Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 16
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’Andtonight’sbusinessseemsquitegratuitousfolly.Wheredoesthemanlive?’
’Inthecottageattheotherendofthewood.’
’Isheabachelor?’
’No!Hiswifelefthim.’
’Howold?’
’Idon’tknow.Olderthanme.’
Hildabecamemoreangryateveryreply,angryashermotherusedtobe,inakindofparoxysm.Butstillshehidit.
’Iwouldgiveuptonight’sescapadeifIwereyou,’sheadvisedcalmly.
’Ican’t!Imuststaywithhimtonight,orIcan’tgotoVeniceatall.Ijustcan’t.’
Hildaheardherfatheroveragain,andshegaveway,outofmerediplomacy.AndsheconsentedtodrivetoMansfield,bothofthem,todinner,tobringConniebacktothelane-endafterdark,andtofetchherfromthelane-endthenextmorning,herselfsleepinginMansfield,onlyhalfanhouraway,goodgoing.
Butshewasfurious.Shestoreditupagainsthersister,thisbalkinherplans.
Connieflunganemerald-greenshawloverherwindow-sill.
Onthestrengthofheranger,HildawarmedtowardClifford.
Afterall,hehadamind.Andifhehadnosex,functionally,allthebetter:somuchthelesstoquarrelabout!Hildawantednomoreofthatsexbusiness,wheremenbecamenasty,selfishlittlehorrors.Conniereallyhadlesstoputupwiththanmanywomenifshedidbutknowit.
AndClifforddecidedthatHilda,afterall,wasadecidedlyintelligentwoman,andwouldmakeamanafirst-ratehelpmate,ifheweregoinginforpoliticsforexample.Yes,shehadnoneofConnie’ssilliness,Conniewasmoreachild:youhadtomakeexcusesforher,becauseshewasnotaltogetherdependable.
