Коханець леді Чаттерлей

           Somewhereelsetheywerealittlerebuffed,thoughtheydidnotknowit.

           Itwasobviousinthemtoothatlovehadgonethroughthem:thatis,thephysicalexperience.Itiscuriouswhatasubtlebutunmistakabletransmutationitmakes,bothinthebodyofmenandwomen:thewomanmoreblooming,moresubtlyrounded,heryoungangularitiessoftened,andherexpressioneitheranxiousortriumphant:themanmuchquieter,moreinward,theveryshapesofhisshouldersandhisbuttockslessassertive,morehesitant.

           Intheactualsex-thrillwithinthebody,thesistersnearlysuccumbedtothestrangemalepower.Butquicklytheyrecoveredthemselves,tookthesex-thrillasasensation,andremainedfree.Whereasthemen,ingratitudetothewomanforthesexexperience,lettheirsoulsgoouttoher.Andafterwardslookedratherasiftheyhadlostashillingandfoundsixpence.Connie’smancouldbeabitsulky,andHilda’sabitjeering.Butthatishowmenare!Ungratefulandneversatisfied.Whenyoudon’thavethemtheyhateyoubecauseyouwon’t;andwhenyoudohavethemtheyhateyouagain,forsomeotherreason.Orfornoreasonatall,exceptthattheyarediscontentedchildren,andcan’tbesatisfiedwhatevertheyget,letawomandowhatshemay.

           However,camethewar,HildaandConniewererushedhomeagainafterhavingbeenhomealreadyinMay,totheirmother’sfuneral.BeforeChristmasof1914boththeirGermanyoungmenweredead:whereuponthesisterswept,andlovedtheyoungmenpassionately,butunderneathforgotthem.Theydidn’texistanymore.