Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 11
Andshehadtohaveafewfriendsin,toshowit:theschool-mistress,thechemist’swife,MrsWeedontheundercashier’swife.Theythoughtitmarvellous.AndthenstartedthewhisperofLadyChatterley’schild.
’Wonders’llnevercease!’saidMrsWeedon.
ButMrsBoltonwasconvinced,ifitdidcome,itwouldbeSirClifford’schild.Sothere!
Notlongafter,therectorsaidgentlytoClifford:
’AndmaywereallyhopeforanheirtoWragby?Ah,thatwouldbethehandofGodinmercy,indeed!’
’Well!Wemayhope,’saidClifford,withafaintirony,andatthesametime,acertainconviction.Hehadbeguntobelieveitreallypossibleitmightevenbehischild.
ThenoneafternooncameLeslieWinter,SquireWinter,aseverybodycalledhim:lean,immaculate,andseventy:andeveryinchagentleman,asMrsBoltonsaidtoMrsBetts.Everymillimetreindeed!Andwithhisold-fashioned,ratherhaw-haw!mannerofspeaking,heseemedmoreoutofdatethanbagwigs.Time,inherflight,dropsthesefineoldfeathers.
Theydiscussedthecollieries.Clifford’sideawas,thathiscoal,eventhepoorsort,couldbemadeintohardconcentratedfuelthatwouldburnatgreatheatiffedwithcertaindamp,acidulatedairatafairlystrongpressure.Ithadlongbeenobservedthatinaparticularlystrong,wetwindthepit-bankburnedveryvivid,gaveoffhardlyanyfumes,andleftafinepowderofash,insteadoftheslowpinkgravel.
’Butwherewillyoufindtheproperenginesforburningyourfuel?’askedWinter.
’I’llmakethemmyself.AndI’llusemyfuelmyself.AndI’llsellelectricpower.
