int upperCmp = upperBound.compareTo(connectedRange.upperBound);
    if (lowerCmp >= 0 && upperCmp <= 0) {
      return this;
    } else if (lowerCmp <= 0 && upperCmp >= 0) {
      return connectedRange;
    } else {
      Cut<C> newLower = (lowerCmp >= 0) ? lowerBound : connectedRange.lowerBound;
      Cut<C> newUpper = (upperCmp <= 0) ? upperBound : connectedRange.upperBound;