Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia Quotes

“Georgie knew it was useless to protest when Lucia got that loud, inspired, gabbling ring in her voice; she would cut through any opposition, as a steam saw buzzes through the most solid oak board till, amid a fountain of flying sawdust, it has sliced its way.”
― E.F. Benson, Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia

“What is it, Georgie? she said. "See if poor Lucia can help."
"Well, said Georgie. "You know Pug?"
"That mangy little thing of Lady Ambermere's? said Lucia.
"Yes. Pug died. I don't know what of--"
"Cream, I should think," said Lucia. "And cake."
"Well it may have been. Anyhow, Lady Ambermere had him stuffed, and while I was out this morning, she left him in a glass case at my house, as a present for the Museum. There is lying on a blue cushion, with one ear cocked, and a great watery eye, and the end of his horrid tongue between his lips.”
― E.F. Benson, Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia

“News!," she said. "Lucia's going to have a lover."
"No!" said Tony in the Riseholme manner.
"They won't want me then," said Tony. "And yet she asked me to come at half-past five."
"Nonsense, my dear. They will want you, both of them...Oh Tony, don't you see? It's a stunt."
Tony assumed the rapt expression of Luciaphils receiving intelligence.
"Tell me all about it," he said.
"I'm sure I'm right," said she. "Her poppet came in just now, and she held his hand as women do, and made him draw his chair up to her, and said he had scolded her. I'm not sure that he knows yet. But I saw that he guessed something was up. I wonder if he's clever enough to do it properly...I wish she had chosen you, Tony, you'd have done it perfectly. They have got - don't you see - to have the appearance of being lovers, everyone must think they are lovers, while all the time there's nothing at all of any sort in it. It's a stunt; it's a play; it's a glory."
"But perhaps there is something in it," said Tony. "I really think I had better not go in."
"Tony trust me. Lucia has no more idea of keeping a real lover than of keeping a chimpanzee.”
― E.F. Benson, Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia

“Types and striking characters like Lucia, who pursued undaunted and indefatigable their aim in life, were rare, and when they occurred should be studied with reverent affection...Sometimes one of the old and original members of the Luciaphils discovered others, and if when Lucia's name was mentioned an eager and a kindly light shone in their eyes, and they said in a hushed whisper "Did you hear who was there on Thursday?" they thus disclosed themselves as Luciaphils...”
― E.F. Benson, Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia

“The simple word "No" connoted a great deal in the Riseholme vernacular. It was used, of course, as a mere negative, without emphasis, and if you wanted to give weight to your negative you added "Certainly not." But when you used the word "No" with emphasis, as Daisy had used it from her bedroom window to Georgie, it was not a negative at all, and its signification briefly put was "I never heard anything so marvellous, and it thrills me through and through. Please go on at once, and tell me a great deal more, and then let us talk it all over.”
― E.F. Benson, Lucia in London & Mapp and Lucia