Page 363 - lady-chatterlys-lover

’Ay,’ he said. ‘Yo’ are. For it’s a force-put. Yo’ more or less
my sister-in-law.’
’Still far from it, I assure you.
’Not a’ that far, I assure YOU. I’ve got my own sort o’ con-
tinuity, back your life! Good as yours, any day. An’ if your
sister there comes ter me for a bit o’ cunt an’ tenderness, she
knows what she’s after. She’s been in my bed afore: which
you ‘aven’t, thank the Lord, with your continuity.’ There
was a dead pause, before he added: ‘—Eh, I don’t wear me
breeches arse-forrards. An’ if I get a windfall, I thank my
stars. A man gets a lot of enjoyment out o’ that lass theer,
which is more than anybody gets out o’ th’ likes o’ you.
Which is a pity, for you might appen a’ bin a good apple,
‘stead of a handsome crab. Women like you needs proper
graftin’.’
He was looking at her with an odd, flickering smile,
faintly sensual and appreciative.
’And men like you,’ she said, ‘ought to be segregated: jus-
tifying their own vulgarity and selfish lust.’
’Ay, ma’am! It’s a mercy there’s a few men left like me. But
you deserve what you get: to be left severely alone.’
Hilda had risen and gone to the door. He rose and took
his coat from the peg.
’I can find my way quite well alone,’ she said.
’I doubt you can’t,’ he replied easily.
They tramped in ridiculous file down the lane again, in
silence. An owl still hooted. He knew he ought to shoot it.
The car stood untouched, a little dewy. Hilda got in and
started the engine. The other two waited.

Lady Chatterly’s Lover