Page 348 - lady-chatterlys-lover

playing Bacchante? desire for sensation, or the anticipation
of going to Venice?’
’Both! Do you think it is horrid of me to be so thrilled at
going off?’ she said.
’Rather horrid to show it so plainly.’
’Then I’ll hide it.’
’Oh, don’t trouble! You almost communicate a thrill to
me. I almost feel that it is I who am going off.’
’Well, why don’t you come?’
’We’ve gone over all that. And as a matter of fact, I sup-
pose your greatest thrill comes from being able to say a
temporary farewell to all this. Nothing so thrilling, for the
moment, as Good-bye-to-all!—But every parting means a
meeting elsewhere. And every meeting is a new bondage.’
’I’m not going to enter any new bondages.’
’Don’t boast, while the gods are listening,’ he said.
She pulled up short.
’No! I won’t boast!’ she said.
But she was thrilled, none the less, to be going off: to feel
bonds snap. She couldn’t help it.
Clifford, who couldn’t sleep, gambled all night with Mrs
Bolton, till she was too sleepy almost to live.
And the day came round for Hilda to arrive. Connie had
arranged with Mellors that if everything promised well for
their night together, she would hang a green shawl out of
the window. If there were frustration, a red one.
Mrs Bolton helped Connie to pack.
’It will be so good for your Ladyship to have a change.’
’I think it will. You don’t mind having Sir Clifford on