Clara Dawes Quotes

“Are you always like this?" he asked. "Loathing the very flesh on your bones, and the words of your mouth?"
"It's only the unnatural things," she replied. "When things natural they are beautiful."
"And what isn't natural?" he asked.
"Everything man had made," she answered, "including himself.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“Because I feel you did something to him - sort of broke him - broke his manliness. What did you do?"
"If I broke his manliness, it must have been a very easy thing to break.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“She had scornful grey eyes, a skin like white honey, and a full mouth with a slightly lifted upper lip, that did not know whether it was raised in scorn of all men, or out of eagerness to be kissed.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“He said he did not like her. Yet he was keen to know about her. Well, he should put himself to the test. She believed that there were in him desired for higher things, and desires for lower, and that the desire for the higher would conquer. At any rate, he should try. She forget that her 'higher' and 'lower' were arbitrary.”
― D.H. Lawrence

“She did not mind if he observed her hands. She intended to scorn him. Her heavy arm lay negligently on the table. Her mouth was closed as if she were offended, and she kept her face slightly averted.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“I think she's a lovable little woman," said Paul.
"Margaret Bonford!" exclaimed Clara. "She's a great deal cleverer than most men."
"Well, I didn't say she wasn't," he said, deprecating. "She's lovable for all that."
"And of course that is all that matter," said Clara witheringly.
He rubbed his head, rather perplexed, rather annoyed.
"I suppose it matters more than her cleverness," he said; "-which after all would never get her to heaven."
"It's not heaven she wants to get - it's her fair share on earth," retorted Clara...
"I thought she was warm, and awfully nice - only too frail. I wished she was sitting comfortably in peace-"
"'Darning her husband's stockings'," said Clara, scatchingly.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“He kneeled one one knee, quickly gathering the best blossoms, moving from tuft to tuft restlessly, talking soft all the time. Miriam plucked the flowers lovingly, lingering over them. He always seemed to her too quick and almost scientific. Yet his bunches had a natural beauty more than hers. He loved them, but as if they were his and he had a right to them. She had more reverence for them: they held something she had not...
Clara was still wandering about disconsolately. Going towards her, he said:
"Why don't you get some?"
"I don't believe in it. They look better growing.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“There was a certain weight on his heart, which he wanted to remove. He thought to do it by offering her chocolates.
"Have one?" he said. "I brought a handful to sweeten me up."
To his great relief, she accepted...
"There is always about you," he said, "a sort of waiting. Whatever I see you doing, you're not really there, you are waiting - like Penelope when she did her weaving."...
"I don't know what you want," she said, continuing her task.
"I want you to treat me nicely and respectfully."
"Call you 'Sir', perhaps?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, call me Sire. I should love it."
"Then I wish you would go upstairs, Sir.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“He was filled with the warmth of her. In the glow, he could almost feel her as if she were present.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers

“Her hand lay on the gate-post as she balanced. He put his own over it. His heart beat thickly.
"But did you - were you ever - did you give him a chance?"
"Chance? - how?"
"To come near you."
"Iw married him - and I was willing-"
They both strove to keep their voices steady.
"I believe he loves you," he said.
"It looks like it," she replied.
He wanted to take his hand away, and could not. She saved him by removing her own.”
― D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers