It was mechanical, but then society WAS a mechanism. Apart from work they were isolated, free to do as they liked.

‘Oh!’ cried Gudrun. ‘Then we shan’t have names any more — we shall be like the Germans, nothing but Herr Obermeister and Herr Untermeister. I can imagine it — ”I am Mrs Colliery-Manager Crich — I am Mrs Member-of-Parliament Roddice. I am Miss Art-Teacher Brangwen.” Very pretty that.’

‘Things would work very much better, Miss Art-Teacher Brangwen,’ said Gerald.

‘What things, Mr Colliery-Manager Crich? The relation between you and me, PAR EXEMPLE?’

‘Yes, for example,’ cried the Italian. ‘That which is between men and women —