`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。