At the beginning of her time at Wragby, Connie did her best to find non-sexual ways of being intimate with Clifford. Now, she actively distances herself from him, preferring the lively world of Mrs. Bolton’s gossip to the “life of the mind” conversation Clifford engages in. Importantly, flowers now begin to emerge as an important symbol for desire and companionship—neither of which, as her snarky thoughts demonstrate, Connie shares with Clifford.