Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 11
I’mcertainIcoulddoit.’
’Ifyoucandoit,thensplendid,splendid,mydearboy.Haw!Splendid!IfIcanbeofanyhelp,Ishallbedelighted.I’mafraidIamalittleoutofdate,andmycollieriesarelikeme.Butwhoknows,whenI’mgone,theremaybemenlikeyou.Splendid!Itwillemployallthemenagain,andyouwon’thavetosellyourcoal,orfailtosellit.Asplendididea,andIhopeitwillbeasuccess.IfIhadsonsofmyown,nodoubttheywouldhaveup-to-dateideasforShipley:nodoubt!Bytheway,dearboy,isthereanyfoundationtotherumourthatwemayentertainhopesofanheirtoWragby?’
’Istherearumour?’askedClifford.
’Well,mydearboy,MarshallfromFillingwoodaskedme,that’sallIcansayaboutarumour.OfcourseIwouldn’trepeatitfortheworld,iftherewerenofoundation.’
’Well,Sir,’saidClifforduneasily,butwithstrangebrighteyes.’Thereisahope.Thereisahope.’
WintercameacrosstheroomandwrungClifford’shand.
’Mydearboy,mydearlad,canyoubelievewhatitmeanstome,tohearthat!Andtohearyouareworkinginthehopesofason:andthatyoumayagainemployeverymanatTevershall.Ah,myboy!tokeepuptheleveloftherace,andtohaveworkwaitingforanymanwhocarestowork!--’
Theoldmanwasreallymoved.
NextdayConniewasarrangingtallyellowtulipsinaglassvase.
’Connie,’saidClifford,’didyouknowtherewasarumourthatyouaregoingtosupplyWragbywithasonandheir?’
Conniefeltdimwithterror,yetshestoodquitestill,touchingtheflowers.
’No!’shesaid.
