Page 372 - lady-chatterlys-lover

But she flung her arms round his neck, and clung to
him.
’But you’ll keep the tenderness for me, won’t you?’ she
whispered. ‘I loved last night. But you’ll keep the tenderness
for me, won’t you?’
He kissed her and held her close for a moment. Then he
sighed, and kissed her again.
’I must go an’ look if th’ car’s there.’
He strode over the low brambles and bracken, leaving
a trail through the fern. For a minute or two he was gone.
Then he came striding back.
’Car’s not there yet,’ he said. ‘But there’s the baker’s cart
on t’ road.’
He seemed anxious and troubled.
’Hark!’
They heard a car softly hoot as it came nearer. It slowed
up on the bridge.
She plunged with utter mournfulness in his track
through the fern, and came to a huge holly hedge. He was
just behind her.
’Here! Go through there!’ he said, pointing to a gap. ‘I
shan’t come out.
She looked at him in despair. But he kissed her and made
her go. She crept in sheer misery through the holly and
through the wooden fence, stumbled down the little ditch
and up into the lane, where Hilda was just getting out of the
car in vexation.
’Why you’re there!’ said Hilda. ‘Where’s HE?’
’He’s not coming.’

1