Page 306 - lady-chatterlys-lover

an’ I’ll sleep down here.’
She looked at him. He was pale, his brows were sullen, he
was as distant in recoil as the cold pole. Men were all alike.
’I can’t go home till morning,’ she said.
’No! Go to bed. It’s a quarter to one.’
’I certainly won’t,’ she said.
He went across and picked up his boots.
’Then I’ll go out!’ he said.
He began to put on his boots. She stared at him.
’Wait!’ she faltered. ‘Wait! What’s come between us?’
He was bent over, lacing his boot, and did not reply. The
moments passed. A dimness came over her, like a swoon.
All her consciousness died, and she stood there wide-eyed,
looking at him from the unknown, knowing nothing any
more.
He looked up, because of the silence, and saw her wide-
eyed and lost. And as if a wind tossed him he got up and
hobbled over to her, one shoe off and one shoe on, and took
her in his arms, pressing her against his body, which some-
how felt hurt right through. And there he held her, and
there she remained.
Till his hands reached blindly down and felt for her, and
felt under the clothing to where she was smooth and warm.
’Ma lass!’ he murmured. ‘Ma little lass! Dunna let’s light!
Dunna let’s niver light! I love thee an’ th’ touch on thee.
Dunna argue wi’ me! Dunna! Dunna! Dunna! Let’s be to-
gether.’
She lifted her face and looked at him.
’Don’t be upset,’ she said steadily. ‘It’s no good being up-

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