Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 16
’Derby,then!WhydoyouspeakDerby?YouspokenaturalEnglishatfirst.’
’DidAhthough?An’cannaAhchangeifAh’mamindto’t?Nay,nay,letmetalkDerbyifitsuitsme.Ifyo’nnowtagainstit.’
’Itsoundsalittleaffected,’saidHilda.
’Ay,’appenso!An’upi’Tevershallyo’dsoundaffected.’Helookedagainather,withaqueercalculatingdistance,alonghischeek-bone:asiftosay:Yi,an’whoareyou?
Hetrampedawaytothepantryforthefood.
Thesisterssatinsilence.Hebroughtanotherplate,andknifeandfork.Thenhesaid:
’An’ifit’sthesametoyou,Is’llta’emycoatofflikeIallersdo.’
Andhetookoffhiscoat,andhungitonthepeg,thensatdowntotableinhisshirt-sleeves:ashirtofthin,cream-colouredflannel.
’’Elpyerselves!’hesaid.’’Elpyerselves!Dunnawaitf’raxin’!’Hecutthebread,thensatmotionless.Hildafelt,asConnieonceusedto,hispowerofsilenceanddistance.Shesawhissmallish,sensitive,loosehandonthetable.Hewasnosimpleworkingman,nothe:hewasacting!acting!
’Still!’shesaid,asshetookalittlecheese.’ItwouldbemorenaturalifyouspoketousinnormalEnglish,notinvernacular.’
Helookedather,feelingherdevilofawill.
’Wouldit?’hesaidinthenormalEnglish.’Wouldit?Wouldanythingthatwassaidbetweenyouandmebequitenatural,unlessyousaidyouwishedmetohellbeforeyoursistereversawmeagain:andunlessIsaidsomethingalmostasunpleasantbackagain?Wouldanythingelsebenatural?’
’Ohyes!’saidHilda.
