| (quoted from Ada and the Engine)
ANABELLA (mother).
Your tutor tells me that you have almost completed the second book
in the calculus series.
ADA. Yes. He is competent but not very interesting.
ANABELLA. Then let's try not to elope with this one shall we.
ADA. That was just once.
ANABELLA. For you, the difference between zero and one is your
entire world.
Now. We shall have no discussion of tutors nor maths for the rest of
the evening.
ADA. I'm not allowed to discuss maths at the party?
ANABELLA. Absolutely not.
ADA. But Mr. Babbage is the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics.
ANABELLA. I know who he is.
ADA. And Mrs. Sommerville. She has written tomes-
ANABELLA. And you are not there to discuss her tomes, you are
there to find a husband.
ADA. Then why have me tutored in maths since I could talk and
not let me talk about it.
ANABELLA. Because maths is the opposite of passion. It was necessary to direct your focus to keep you uncorrupted.
ADA. And despite your studies, he "corrupted" you.
ANABELLA. I will strike you again if you speak to me in that manner
for one moment more.
ADA. And perhaps this time I will strike back
ANABELLA. There he is. Right there. Under your skin. What must
that feel like. Sickness? Itch? That's why they look at you, Ada, why
they whisper. They wait to see you fall as he did. Fall into beds, into
debt, into a depravity the complete description of which I have
spared you thus far. And you will do well to swallow back any hint...
| 
