Коханець леді Чаттерлей

           Theyhadappearedoutofnowhereintheirthousands,whenthecoalhadcalledforthem.Perhapstheywereonlyweirdfaunaofthecoal-seams.Creaturesofanotherreality,theywereelementals,servingtheelementsofcoal,asthemetal-workerswereelementals,servingtheelementofiron.Mennotmen,butanimasofcoalandironandclay.Faunaoftheelements,carbon,iron,silicon:elementals.Theyhadperhapssomeoftheweird,inhumanbeautyofminerals,thelustreofcoal,theweightandbluenessandresistanceofiron,thetransparencyofglass.Elementalcreatures,weirdanddistorted,ofthemineralworld!Theybelongedtothecoal,theiron,theclay,asfishbelongtotheseaandwormstodeadwood.Theanimaofmineraldisintegration!

           Conniewasgladtobehome,toburyherheadinthesand.ShewasgladeventobabbletoClifford.ForherfearoftheminingandironMidlandsaffectedherwithaqueerfeelingthatwentalloverher,likeinfluenza.

           ’OfcourseIhadtohaveteainMissBentley’sshop,’shesaid.

           ’Really!Winterwouldhavegivenyoutea.’

           ’Ohyes,butIdaren’tdisappointMissBentley.’MissBentleywasashallowoldmaidwitharatherlargenoseandromanticdispositionwhoservedteawithacarefulintensityworthyofasacrament.

           ’Didsheaskafterme?’saidClifford.

           ’Ofcourse!--mayIaskyourLadyshiphowSirCliffordis!--IbelievesheranksyouevenhigherthanNurseCavell!’

           ’AndIsupposeyousaidIwasblooming.’

           ’Yes!AndshelookedasraptasifIhadsaidtheheavenshadopenedtoyou.IsaidifsheevercametoTevershallshewastocometoseeyou.