Коханець леді Чаттерлей

           ConnielikedtheinteriormuchbetterthanWragby.Itwasmuchlighter,morealive,shapenandelegant.Theroomswerepanelledwithcreamypaintedpanelling,theceilingsweretouchedwithgilt,andeverythingwaskeptinexquisiteorder,alltheappointmentswereperfect,regardlessofexpense.Eventhecorridorsmanagedtobeampleandlovely,softlycurvedandfulloflife.

           ButLeslieWinterwasalone.Hehadadoredhishouse.Buthisparkwasborderedbythreeofhisowncollieries.Hehadbeenagenerousmaninhisideas.Hehadalmostwelcomedthecolliersinhispark.Hadtheminersnotmadehimrich!So,whenhesawthegangsofunshapelymenloungingbyhisornamentalwaters--notintheprivatepartofthepark,no,hedrewthelinethere--hewouldsay:’theminersareperhapsnotsoornamentalasdeer,buttheyarefarmoreprofitable.’

           Butthatwasinthegolden--monetarily--latterhalfofQueenVictoria’sreign.Minerswerethen’goodworkingmen’.

           Winterhadmadethisspeech,halfapologetic,tohisguest,thethenPrinceofWales.AndthePrincehadreplied,inhisrathergutturalEnglish:

           ’Youarequiteright.IftherewerecoalunderSandringham,Iwouldopenamineonthelawns,andthinkitfirst-ratelandscapegardening.Oh,Iamquitewillingtoexchangeroe-deerforcolliers,attheprice.Yourmenaregoodmentoo,Ihear.’

           Butthen,thePrincehadperhapsanexaggeratedideaofthebeautyofmoney,andtheblessingsofindustrialism.

           However,thePrincehadbeenaKing,andtheKinghaddied,andnowtherewasanotherKing,whosechieffunctionseemedtobetoopensoup-kitchens.