Любовник леди Чаттерлей

           Hildahadtalkswithher;MrsBoltonwasreadyatanymomenttotalk.Andsheseemedsoyoung!Thewaythepassionwouldflushinherratherpalecheek.Shewasforty-seven.

           Herhusband,TedBolton,hadbeenkilledinthepit,twenty-twoyearsago,twenty-twoyearslastChristmas,justatChristmastime,leavingherwithtwochildren,oneababyinarms.Oh,thebabywasmarriednow,Edith,toayoungmaninBootsCashChemistsinSheffield.TheotheronewasaschoolteacherinChesterfield;shecamehomeweekends,whenshewasn’taskedoutsomewhere.Youngfolksenjoyedthemselvesnowadays,notlikewhenshe,IvyBolton,wasyoung.

           TedBoltonwastwenty-eightwhenhewaskilledinanexplosiondownth’pit.Thebuttyinfrontshoutedtothemalltoliedownquick,therewerefourofthem.Andtheyalllaydownintime,onlyTed,anditkilledhim.Thenattheinquiry,onthemasters’sidetheysaidTedhadbeenfrightened,andtryingtorunaway,andnotobeyingorders,soitwaslikehisfaultreally.Sothecompensationwasonlythreehundredpounds,andtheymadeoutasifitwasmoreofagiftthanlegalcompensation,becauseitwasreallytheman’sownfault.Andtheywouldn’tletherhavethemoneydown;shewantedtohavealittleshop.Buttheysaidshe’dnodoubtsquanderit,perhapsindrink!Soshehadtodrawitthirtyshillingsaweek.Yes,shehadtogoeveryMondaymorningdowntotheoffices,andstandthereacoupleofhourswaitingherturn;yes,foralmostfouryearsshewenteveryMonday.Andwhatcouldshedowithtwolittlechildrenonherhands?ButTed’smotherwasverygoodtoher.