Page 421 - lady-chatterlys-lover

’And look here, my boy, if ever I can do anything for you,
you can rely on me. Game-keeper! Christ, but it’s rich! I
like it! Oh, I like it! Shows the girl’s got spunk. What? After
all, you know, she has her own income, moderate, moder-
ate, but above starvation. And I’ll leave her what I’ve got. By
God, I will. She deserves it for showing spunk, in a world of
old women. I’ve been struggling to get myself clear of the
skirts of old women for seventy years, and haven’t managed
it yet. But you’re the man, I can see that.’
’I’m glad you think so. They usually tell me, in a sideways
fashion, that I’m the monkey.’
’Oh, they would! My dear fellow, what could you be but a
monkey, to all the old women?’
They parted most genially, and Mellors laughed inwardly
all the time for the rest of the day.
The following day he had lunch with Connie and Hilda,
at some discreet place.
’It’s a very great pity it’s such an ugly situation all round,’
said Hilda.
’I had a lot o’ fun out of it,’ said he.
’I think you might have avoided putting children into the
world until you were both free to marry and have children.’
’The Lord blew a bit too soon on the spark,’ said he.
’I think the Lord had nothing to do with it. Of course,
Connie has enough money to keep you both, but the situa-
tion is unbearable.’
’But then you don’t have to bear more than a small corner
of it, do you?’ said he.
’If you’d been in her own class.’

0 Lady Chatterly’s Lover