said the young man, grinning suggestive.

‘Oh, don’t break your neck to get there,’ said the young woman. ‘‘Slike when you’re dead — you’re long time married.’

The young man turned aside as if this hit him.

‘The longer the better, let us hope,’ said Birkin.

‘That’s it, guvnor,’ said the young man admiringly. ‘Enjoy it while it larsts — niver whip a dead donkey.’

‘Only when he’s shamming dead,’ said the young woman, looking at her young man with caressive tenderness of authority.

‘Aw, there’s a difference,’ he said satirically.