He smiled. “Have you?”

“Only Political Economy, and that’s of no use! I may not know a great deal about it, but I do know that it has to do with the distribution of wealth, which is why I decided not to tease myself with it, on account of not having any wealth to distribute.”

“Didn’t the learned Miss Keckwick teach you household economy?”

“No: her mind was of an elevated order. Besides, everyone knows what that means! It’s having only one course for dinner, and not enough footmen, and making up one’s own dresses, which is perfectly useless, because if you have no money to pay for anything it’s the most idiotish waste of time to be learning how to save it! Mama won’t — but I wasn’t thinking of her: I was thinking of you, and Fontley.” She bent a serious gaze upon him. “Mama says Fontley will be lost to us. Is it true? Please tell me, Adam!” She read the answer in his face, and lowered her gaze. After carefully pleating her muslin gown across her knees, she said: “I Find that a truly detestable thought.”

“So do I,” he agreed sadly. “Too detestable to be talked of, until I’ve grown more accustomed to it.”

She looked up. “I know it is much worse for you, and I don’t mean to talk of it in a repining way. The thing is that I’m persuaded we ought to make a push to save it. I have been thinking about it a great deal, and I perceive that it is now my duty to contract a Brilliant Alliance. Do you think I could, if I set my mind to it?”

“No, certainly not! My dear Lydia — ”

“Well, I do,” she said decidedly. “I can see, of course, that there may be” one or two little rubs in the way, particularly the circumstance of my not yet being out. Mama had meant to present me this season, you know, but she can’t do so while we are in black gloves, and I see that if I don’t go into society — ”

“Who put this nonsense into your head?” interrupted Adam.