Chapter 12: Lydia Observes the Obvious

The carriage smelled of damp wool and Mrs. Hartwell's satisfaction, which was, Cecilia had always felt, a smell unto itself — a kind of triumphant warmth that occupied the air as thoroughly as a physical presence and admitted no competing atmosphere whatsoever.

"— and did you observe how he attended to everything she said? Everything. I thought Mrs. Goulding would expire on the spot, and serve her right for that business with the Campbell musicale, when she as good as told Mrs. Fenton that Lydia's playing was accomplished for a girl without professional instruction, which everyone understood perfectly, including Lydia, and she bore it very well, I thought, much better than I did — but the Count, you see, never looked at Lydia once except as courtesy required, which is exactly what a man of real discernment must do when he has already made his determination —"

Cecilia watched the hedgerows pass in the darkness.