"I will pray my lord father that he force me not to become wife to thee!"
"Thy lord father gives command that thou shalt become wife to Marius since he desires thee, and to no other man!" said Eudemius's voice behind them. Marius wheeled, as Varia gave a startled cry and wrenched her hand free. Eudemius came into the room, his face changed as no living soul had seen it changed until then.
"I feared that thou hadst not taken the right way back," he said to Marius, and there was a shade of significance in his tone. "Therefore—I came to see."
"Father, say I need not be wife to him!" cried Varia, bold in her terror.
"Why not?" Eudemius asked harshly. "What reason lies behind thy refusal?"
"I do not know!" she stammered. "I know only that I would not wed with him. I love him not—"
"Love! what hath love to do with it? And what know you of love, little fool?" said Eudemius, with impatience.
Varia started forward, catching desperately at the straw.
"Thou hast said it!" she cried stormily. "I am fool—fool—fool—fit wife for no man! Who wants to wed a fool?"
"Be silent! I'll teach thee—" Eudemius exclaimed, but Marius interposed.