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.