Butitwasdifficult，theearthundertheirfeetwasamystery，buthefelthiswaybytread：hewasusedtoit。Atthegatehegaveherhiselectrictorch。`It’sabitlighterinthepark，’hesaid；`buttakeitforfearyougetoffth’path。’
　　Itwastrue，thereseemedaghost-glimmerofgreynessintheopenspaceofthepark。Hesuddenlydrewhertohimandwhippedhishandunderherdressagain，feelingherwarmbodywithhiswet，chillhand。
　　`Icoulddieforthetouchofawomanlikethee，’hesaidinhisthroat。
　　`Iftha’wouldstopanotherminute。’
　　Shefeltthesuddenforceofhiswantingheragain。
　　`No，Imustrun，’shesaid，alittlewildly。
　　`Ay，’hereplied，suddenlychanged，lettinghergo。
　　Sheturnedaway，andontheinstantsheturnedbacktohimsaying：`Kissme。’
　　Hebentoverherindistinguishableandkissedheronthelefteye。Sheheldhermouthandhesoftlykissedit，butatoncedrewaway。Hehatedmouthkisses。
　　`I’llcometomorrow，’shesaid，drawingaway；`ifIcan，’sheadded。
　　`Ay!notsolate，’herepliedoutofthedarkness。Alreadyshecouldnotseehimatall。
　　`Goodnight，’shesaid。
　　`Goodnight，yourLadyship，’hisvoice。
　　Shestoppedandlookedbackintothewetdark。Shecouldjustseethebulkofhim。`Whydidyousaythat？’shesaid。
　　`Nay，’hereplied。`Goodnightthen，run!’
　　Sheplungedoninthedark-greytangiblenight。Shefoundtheside-dooropen，andslippedintoherroomunseen。Assheclosedthedoorthegongsounded，butshewouldtakeherbathallthesame——shemusttakeherbath。
　　`ButIwon’tbelateanymore，’shesaidtoherself；`it’stooannoying。’
　　Thenextdayshedidnotgotothewood。ShewentinsteadwithCliffordtoUthwaite。Hecouldoccasionallygooutnowinthecar，andhadgotastrongyoungmanaschauffeur，whocouldhelphimoutofthecarifneedbe。Heparticularlywantedtoseehisgodfather，LeslieWinter，wholivedatShipleyHall，notfarfromUthwaite。Winterwasanelderlygentlemannow，wealthy，oneofthewealthycoal-ownerswhohadhadtheirhey-dayinKingEdward’stime。KingEdwardhadstayedmorethanonceatShipley，fortheshooting。Itwasahandsomeoldstuccohall，veryelegantlyappointed，forWinterwasabachelorandpridedhimselfonhisstyle；buttheplacewasbesetbycollieries。LeslieWinterwasattachedtoClifford，butpersonallydidnotentertainagreatrespectforhim，becauseofthephotographsinillustratedpapersandtheliterature。TheoldmanwasabuckoftheKingEdwardschool，whothoughtlifewaslifeandthescribblingfellowsweresomethingelse。TowardsConnietheSquirewasalwaysrathergallant；hethoughtheranattractivedemuremaidenandratherwastedonClifford，anditwasathousandpitiesshestoodnochanceofbringingforthanheirtoWragby。Hehimselfhadnoheir。
　　ConniewonderedwhathewouldsayifheknewthatClifford’sgame-keeperhadbeenhavingintercoursewithher，andsayingtoher`thamuncometoth’cottageonetime。’Hewoulddetestanddespiseher，forhehadcomealmosttohatetheshovingforwardoftheworkingclasses。Amanofherownclasshewouldnotmind，forConniewasgiftedfromnaturewiththisappearanceofdemure，submissivemaidenliness，andperhapsitwaspartofhernature。Wintercalledher`dearchild’andgaveheraratherlovelyminiatureofaneighteenth-centurylady，ratheragainstherwill。
　　ButConniewaspreoccupiedwithheraffairwiththekeeper。Afterall，MrWinter，whowasreallyagentlemanandamanoftheworld，treatedherasapersonandadiscriminatingindividual；hedidnotlumphertogetherwithalltherestofhisfemalewomanhoodinhis`thee’and`tha’。
　　Shedidnotgotothewoodthatdaynorthenext，northedayfollowing。
　　Shedidnotgosolongasshefelt，orimaginedshefelt，themanwaitingforher，wantingher。Butthefourthdayshewasterriblyunsettledanduneasy。Shestillrefusedtogotothewoodandopenherthighsoncemoretotheman。Shethoughtofallthethingsshemightdo——drivetoSheffield，payvisits，andthethoughtofallthesethingswasrepellent。Atlastshedecidedtotakeawalk，nottowardsthewood，butintheoppositedirection；
　　shewouldgotoMarehay，throughthelittleirongateintheothersideoftheparkfence。Itwasaquietgreydayofspring，almostwarm。Shewalkedonunheeding，absorbedinthoughtsshewasnotevenconsciousofShewasnotreallyawareofanythingoutsideher，tillshewasstartledbytheloudbarkingofthedogatMarehayFarm。MarehayFarm!ItspasturesranuptoWragbyparkfence，sotheywereneighbours，butitwassometimesinceConniehadcalled。
　　`Bell!’shesaidtothebigwhitebull-terrier。`Bell!haveyouforgottenme？Don’tyouknowme？’Shewasafraidofdogs，andBellstoodbackandbellowed，andshewantedtopassthroughthefarmyardontothewarrenpath。
　　MrsFlintappeared。ShewasawomanofConstance’sownage，hadbeenaschool-teacher，butConniesuspectedherofbeingratherafalselittlething。
　　`Why，it’sLadyChatterley!Why!’AndMrsFlint’seyesglowedagain，andsheflushedlikeayounggirl。`Bell，Bell。Why!barkingatLadyChatterley!
　　Bell!Bequiet!’Shedartedforwardandslashedatthedogwithawhiteclothsheheldinherhand，thencameforwardtoConnie。
　　`Sheusedtoknowme，’saidConnie，shakinghands。TheFlintswereChatterleytenants。
　　`OfcoursesheknowsyourLadyship!She’sjustshowingoff，’saidMrsFlint，glowingandlookingupwithasortofflushedconfusion，`butit’ssolongsinceshe’sseenyou。Idohopeyouarebetter。’
　　`Yesthanks，I’mallright。’
　　`We’vehardlyseenyouallwinter。Willyoucomeinandlookatthebaby？’
　　`Well!’Conniehesitated。`Justforaminute。’
　　MrsFlintflewwildlyintotidyup，andConniecameslowlyafterher，hesitatingintheratherdarkkitchenwherethekettlewasboilingbythefire。BackcameMrsFlint。
　　`Idohopeyou’llexcuseme，’shesaid。`Willyoucomeinhere？’
　　Theywentintotheliving-room，whereababywassittingontheraghearthrug，andthetablewasroughlysetfortea。Ayoungservant-girlbackeddownthepassage，shyandawkward。
　　Thebabywasaperkylittlethingofaboutayear，withredhairlikeitsfather，andcheekypale-blueeyes。Itwasagirl，andnottobedaunted。
　　Itsatamongcushionsandwassurroundedwithragdollsandothertoysinmodernexcess。
　　`Why，whatadearsheis!’saidConnie，`andhowshe’sgrown!Abiggirl!Abiggirl!’
　　Shehadgivenitashawlwhenitwasborn，andcelluloidducksforChristmas。
　　`There，Josephine!Who’sthatcometoseeyou？Who’sthis，Josephine？
　　LadyChatterley——youknowLadyChatterley，don’tyou？’
　　ThequeerpertlittlemitegazedcheekilyatConnie。Ladyshipswerestillallthesametoher。
　　`Come!Willyoucometome？’saidConnietothebaby。
　　Thebabydidn’tcareonewayoranother，soConniepickedherupandheldherinherlap。Howwarmandlovelyitwastoholdachildinone’slap，andthesoftlittlearms，theunconsciouscheekylittlelegs。
　　`Iwasjusthavingaroughcupofteaallbymyself。Luke’sgonetomarket，soIcanhaveitwhenIlike。Wouldyoucareforacup，LadyChatterley？
　　Idon’tsupposeit’swhatyou’reusedto，butifyouwould……’
　　Conniewould，thoughshedidn’twanttoberemindedofwhatshewasusedto。Therewasagreatrelayingofthetable，andthebestcupsbroughtandthebesttea-pot。
　　`Ifonlyyouwouldn’ttakeanytrouble，’saidConnie。
　　ButifMrsFlinttooknotrouble，wherewasthefun!SoConnieplayedwiththechildandwasamusedbyitslittlefemaledauntlessness，andgotadeepvoluptuouspleasureoutofitssoftyoungwarmth。Younglife!Andsofearless!Sofearless，becausesodefenceless。Alltheotherpeople，sonarrowwithfear!
　　Shehadacupoftea，whichwasratherstrong，andverygoodbreadandbutter，andbottleddamsons。MrsFlintflushedandglowedandbridledwithexcitement，asifConnieweresomegallantknight。Andtheyhadarealfemalechat，andbothofthemenjoyedit。
　　`It’sapoorlittletea，though，’saidMrsFlint。
　　`It’smuchnicerthanathome，’saidConnietruthfully。
　　`Oh-h!’saidMrsFlint，notbelieving，ofcourse。
　　ButatlastConnierose。
　　`Imustgo，’shesaid。`MyhusbandhasnoideawhereIam。He’llbewonderingallkindsofthings。’
　　`He’llneverthinkyou’rehere，’laughedMrsFlintexcitedly。`He’llbesendingthecrierround。’
　　`Goodbye，Josephine，’saidConnie，kissingthebabyandrufflingitsred，wispyhair。
　　MrsFlintinsistedonopeningthelockedandbarredfrontdoor。Connieemergedinthefarm’slittlefrontgarden，shutinbyaprivethedge。Thereweretworowsofauriculasbythepath，veryvelvetyandrich。
　　`Lovelyauriculas，’saidConnie。
　　`Recklesses，asLukecallsthem，’laughedMrsFlint。`Havesome。’
　　Andeagerlyshepickedthevelvetandprimroseflowers。
　　`Enough!Enough!’saidConnie。
　　Theycametothelittlegardengate。
　　`Whichwaywereyougoing？’askedMrsFlint。
　　`BytheWarren。’
　　`Letmesee!Ohyes，thecowsareintheginclose。Butthey’renotupyet。Butthegate’slocked，you’llhavetoclimb。’
　　`Icanclimb，’saidConnie。
　　`PerhapsIcanjustgodowntheclosewithyou。’
　　Theywentdownthepoor，rabbit-bittenpasture。Birdswerewhistlinginwildeveningtriumphinthewood。Amanwascallingupthelastcows，whichtrailedslowlyoverthepath-wornpasture。
　　`They’relate，milking，tonight，’saidMrsFlintseverely。`TheyknowLukewon’tbebacktillafterdark。’
　　Theycametothefence，beyondwhichtheyoungfir-woodbristleddense。
　　Therewasalittlegate，butitwaslocked。Inthegrassontheinsidestoodabottle，empty。
　　`There’sthekeeper’semptybottleforhismilk，’explainedMrsFlint。
　　`Webringitasfarashereforhim，andthenhefetchesithimself’
　　`When？’saidConnie。
　　`Oh，anytimehe’saround。Ofteninthemorning。Well，goodbyeLadyChatterley!Anddocomeagain。Itwassolovelyhavingyou。’
　　Connieclimbedthefenceintothenarrowpathbetweenthedense，bristlingyoungfirs。MrsFlintwentrunningbackacrossthepasture，inasun-bonnet，becauseshewasreallyaschoolteacher。Constancedidn’tlikethisdensenewpartofthewood；itseemedgruesomeandchoking。Shehurriedonwithherheaddown，thinkingoftheFlints’baby。Itwasadearlittlething，butitwouldbeabitbow-leggedlikeitsfather。Itshowedalready，butperhapsitwouldgrowoutofit。Howwarmandfulfillingsomehowtohaveababy，andhowMrsFlinthadshoweditoff!ShehadsomethinganyhowthatConniehadn’tgot，andapparentlycouldn’thave。Yes，MrsFlinthadflauntedhermotherhood。AndConniehadbeenjustabit，justalittlebitjealous。
　　Shecouldn’thelpit。
　　Shestartedoutofhermuse，andgavealittlecryoffear。Amanwasthere。
　　Itwasthekeeper。HestoodinthepathlikeBalaam’sass，barringherway。
　　`How’sthis？’hesaidinsurprise。
　　`Howdidyoucome？’shepanted。
　　`Howdidyou？Haveyoubeentothehut？’
　　`No!No!IwenttoMarehay。’
　　Helookedathercuriously，searchingly，andshehungherheadalittleguiltily。
　　`Andwereyougoingtothehutnow？’heaskedrathersternly。`No!I
　　mustn’t。IstayedatMarehay。NooneknowswhereIam。I’mlate。I’vegottorun。’
　　`Givingmetheslip，like？’hesaid，withafaintironicsmile。`No!
　　No。Notthat。Only——’
　　`Why，whatelse？’hesaid。Andhesteppeduptoherandputhisarmsaroundher。Shefeltthefrontofhisbodyterriblyneartoher，andalive。
　　`Oh，notnow，notnow，’shecried，tryingtopushhimaway。
　　`Whynot？It’sonlysixo’clock。You’vegothalfanhour。Nay!Nay!
　　Iwantyou。’
　　Heheldherfastandshefelthisurgency。Heroldinstinctwastofightforherfreedom。Butsomethingelseinherwasstrangeandinertandheavy。
　　Hisbodywasurgentagainsther，andshehadn’ttheheartanymoretofight。
　　Helookedaround。
　　`Come——comehere!Throughhere，’hesaid，lookingpenetratinglyintothedensefir-trees，thatwereyoungandnotmorethanhalf-grown。
　　Helookedbackather。Shesawhiseyes，tenseandbrilliant，fierce，notloving。Butherwillhadlefther。Astrangeweightwasonherlimbs。
　　Shewasgivingway。Shewasgivingup。
　　Heledherthroughthewallofpricklytrees，thatweredifficulttocomethrough，toaplacewherewasalittlespaceandapileofdeadboughs。
　　Hethrewoneortwodryonesdown，puthiscoatandwaistcoatoverthem，andshehadtoliedownthereundertheboughsofthetree，likeananimal，whilehewaited，standingthereinhisshirtandbreeches，watchingherwithhauntedeyes。Butstillhewasprovident——hemadeherlieproperly，properly。Yethebrokethebandofherunderclothes，forshedidnothelphim，onlylayinert。
　　Hetoohadbaredthefrontpartofhisbodyandshefelthisnakedfleshagainstherashecameintoher。Foramomenthewasstillinsideher，turgidthereandquivering。Thenashebegantomove，inthesuddenhelplessorgasm，thereawokeinhernewstrangethrillsripplinginsideher。Rippling，rippling，rippling，likeaflappingoverlappingofsoftflames，softasfeathers，runningtopointsofbrilliance，exquisite，exquisiteandmeltingherallmolteninside。Itwaslikebellsripplingupanduptoaculmination。
　　Shelayunconsciousofthewildlittlecriessheutteredatthelast。Butitwasovertoosoon，toosoon，andshecouldnolongerforceherownconclusionwithherownactivity。Thiswasdifferent，different。Shecoulddonothing。
　　Shecouldnolongerhardenandgripforherownsatisfactionuponhim。