Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 3
Didshe?Itwasjustpossible.YettheunscrupulousnessofMichaelishadacertainfascinationforher.HewentwholelengthswhereCliffordonlycreptafewtimidpaces.Inhiswayhehadconqueredtheworld,whichwaswhatCliffordwantedtodo.Waysandmeans...?WerethoseofMichaelismoredespicablethanthoseofClifford?Wasthewaythepooroutsiderhadshovedandbouncedhimselfforwardinperson,andbythebackdoors,anyworsethanClifford’swayofadvertisinghimselfintoprominence?Thebitch-goddess,Success,wastrailedbythousandsofgaspingdogswithlollingtongues.Theonethatgotherfirstwastherealdogamongdogs,ifyougobysuccess!SoMichaeliscouldkeephistailup.
Thequeerthingwas,hedidn’t.Hecamebacktowardstea-timewithalargehandfulofvioletsandlilies,andthesamehang-dogexpression.Conniewonderedsometimesifitwereasortofmasktodisarmopposition,becauseitwasalmosttoofixed.Washereallysuchasaddog?
Hissad-dogsortofextinguishedselfpersistedalltheevening,thoughthroughitCliffordfelttheinnereffrontery.Conniedidn’tfeelit,perhapsbecauseitwasnotdirectedagainstwomen;onlyagainstmen,andtheirpresumptionsandassumptions.Thatindestructible,inwardeffronteryinthemeagrefellowwaswhatmademensodownonMichaelis.Hisverypresencewasanaffronttoamanofsociety,cloakitashemightinanassumedgoodmanner.
Conniewasinlovewithhim,butshemanagedtositwithherembroideryandletthementalk,andnotgiveherselfaway.