Hildalikedjazz，becauseshecouldplasterherstomachagainstthestomachofsomeso-calledman，andlethimcontrolhermovementfromthevisceralcentre，hereandthereacrossthefloor，andthenshecouldbreaklooseandignore`thecreature’。Hehadbeenmerelymadeuseof。PoorConniewasratherunhappy。Shewouldn’tjazz，becauseshesimplycouldn’tplasterherstomachagainstsome`creature’s’stomach。ShehatedtheconglomeratemassofnearlynudefleshontheLido：therewashardlyenoughwatertowetthemall。ShedislikedSirAlexanderandLadyCooper。ShedidnotwantMichaelisoranybodyelsetrailingher。
　　ThehappiesttimeswerewhenshegotHildatogowithherawayacrossthelagoon，faracrosstosomelonelyshingle-bank，wheretheycouldbathequitealone，thegondolaremainingontheinnersideofthereef。
　　ThenGiovannigotanothergondoliertohelphim，becauseitwasalongwayandhesweatedterrificallyinthesun。Giovanniwasverynice：affectionate，astheItaliansare，andquitepassionless。TheItaliansarenotpassionate：
　　passionhasdeepreserves。Theyareeasilymoved，andoftenaffectionate，buttheyrarelyhaveanyabidingpassionofanysort。
　　SoGiovanniwasalreadydevotedtohisladies，ashehadbeendevotedtocargoesofladiesinthepast。Hewasperfectlyreadytoprostitutehimselftothem，iftheywantedhint：hesecretlyhopedtheywouldwanthim。Theywouldgivehimahandsomepresent，anditwouldcomeinveryhandy，ashewasjustgoingtobemarried。Hetoldthemabouthismarriage，andtheyweresuitablyinterested。
　　Hethoughtthistriptosomelonelybankacrossthelagoonprobablymeantbusiness：businessbeingl’amore，love。Sohegotamatetohelphim，foritwasalongway；andafterall，theyweretwoladies。Twoladies，twomackerels!Goodarithmetic!Beautifulladies，too!Hewasjustlyproudofthem。AndthoughitwastheSignorawhopaidhimandgavehimorders，heratherhopeditwouldbetheyoungmiladywhowouldselecthintforl’amore。Shewouldgivemoremoneytoo。
　　ThematehebroughtwascalledDaniele。Hewasnotaregulargondolier，sohehadnoneofthecadgerandprostituteabouthim。Hewasasandolaman，asandolabeingabigboatthatbringsinfruitandproducefromtheislands。
　　Danielewasbeautiful，tallandwell-shapen，withalightroundheadoflittle，close，pale-blondcurls，andagood-lookingman’sface，alittlelikealion，andlong-distanceblueeyes。Hewasnoteffusive，loquacious，andbibulouslikeGiovanni。Hewassilentandherowedwithastrengthandeaseasifhewerealoneonthewater。Theladieswereladies，remotefromhim。Hedidnotevenlookatthem。Helookedahead。
　　Hewasarealman，alittleangrywhenGiovannidranktoomuchwineandrowedawkwardly，witheffusiveshovesofthegreatoar。HewasamanasMellorswasaman，unprostituted。Conniepitiedthewifeoftheeasily-overflowingGiovanni。ButDaniele’swifewouldbeoneofthosesweetVenetianwomenofthepeoplewhomonestillsees，modestandflower-likeinthebackofthatlabyrinthofatown。
　　Ah，howsadthatmanfirstprostituteswoman，thenwomanprostitutesman。Giovanniwaspiningtoprostitutehimself，dribblinglikeadog，wantingtogivehimselftoawoman。Andformoney!
　　ConnielookedatVenicefaroff，lowandrose-coloureduponthewater。
　　Builtofmoney，blossomedofmoney，anddeadwithmoney。Themoney-deadness!
　　Money，money，money，prostitutionanddeadness。
　　YetDanielewasstillamancapableofaman’sfreeallegiance。Hedidnotwearthegondolier’sblouse：onlytheknittedbluejersey。Hewasalittlewild，uncouthandproud。SohewashirelingtotheratherdoggyGiovanniwhowashirelingagaintotwowomen。Soitis!WhenJesusrefusedthedevil’smoney，heleftthedevillikeaJewishbanker，masterofthewholesituation。
　　Conniewouldcomehomefromtheblazinglightofthelagooninakindofstupor，tolindlettersfromhome。Cliffordwroteregularly。Hewroteverygoodletters：theymightallhavebeenprintedinabook。AndforthisreasonConniefoundthemnotveryinteresting。
　　Shelivedinthestuporofthelightofthelagoon，thelappingsaltinessofthewater，thespace，theemptiness，thenothingness：buthealth，health，completestuporofhealth。Itwasgratifying，andshewaslulledawayinit，notcaringforanything。Besides，shewaspregnant。Sheknewnow。Sothestuporofsunlightandlagoonsaltandsea-bathingandlyingonshingleandfindingshellsanddriftingaway，awayinagondola，wascompletedbythepregnancyinsideher，anotherfullnessofhealth，satisfyingandstupefying。
　　ShehadbeenatVeniceafortnight，andshewastostayanothertendaysorafortnight。Thesunshineblazedoveranycountoftime，andthefullnessofphysicalhealthmadeforgetfulnesscomplete。Shewasinasortofstuporofwell-being。
　　FromwhichaletterofCliffordrousedher。Wetoohavehadourmildlocalexcitement。ItappearsthetruantwifeofMellors，thekeeper，turnedupatthecottageandfoundherselfunwelcome。Hepackedheroff，andlockedthedoor。Reporthasit，however，thatwhenhereturnedfromthewoodhefoundthenolongerfairladyfirmlyestablishedinhisbed，inpurisnaturalibus；oroneshouldsay，inimpurisnaturalibus。Shehadbrokenawindowandgotinthatway。Unabletoevictthesomewhatman-handledVenusfromhiscouch，hebeataretreatandretired，itissaid，tohismother’shouseinTevershall。
　　MeanwhiletheVenusofStacksGateisestablishedinthecottage，whichsheclaimsisherhome，andApollo，apparently，isdomiciledinTevershall。
　　Irepeatthisfromhearsay，asMellorshasnotcometomepersonally。
　　Ihadthisparticularbitoflocalgarbagefromourgarbagebird，ouribis，ourscavengingturkey-buzzard，MrsBolton。Iwouldnothaverepeatedithadshenotexclaimed：herLadyshipwillgonomoretothewoodifthatwoman’sgoingtobeabout!
　　IlikeyourpictureofSirMalcolmstridingintotheseawithwhitehairblowingandpinkfleshglowing。Ienvyyouthatsun。Hereitrains。
　　ButIdon’tenvySirMalcolmhisinveteratemortalcarnality。However，itsuitshisage。Apparentlyonegrowsmorecarnalandmoremortalasonegrowsolder。Onlyyouthhasatasteofimmortality——ThisnewsaffectedConnieinherstateofsemi-stupefiedellbeingwithvexationamountingtoexasperation。Nowsheadgottobebotheredbythatbeastofawoman!Nowshemuststartandfret!ShehadnoletterfromMellors。
　　Theyhadagreednottowriteatall，butnowshewantedtohearfromhimpersonally。Afterall，hewasthefatherofthechildthatwascoming。
　　Lethimwrite!
　　Buthowhateful!Noweverythingwasmessedup。Howfoulthoselowpeoplewere!Howniceitwashere，inthesunshineandtheindolence，comparedtothatdismalmessofthatEnglishMidlands!Afterall，aclearskywasalmostthemostimportantthinginlife。
　　Shedidnotmentionthefactofherpregnancy，eventoHilda。ShewrotetoMrsBoltonforexactinformation。
　　DuncanForbes，anartistfriendoftheirs，hadarrivedattheVillaEsmeralda，comingnorthfromRome。Nowhemadeathirdinthegondola，andhebathedwiththemacrossthelagoon，andwastheirescort：aquiet，almosttaciturnyoungman，veryadvancedinhisart。
　　ShehadaletterfromMrsBolton：Youwillbepleased，Iamsure，myLady，whenyouseeSirClifford。
　　He’slookingquitebloomingandworkingveryhard，andveryhopeful。Ofcourseheislookingforwardtoseeingyouamongusagain。ItisadullhousewithoutmyLady，andweshallallwelcomeherpresenceamongusoncemore。
　　AboutMrMellors，Idon’tknowhowmuchSirCliffordtoldyou。Itseemshiswifecamebackallofasuddenoneafternoon，andhefoundhersittingonthedoorstepwhenhecameinfromthewood。Shesaidshewascomebacktohimandwantedtolivewithhimagain，asshewashislegalwife，andhewasn’tgoingtodivorceher。Buthewouldn’thaveanythingtodowithher，andwouldn’tletherinthehouse，anddidnotgoinhimself；hewentbackintothewoodwithouteveropeningthedoor。
　　Butwhenhecamebackafterdark，hefoundthehousebrokeninto，sohewentupstairstoseewhatshe’ddone，andhefoundherinbedwithoutaragonher。Heofferedhermoney，butshesaidshewashiswifeandhemusttakeherback。Idon’tknowwhatsortofascenetheyhad。Hismothertoldmeaboutit，she’sterriblyupset。Well，hetoldherhe’ddieratherthaneverlivewithheragain，sohetookhisthingsandwentstraighttohismother’sonTevershallhill。Hestoppedthenightandwenttothewoodnextdaythroughthepark，nevergoingnearthecottage。Itseemsheneversawhiswifethatday。ButthedayaftershewasatherbrotherPan’satBeggarlee，swearingandcarryingon，sayingshewashislegalwife，andthathe’dbeershavingwomenatthecottage，becauseshe’dfoundascent-bottleinhisdrawer，andgold-tippedcigarette-endsontheash-heap，andIdon’tknowwhatall。ThenitseemsthepostmanFredKirksaysheheardsomebodytalkinginMrMellors’bedroomearlyonemorning，andamotor-carhadbeeninthelane。
　　MrMellorsstayedonwithhismother，andwenttothewoodthroughthepark，anditseemsshestayedonatthecottage。Well，therewasnoendoftalk。SoatlastMrMellorsandTomPhillipswenttothecottageandfetchedawaymostofthefurnitureandbedding，andunscrewedthehandleofthepump，soshewasforcedtogo。ButinsteadofgoingbacktoStacksGateshewentandlodgedwiththatMrsSwainatBeggarlee，becauseherbrotherDan’swifewouldn’thaveher。AndshekeptgoingtooldMrsMellors’
　　house，tocatchhim，andshebeganswearinghe’dgotinbedwithherinthecottageandshewenttoalawyertomakehimpayheranallowance。
　　She’sgrownheavy，andmorecommonthanever，andasstrongasabull。
　　Andshegoesaboutsayingthemostawfulthingsabouthim，howhehaswomenatthecottage，andhowhebehavedtoherwhentheyweremarried，thelow，beastlythingshedidtoher，andIdon’tknowwhatall。I’msureit’sawful，themischiefawomancando，onceshestartstalking。Andnomatterhowlowshemaybe，there’llbesomeaswillbelieveher，andsomeofthedirtwillstick。I’msurethewayshemakesoutthatMrMellorswasoneofthoselow，beastlymenwithwomen，issimplyshocking。Andpeopleareonlytooreadytobelievethingsagainstanybody，especiallythingslikethat。Shedeclaredshe’llneverleavehimalonewhilehelives。ThoughwhatIsayis，ifhewassobeastlytoher，whyisshesoanxioustogobacktohim？Butofcourseshe’scomingnearherchangeoflife，forshe’syearsolderthanheis。Andthesecommon，violentwomenalwaysgopartlyinsanewhetsthechangeoflifecomesuponthem——ThiswasanastyblowtoConnie。Hereshewas，sureaslife，cominginforhershareofthelownessanddirt。ShefeltangrywithhimfornothavinggotclearofaBerthaCoutts：nay，foreverhavingmarriedher。
　　Perhapshehadacertainhankeringafterlowness。Connierememberedthelastnightshehadspentwithhim，andshivered。Hehadknownallthatsensuality，evenwithaBerthaCoutts!Itwasreallyratherdisgusting。
　　Itwouldbewelltoberidofhim，clearofhimaltogether。Hewasperhapsreallycommon，reallylow。
　　Shehadarevulsionagainstthewholeaffair，andalmostenviedtheGuthriegirlstheirgawkyinexperienceandcrudemaidenliness。Andshenowdreadedthethoughtthatanybodywouldknowaboutherselfandthekeeper。
　　Howunspeakablyhumiliating!Shewasweary，afraid，andfeltacravingforutterrespectability，evenforthevulgaranddeadeningrespectabilityoftheGuthriegirls。IfCliffordknewaboutheraffair，howunspeakablyhumiliating!Shewasafraid，terrifiedofsocietyanditsuncleanbite。
　　Shealmostwishedshecouldgetridofthechildagain，andbequiteclear。
　　Inshort，shefellintoastateoffunk。
　　Asforthescent-bottle，thatwasherownfolly。Shehadnotbeenabletorefrainfromperfuminghisoneortwohandkerchiefsandhisshirtsinthedrawer，justoutofchildishness，andshehadleftalittlebottleofCoty’sWood-violetperfume，halfempty，amonghisthings。Shewantedhimtorememberherintheperfume。Asforthecigarette-ends，theywereHilda’s。
　　ShecouldnothelpconfidingalittleinDuncanForbes。Shedidn’tsayshehadbeenthekeeper’slover，sheonlysaidshelikedhim，andtoldForbesthehistoryoftheman。
　　`Oh，’saidForbes，`you’llsee，they’llneverresttillthey’vepulledthemandownanddonehimits。Ifhehasrefusedtocreepupintothemiddleclasses，whenhehadachance；andifhe’samanwhostandsupforhisownsex，thenthey’lldohimin。It’stheonethingtheywon’tletyoube，straightandopeninyoursex。Youcanbeasdirtyasyoulike。Infactthemoredirtyoudoonsexthebettertheylikeit。Butifyoubelieveinyourownsex，andwon’thaveitdonedirtto：they’lldownyou。It’stheoneinsanetabooleft：sexasanaturalandvitalthing。Theywon’thaveit，andthey’llkillyoubeforethey’llletyouhaveit。You’llsee，they’llhoundthatmandown。Andwhat’shedone，afterall？Ifhe’smadelovetohiswifeallendson，hasn’thearightto？Sheoughttobeproudofit。Butyousee，evenalowbitchlikethatturnsonhim，andusesthehyenainstinctofthemobagainstsex，topullhimdown。Youhaveasnivelandfeelsinfulorawfulaboutyoursex，beforeyou’reallowedtohaveany。Oh，they’llhoundthepoordevildown。’
　　Conniehadarevulsionintheoppositedirectionnow。Whathadhedone，afterall？whathadhedonetoherself，Connie，butgiveheranexquisitepleasureandasenseoffreedomandlife？Hehadreleasedherwarm，naturalsexualflow。Andforthattheywouldhoundhimdown。
　　Nono，itshouldnotbe。Shesawtheimageofhim，nakedwhitewithtannedfaceandhands，lookingdownandaddressinghiserectpenisasifitwereanotherbeing，theoddgrinflickeringonhisface。Andsheheardhisvoiceagain：Tha’sgotthenicestwoman’sarseofanybody!Andshefelthishandwarmlyandsoftlyclosingoverhertailagain，overhersecretplaces，likeabenediction。Andthewarmthranthroughherwomb，andthelittleflamesflickeredinherknees，andshesaid：Oh，no!Imustn’tgobackonit!Imustnotgobackonhim。ImuststicktohimandtowhatIhadofhim，througheverything。Ihadnowarm，flamylifetillhegaveitme。AndIwon’tgobackonit。
　　Shedidarashthing。ShesentalettertoIvyBolton，enclosinganotetothekeeper，andaskingMrsBoltontogiveithim。Andshewrotetohim：Iamverymuchdistressedtohearofallthetroubleyourwifeismakingforyou，butdon’tmindit，itisonlyasortofhysteria。Itwillallblowoverassuddenlyasitcame。ButI’mawfullysorryaboutit，andIdohopeyouarenotmindingverymuch。Afterall，itisn’tworthit。Sheisonlyahystericalwomanwhowantstohurtyou。Ishallbehomeintendays’time，andIdohopeeverythingwillbeallright。AfewdayslatercamealetterfromClifford。Hewasevidentlyupset。IamdelightedtohearyouarepreparedtoleaveVeniceonthesixteenth。Butifyouareenjoyingit，don’thurryhome。Wemissyou，Wragbymissesyou。Butitisessentialthatyoushouldgetyourfullamountofsunshine，sunshineandpyjamas，astheadvertisementsoftheLidosay。
　　Sopleasedostayonalittlelonger，ifitischeeringyouupandpreparingyouforoursufficientlyawfulwinter。Eventoday，itrains。