Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 15
Hetalkedtoherofallhisseriousschemes,andshelistenedinakindofwonder,andlethimtalk.Thentheflowceased,andheturnedontheloudspeaker,andbecameablank,whileapparentlyhisschemescoiledoninsidehimlikeakindofdream.
Andeverynightnowheplayedpontoon,thatgameoftheTommies,withMrsBolton,gamblingwithsixpences.Andagain,inthegamblinghewasgoneinakindofunconsciousness,orblankintoxication,orintoxicationofblankness,whateveritwas.Conniecouldnotbeartoseehim.Butwhenshehadgonetobed,heandMrsBoltonwouldgambleontilltwoandthreeinthemorning,safely,andwithstrangelust.MrsBoltonwascaughtinthelustasmuchasClifford:themoreso,asshenearlyalwayslost.
ShetoldConnieoneday:’Ilosttwenty-threeshillingstoSirCliffordlastnight.’
’Anddidhetakethemoneyfromyou?’askedConnieaghast.
’Whyofcourse,myLady!Debtofhonour!’
Connieexpostulatedroundly,andwasangrywithbothofthem.Theupshotwas,SirCliffordraisedMrsBolton’swagesahundredayear,andshecouldgambleonthat.Meanwhile,itseemedtoConnie,Cliffordwasreallygoingdeader.
Shetoldhimatlengthshewasleavingontheseventeenth.
’Seventeenth!’hesaid.’Andwhenwillyoubeback?’
’BythetwentiethofJulyatthelatest.’
’Yes!thetwentiethofJuly.’
Strangelyandblanklyhelookedather,withthevaguenessofachild,butwiththequeerblankcunningofanoldman.
’Youwon’tletmedown,now,willyou?’hesaid.
