Коханець леді Чаттерлей

           HermotherhadbeenoneofthecultivatedFabiansinthepalmy,ratherpre-Raphaelitedays.Betweenartistsandculturedsocialists,ConstanceandhersisterHildahadhadwhatmightbecalledanaestheticallyunconventionalupbringing.TheyhadbeentakentoParisandFlorenceandRometobreatheinart,andtheyhadbeentakenalsointheotherdirection,totheHagueandBerlin,togreatSocialistconventions,wherethespeakersspokeineverycivilizedtongue,andnoonewasabashed.

           Thetwogirls,therefore,werefromanearlyagenottheleastdauntedbyeitherartoridealpolitics.Itwastheirnaturalatmosphere.Theywereatoncecosmopolitanandprovincial,withthecosmopolitanprovincialismofartthatgoeswithpuresocialideals.

           TheyhadbeensenttoDresdenattheageoffifteen,formusicamongotherthings.Andtheyhadhadagoodtimethere.Theylivedfreelyamongthestudents,theyarguedwiththemenoverphilosophical,sociologicalandartisticmatters,theywerejustasgoodasthementhemselves:onlybetter,sincetheywerewomen.Andtheytrampedofftotheforestswithsturdyyouthsbearingguitars,twang-twang!TheysangtheWandervogelsongs,andtheywerefree.Free!Thatwasthegreatword.Outintheopenworld,outintheforestsofthemorning,withlustyandsplendid-throatedyoungfellows,freetodoastheyliked,and--aboveall--tosaywhattheyliked.Itwasthetalkthatmatteredsupremely:theimpassionedinterchangeoftalk.Lovewasonlyaminoraccompaniment.

           BothHildaandConstancehadhadtheirtentativelove-affairsbythetimetheywereeighteen.