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violets. The poor flowers hung over, limp on their stalks.
’They’ll revive again!’ she said, putting them before him
in their glass for him to smell.
’Sweeter than the lids of Juno’s eyes,’ he quoted.
’I don’t see a bit of connexion with the actual violets,’ she
said. ‘The Elizabethans are rather upholstered.’
She poured him his tea.
’Do you think there is a second key to that little hut not
far from John’s Well, where the pheasants are reared?’ she
said.
’There may be. Why?’
’I happened to find it today—and I’d never seen it be-
fore. I think it’s a darling place. I could sit there sometimes,
couldn’t I?’
’Was Mellors there?’
’Yes! That’s how I found it: his hammering. He didn’t
seem to like my intruding at all. In fact he was almost rude
when I asked about a second key.’
’What did he say?’
’Oh, nothing: just his manner; and he said he knew noth-
ing about keys.’
’There may be one in Father’s study. Betts knows them all,
they’re all there. I’ll get him to look.’
’Oh do!’ she said.
’So Mellors was almost rude?’
’Oh, nothing, really! But I don’t think he wanted me to
have the freedom of the castle, quite.’
’I don’t suppose he did.’
’Still, I don’t see why he should mind. It’s not his home,

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