Любовник леди Чаттерлей
Chapter 5
Eventheprostitutiontothebitch-goddesswasnothingness,thoughthemenprostitutedthemselvesinnumerabletimes.Nothingnesseventhat.
MichaeliswrotetoCliffordabouttheplay.Ofcoursesheknewaboutitlongago.AndCliffordwasagainthrilled.Hewasgoingtobedisplayedagainthistime,somebodywasgoingtodisplayhim,andtoadvantage.HeinvitedMichaelisdowntoWragbywithActI.
Michaeliscame:insummer,inapale-colouredsuitandwhitesuedegloves,withmauveorchidsforConnie,verylovely,andActIwasagreatsuccess.EvenConniewasthrilled...thrilledtowhatbitofmarrowshehadleft.AndMichaelis,thrilledbyhispowertothrill,wasreallywonderful...andquitebeautiful,inConnie’seyes.Shesawinhimthatancientmotionlessnessofaracethatcan’tbedisillusionedanymore,anextreme,perhaps,ofimpuritythatispure.Onthefarsideofhissupremeprostitutiontothebitch-goddessheseemedpure,pureasanAfricanivorymaskthatdreamsimpurityintopurity,initsivorycurvesandplanes.
HismomentofsheerthrillwiththetwoChatterleys,whenhesimplycarriedConnieandCliffordaway,wasoneofthesuprememomentsofMichaelis’life.Hehadsucceeded:hehadcarriedthemaway.EvenCliffordwastemporarilyinlovewithhim...ifthatisthewayonecanputit.
SonextmorningMickwasmoreuneasythanever;restless,devoured,withhishandsrestlessinhistrouserspockets.Conniehadnotvisitedhiminthenight...andhehadnotknownwheretofindher.Coquetry!...athismomentoftriumph.
Hewentuptohersitting-roominthemorning.Sheknewhewouldcome.