Mydearman，doyouthinkIamconcernedwithyou？’saidHildasoftly。
`Ay，’hesaid。`Yo’are。Forit’saforce-put。Yo’moreorlessmysister-in-law。’
`Stillfarfromit，Iassureyou。
`Nota’thatfar，Iassureyou。I’vegotmyownsorto’continuity，backyourlife!Goodasyours，anyday。An’ifyoursistertherecomestermeforabito’cuntan’tenderness，sheknowswhatshe’safter。She’sbeeninmybedafore：whichyou’aven’t，thanktheLord，withyourcontinuity。’
Therewasadeadpause，beforeheadded：`——Eh，Idon’twearmebreechesarse-forrards。An’ifIgetawindfall，Ithankmystars。Amangetsalotofenjoymentouto’thatlasstheer，whichismorethananybodygetsouto’th’likeso’you。Whichisapity，foryoumightappena’binagoodapple，’steadofahandsomecrab。Womenlikeyouneedspropergraftin’。’
Hewaslookingatherwithanodd，flickeringsmile，faintlysensualandappreciative。
`Andmenlikeyou，’shesaid，`oughttobesegregated：justifyingtheirownvulgarityandselfishlust。’
`Ay，ma’am!It’samercythere’safewmenleftlikeme。Butyoudeservewhatyouget：tobeleftseverelyalone。’
Hildahadrisenandgonetothedoor。Heroseandtookhiscoatfromthepeg。
`Icanfindmywayquitewellalone，’shesaid。