Oursisessentiallyatragicage，sowerefusetotakeittragically。
Thecataclysmhashappened，weareamongtheruins，westarttobuildupnewlittlehabitats，tohavenewlittlehopes。Itisratherhardwork：
thereisnownosmoothroadintothefuture：butwegoround，orscrambleovertheobstacles。We’vegottolive，nomatterhowmanyskieshavefallen。
ThiswasmoreorlessConstanceChatterley’sposition。Thewarhadbroughttheroofdownoverherhead。Andshehadrealizedthatonemustliveandlearn。
ShemarriedCliffordChatterleyin1917，whenhewashomeforamonthonleave。Theyhadamonth’shoneymoon。ThenhewentbacktoFlanders：
tobeshippedovertoEnglandagainsixmonthslater，moreorlessinbits。
Constance，hiswife，wasthentwenty-threeyearsold，andhewastwenty-nine。
Hisholdonlifewasmarvellous。Hedidn’tdie，andthebitsseemedtogrowtogetheragain。Fortwoyearsheremainedinthedoctor’shands。
Thenhewaspronouncedacure，andcouldreturntolifeagain，withthelowerhalfofhisbody，fromthehipsdown，paralysedforever。
Thiswasin1920。Theyreturned，CliffordandConstance，tohishome，WragbyHall，thefamily`seat’。Hisfatherhaddied，Cliffordwasnowabaronet，SirClifford，andConstancewasLadyChatterley。TheycametostarthousekeepingandmarriedlifeintheratherforlornhomeoftheChatterleysonaratherinadequateincome。Cliffordhadasister，butshehaddeparted。
Otherwisetherewerenonearrelatives。Theelderbrotherwasdeadinthewar。Crippledforever，knowinghecouldneverhaveanychildren，CliffordcamehometothesmokyMidlandstokeeptheChatterleynamealivewhilehecould。
Hewasnotreallydowncast。Hecouldwheelhimselfaboutinawheeledchair，andhehadabath-chairwithasmallmotorattachment，sohecoulddrivehimselfslowlyroundthegardenandintothelinemelancholypark，ofwhichhewasreallysoproud，thoughhepretendedtobeflippantaboutit。
Havingsufferedsomuch，thecapacityforsufferinghadtosomeextentlefthim。Heremainedstrangeandbrightandcheerful，almost，onemightsay，chirpy，withhisruddy，healthy-lookingface，aridhispale-blue，challengingbrighteyes。Hisshoulderswerebroadandstrong，hishandswereverystrong。Hewasexpensivelydressed，andworehandsomenecktiesfromBondStreet。Yetstillinhisfaceonesawthewatchfullook，theslightvacancyofacripple。
Hehadsoverynearlylosthislife，thatwhatremainedwaswonderfullyprecioustohim。Itwasobviousintheanxiousbrightnessofhiseyes，howproudhewas，afterthegreatshock，ofbeingalive。Buthehadbeensomuchhurtthatsomethinginsidehimhadperished，someofhisfeelingshadgone。Therewasablankofinsentience。
Constance，hiswife，wasaruddy，country-lookinggirlwithsoftbrownhairandsturdybody，andslowmovements，fullofunusualenergy。Shehadbig，wonderingeyes，andasoftmildvoice，andseemedjusttohavecomefromhernativevillage。Itwasnotsoatall。Herfatherwastheoncewell-knownR。A。，oldSirMalcolmReid。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。Theyoungmenwithwhomtheytalkedsopassionatelyandsangsolustilyandcampedunderthetreesinsuchfreedomwanted，ofcourse，theloveconnexion。Thegirlsweredoubtful，butthenthethingwassomuchtalkedabout，itwassupposedtobesoimportant。Andthemenweresohumbleandcraving。Whycouldn’tagirlbequeenly，andgivethegiftofherself？
Sotheyhadgiventhegiftofthemselves，eachtotheyouthwithwhomshehadthemostsubtleandintimatearguments。Thearguments，thediscussionswerethegreatthing：thelove-makingandconnexionwereonlyasortofprimitivereversionandabitofananti-climax。Onewaslessinlovewiththeboyafterwards，andalittleinclinedtohatehim，asifhehadtrespassedonone’sprivacyandinnerfreedom。For，ofcourse，beingagirl，one’swholedignityandmeaninginlifeconsistedintheachievementofanabsolute，aperfect，apureandnoblefreedom。Whatelsedidagirl’slifemean？
Toshakeofftheoldandsordidconnexionsandsubjections。
Andhoweveronemightsentimentalizeit，thissexbusinesswasoneofthemostancient，sordidconnexionsandsubjections。Poetswhoglorifieditweremostlymen。Womenhadalwaysknowntherewassomethingbetter，somethinghigher。Andnowtheyknewitmoredefinitelythanever。Thebeautifulpurefreedomofawomanwasinfinitelymorewonderfulthananysexuallove。
Theonlyunfortunatethingwasthatmenlaggedsofarbehindwomeninthematter。Theyinsistedonthesexthinglikedogs。
Andawomanhadtoyield。Amanwaslikeachildwithhisappetites。
Awomanhadtoyieldhimwhathewanted，orlikeachildhewouldprobablyturnnastyandflounceawayandspoilwhatwasaverypleasantconnexion。
Butawomancouldyieldtoamanwithoutyieldingherinner，freeself。
Thatthepoetsandtalkersaboutsexdidnotseemtohavetakensufficientlyintoaccount。Awomancouldtakeamanwithoutreallygivingherselfaway。
Certainlyshecouldtakehimwithoutgivingherselfintohispower。Rathershecouldusethissexthingtohavepoweroverhim。Forsheonlyhadtoholdherselfbackinsexualintercourse，andlethimfinishandexpendhimselfwithoutherselfcomingtothecrisis：andthenshecouldprolongtheconnexionandachieveherorgasmandhercrisiswhilehewasmerelyhertool。
Bothsistershadhadtheirloveexperiencebythetimethewarcame，andtheywerehurriedhome。Neitherwaseverinlovewithayoungmanunlessheandshewereverballyverynear：thatisunlesstheywereprofoundlyinterested，TALKINGtooneanother。Theamazing，theprofound，theunbelievablethrilltherewasinpassionatelytalkingtosomereallycleveryoungmanbythehour，resumingdayafterdayformonths……thistheyhadneverrealizedtillithappened!Theparadisalpromise：Thoushalthavementotalkto!——hadneverbeenuttered。Itwasfulfilledbeforetheyknewwhatapromiseitwas。
Andifaftertherousedintimacyofthesevividandsoul-enlighteneddiscussionsthesexthingbecamemoreorlessinevitable，thenletit。
Itmarkedtheendofachapter。Ithadathrillofitsowntoo：aqueervibratingthrillinsidethebody，afinalspasmofself-assertion，likethelastword，exciting，andveryliketherowofasterisksthatcanbeputtoshowtheendofaparagraph，andabreakinthetheme。
Whenthegirlscamehomeforthesummerholidaysof1913，whenHildawastwentyandConnieeighteen，theirfathercouldseeplainlythattheyhadhadtheloveexperience。
L’amouravaitpossé；parlà；，assomebodyputsit。
Buthewasamanofexperiencehimself，andletlifetakeitscourse。Asforthemotanervousinvalidinthelastfewmonthsofherlife，shewantedhergirlstobe`free’，andto`fulfilthemselves’。Sheherselfhadneverbeenabletobealtogetherherself：ithadbeendeniedher。Heavenknowswhy，forshewasawomanwhohadherownincomeandherownway。Sheblamedherhusband。Butasamatteroffact，itwassomeoldimpressionofauthorityonherownmindorsoulthatshecouldnotgetridof。IthadnothingtodowithSirMalcolm，wholefthisnervouslyhostile，high-spiritedwifetoruleherownroost，whilehewenthisownway。
Sothegirlswere`free’，andwentbacktoDresden，andtheirmusic，andtheuniversityandtheyoungmen。Theylovedtheirrespectiveyoungmen，andtheirrespectiveyoungmenlovedthemwithallthepassionofmentalattraction。Allthewonderfulthingstheyoungmenthoughtandexpressedandwrote，theythoughtandexpressedandwrotefortheyoungwomen。Connie’syoungmanwasmusical，Hilda’swastechnical。Buttheysimplylivedfortheiryoungwomen。Intheirmindsandtheirmentalexcitements，thatis。
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。
Bothsisterslivedintheirfather’s，reallytheirmother’s，KensingtonhousemixedwiththeyoungCambridgegroup，thegroupthatstoodfor`freedom’
andflanneltrousers，andflannelshirtsopenattheneck，andawell-bredsortofemotionalanarchy，andawhispering，murmuringsortofvoice，andanultra-sensitivesortofmanner。Hilda，however，suddenlymarriedamantenyearsolderthanherself，aneldermemberofthesameCambridgegroup，amanwithafairamountofmoney，andacomfortablefamilyjobinthegovernment：healsowrotephilosophicalessays。ShelivedwithhiminasmallishhouseinWestminster，andmovedinthatgoodsortofsocietyofpeopleinthegovernmentwhoarenottip-toppers，butwhoare，orwouldbe，therealintelligentpowerinthenation：peoplewhoknowwhatthey’retalkingabout，ortalkasiftheydid。
Conniedidamildformofwar-work，andconsortedwiththeflannel-trousersCambridgeintransigents，whogentlymockedateverything，sofar。Her`friend’
wasaCliffordChatterley，ayoungmanoftwenty-two，whohadhurriedhomefromBonn，wherehewasstudyingthetechnicalitiesofcoal-mining。HehadpreviouslyspenttwoyearsatCambridge。Nowhehadbecomeafirstlieutenantinasmartregiment，sohecouldmockateverythingmorebecominglyinuniform。
CliffordChatterleywasmoreupper-classthanConnie。Conniewaswell-to-dointelligentsia，buthewasaristocracy。Notthebigsort，butstillit。
Hisfatherwasabaronet，andhismotherhadbeenaviscount’sdaughter。
ButClifford，whilehewasbetterbredthanConnie，andmore`society’，wasinhisownwaymoreprovincialandmoretimid。Hewasathiseaseinthenarrow`greatworld’，thatis，landedaristocracysociety，buthewasshyandnervousofallthatotherbigworldwhichconsistsofthevasthordesofthemiddleandlowerclasses，andforeigners。Ifthetruthmustbetold，hewasjustalittlebitfrightenedofmiddle-andlower-classhumanity，andofforeignersnotofhisownclass。Hewas，insomeparalysingway，consciousofhisowndefencelessness，thoughhehadallthedefenceofprivilege。Whichiscurious，butaphenomenonofourday。
ThereforethepeculiarsoftassuranceofagirllikeConstanceReidfascinatedhim。Shewassomuchmoremistressofherselfinthatouterworldofchaosthanhewasmasterofhimself。
Neverthelesshetoowasarebel：rebellingevenagainsthisclass。Orperhapsrebelistoostrongaword；fartoostrong。Hewasonlycaughtinthegeneral，popularrecoiloftheyoungagainstconventionandagainstanysortofrealauthority。Fatherswereridiculous：hisownobstinateonesupremelyso。Andgovernmentswereridiculous：ourownwait-and-seesortespeciallyso。Andarmieswereridiculous，andoldbuffersofgeneralsaltogether，thered-facedKitchenersupremely。Eventhewarwasridiculous，thoughitdidkillratheralotofpeople。
Infacteverythingwasalittleridiculous，orveryridiculous：certainlyeverythingconnectedwithauthority，whetheritwereinthearmyorthegovernmentortheuniversities，wasridiculoustoadegree。Andasfarasthegoverningclassmadeanypretensionstogovern，theywereridiculoustoo。SirGeoffrey，Clifford’sfather，wasintenselyridiculous，choppingdownhistrees，andweedingmenoutofhiscollierytoshovethemintothewar；andhimselfbeingsosafeandpatriotic；but，also，spendingmoremoneyonhiscountrythanhe’dgot。
WhenMissChatterley——Emma——camedowntoLondonfromtheMidlandstodosomenursingwork，shewasverywittyinaquietwayaboutSirGeoffreyandhisdeterminedpatriotism。Herbert，theelderbrotherandheir，laughedoutright，thoughitwashistreesthatwerefallingfortrenchprops。ButCliffordonlysmiledalittleuneasily。Everythingwasridiculous，quitetrue。Butwhenitcametoocloseandoneselfbecameridiculoustoo……？
Atleastpeopleofadifferentclass，likeConnie，wereearnestaboutsomething。
Theybelievedinsomething。
TheywereratherearnestabouttheTommies，andthethreatofconscription，andtheshortageofsugarandtoffeeforthechildren。Inallthesethings，ofcourse，theauthoritieswereridiculouslyatfault。ButCliffordcouldnottakeittoheart。Tohimtheauthoritieswereridiculousabovo，notbecauseoftoffeeorTommies。
Andtheauthoritiesfeltridiculous，andbehavedinaratherridiculousfashion，anditwasallamadhatter’stea-partyforawhile。Tillthingsdevelopedoverthere，andLloydGeorgecametosavethesituationoverhere。Andthissurpassedevenridicule，theflippantyounglaughednomore。
In1916HerbertChatterleywaskilled，soCliffordbecameheir。Hewasterrifiedevenofthis。HisimportanceassonofSirGeoffrey，andchildofWragby，wassoingrainedinhim，hecouldneverescapeit。Andyetheknewthatthistoo，intheeyesofthevastseethingworld，wasridiculous。
NowhewasheirandresponsibleforWragby。Wasthatnotterrible？andalsosplendidandatthesametime，perhaps，purelyabsurd？
SirGeoffreywouldhavenoneoftheabsurdity。Hewaspaleandtense，withdrawnintohimself，andobstinatelydeterminedtosavehiscountryandhisownposition，letitbeLloydGeorgeorwhoitmight。Socutoffhewas，sodivorcedfromtheEnglandthatwasreallyEngland，soutterlyincapable，thatheeventhoughtwellofHoratioBottomley。SirGeoffreystoodforEnglandandLloydGeorgeashisforebearshadstoodforEnglandandStGeorge：andheneverknewtherewasadifference。SoSirGeoffreyfelledtimberandstoodforLloydGeorgeandEngland，EnglandandLloydGeorge。
AndhewantedCliffordtomarryandproduceanheir。Cliffordfelthisfatherwasahopelessanachronism。Butwhereinwashehimselfanyfurtherahead，exceptinawincingsenseoftheridiculousnessofeverything，andtheparamountridiculousnessofhisownposition？Forwilly-nillyhetookhisbaronetcyandWragbywiththelastseriousness。
Thegayexcitementhadgoneoutofthewar……dead。Toomuchdeathandhorror。Amanneededsupportaridcomfort。Amanneededtohaveananchorinthesafeworld。Amanneededawife。