Page 359 - lady-chatterlys-lover

grate. The table was set with two plates and two glasses on
a proper white table-cloth for Once. Hilda shook her hair
and looked round the bare, cheerless room. Then she sum-
moned her courage and looked at the man.
He was moderately tall, and thin, and she thought him
good-looking. He kept a quiet distance of his own, and
seemed absolutely unwilling to speak.
’Do sit down, Hilda,’ said Connie.
’Do!’ he said. ‘Can I make you tea or anything, or will
you drink a glass of beer? It’s moderately cool.’
’Beer!’ said Connie.
’Beer for me, please!’ said Hilda, with a mock sort of shy-
ness. He looked at her and blinked.
He took a blue jug and tramped to the scullery. When he
came back with the beer, his face had changed again.
Connie sat down by the door, and Hilda sat in his seat,
with the back to the wall, against the window corner.
’That is his chair,’ said Connie softly.’ And Hilda rose as
if it had burnt her.
’Sit yer still, sit yer still! Ta’e ony cheer as yo’n a mind to,
none of us is th’ big bear,’ he said, with complete equanim-
ity.
And he brought Hilda a glass, and poured her beer first
from the blue jug.
’As for cigarettes,’ he said, ‘I’ve got none, but ‘appen
you’ve got your own. I dunna smoke, mysen. Shall y’ eat
summat?’ He turned direct to Connie. ‘Shall t’eat a smite o’
summat, if I bring it thee? Tha can usually do wi’ a bite.’ He
spoke the vernacular with a curious calm assurance, as if he

Lady Chatterly’s Lover