TheChatterleys，twobrothersandasister，hadlivedcuriouslyisolated，shutinwithoneanotheratWragby，inspiteofalltheirconnexions。A
senseofisolationintensifiedthefamilytie，asenseoftheweaknessoftheirposition，asenseofdefencelessness，inspiteof，orbecauseof，thetitleandtheland。TheywerecutofffromthoseindustrialMidlandsinwhichtheypassedtheirlives。Andtheywerecutofffromtheirownclassbythebrooding，obstinate，shut-upnatureofSirGeoffrey，theirfather，whomtheyridiculed，butwhomtheyweresosensitiveabout。
Thethreehadsaidtheywouldalllivetogetheralways。ButnowHerbertwasdead，andSirGeoffreywantedCliffordtomarry。SirGeoffreybarelymentionedit：hespokeverylittle。Buthissilent，broodinginsistencethatitshouldbesowashardforCliffordtobearupagainst。
ButEmmasaidNo!ShewastenyearsolderthanClifford，andshefelthismarryingwouldbeadesertionandabetrayalofwhattheyoungonesofthefamilyhadstoodfor。
CliffordmarriedConnie，nevertheless，andhadhismonth’shoneymoonwithher。Itwastheterribleyear1917，andtheywereintimateastwopeoplewhostandtogetheronasinkingship。Hehadbeenvirginwhenhemarried：andthesexpartdidnotmeanmuchtohim。Theyweresoclose，heandshe，apartfromthat。AndConnieexultedalittleinthisintimacywhichwasbeyondsex，andbeyondaman’s`satisfaction`。Cliffordanyhowwasnotjustkeenonhis`satisfaction’，assomanymenseemedtobe。No，theintimacywasdeeper，morepersonalthanthat。Andsexwasmerelyanaccident，oranadjunct，oneofthecuriousobsolete，organicprocesseswhichpersistedinitsownclumsiness，butwasnotreallynecessary。ThoughConniedidwantchildren：ifonlytofortifyheragainsthersister-in-lawEmma。