Коханець леді Чаттерлей

           ’

           MrLinleywasthegeneralmanagerofthecollieries,anelderlymanfromthenorth,withnotquiteenoughpunchtosuitClifford;notuptopost-warconditions,norpost-warcollierseither,withtheir’ca’canny’creed.ButConnielikedMrLinley,thoughshewasgladtobesparedthetoadyingofhiswife.

           Linleystayedtodinner,andConniewasthehostessmenlikedsomuch,somodest,yetsoattentiveandaware,withbig,wideblueeyesandasoftreposethatsufficientlyhidwhatshewasreallythinking.Conniehadplayedthiswomansomuch,itwasalmostsecondnaturetoher;butstill,decidedlysecond.Yetitwascurioushoweverythingdisappearedfromherconsciousnesswhilesheplayedit.

           Shewaitedpatientlytillshecouldgoupstairsandthinkherownthoughts.Shewasalwayswaiting,itseemedtobeherforte.

           Onceinherroom,however,shefeltstillvagueandconfused.Shedidn’tknowwhattothink.Whatsortofamanwashe,really?Didhereallylikeher?Notmuch,shefelt.Yethewaskind.Therewassomething,asortofwarmnaivekindness,curiousandsudden,thatalmostopenedherwombtohim.Butshefelthemightbekindlikethattoanywoman.Thoughevenso,itwascuriouslysoothing,comforting.Andhewasapassionateman,wholesomeandpassionate.Butperhapshewasn’tquiteindividualenough;hemightbethesamewithanywomanashehadbeenwithher.Itreallywasn’tpersonal.Shewasonlyreallyafemaletohim.

           Butperhapsthatwasbetter.Andafterall,hewaskindtothefemaleinher,whichnomanhadeverbeen.