Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 17
Ah!thatinitselfwasarelief,likebeinggivenanotherlife:tobefreeofthestrangedominionandobsessionofotherwomen.Howawfultheywere,women!
Shewasgladtobewithherfather,whosefavouriteshehadalwaysbeen.SheandHildastayedinalittlehoteloffPallMall,andSirMalcolmwasinhisclub.Buthetookhisdaughtersoutintheevening,andtheylikedgoingwithhim.
Hewasstillhandsomeandrobust,thoughjustalittleafraidofthenewworldthathadsprunguparoundhim.HehadgotasecondwifeinScotland,youngerthanhimselfandricher.Buthehadasmanyholidaysawayfromheraspossible:justaswithhisfirstwife.
Conniesatnexttohimattheopera.Hewasmoderatelystout,andhadstoutthighs,buttheywerestillstrongandwell-knit,thethighsofahealthymanwhohadtakenhispleasureinlife.Hisgood-humouredselfishness,hisdoggedsortofindependence,hisunrepentingsensuality,itseemedtoConnieshecouldseethemallinhiswell-knitstraightthighs.Justaman!Andnowbecominganoldman,whichissad.Becauseinhisstrong,thickmalelegstherewasnoneofthealertsensitivenessandpoweroftendernesswhichistheveryessenceofyouth,thatwhichneverdies,onceitisthere.
Conniewokeuptotheexistenceoflegs.Theybecamemoreimportanttoherthanfaces,whicharenolongerveryreal.Howfewpeoplehadlive,alertlegs!Shelookedatthemeninthestalls.