Любовник леди Чаттерлей

           Itmadehimforgethimself.Andheusuallywon.Tonighttoohewaswinning.Sohewouldnotgotosleeptillthefirstdawnappeared.Luckilyitbegantoappearathalfpastfourorthereabouts.

           Conniewasinbed,andfastasleepallthistime.Butthekeeper,too,couldnotrest.Hehadclosedthecoopsandmadehisroundofthewood,thengonehomeandeatensupper.Buthedidnotgotobed.Insteadhesatbythefireandthought.

           HethoughtofhisboyhoodinTevershall,andofhisfiveorsixyearsofmarriedlife.Hethoughtofhiswife,andalwaysbitterly.Shehadseemedsobrutal.Buthehadnotseenhernowsince1915,inthespringwhenhejoinedup.Yetthereshewas,notthreemilesaway,andmorebrutalthanever.Hehopednevertoseeheragainwhilehelived.

           Hethoughtofhislifeabroad,asasoldier.India,Egypt,thenIndiaagain:theblind,thoughtlesslifewiththehorses:thecolonelwhohadlovedhimandwhomhehadloved:theseveralyearsthathehadbeenanofficer,alieutenantwithaveryfairchanceofbeingacaptain.Thenthedeathofthecolonelfrompneumonia,andhisownnarrowescapefromdeath:hisdamagedhealth:hisdeeprestlessness:hisleavingthearmyandcomingbacktoEnglandtobeaworkingmanagain.

           Hewastemporizingwithlife.Hehadthoughthewouldbesafe,atleastforatime,inthiswood.Therewasnoshootingasyet:hehadtorearthepheasants.Hewouldhavenogunstoserve.Hewouldbealone,andapartfromlife,whichwasallhewanted.Hehadtohavesomesortofabackground.Andthiswashisnativeplace.