"I would that he had!" she said seriously, so that Gratia hugged her in a gale of laughter. "I do not wish to be pursued, as you say."
"Now did ever woman wish that before!" cried Julia. "Even though we act perforce as though we did not. But I will say, cara, that thou hast succeeded very well with him. For it needs practice to treat a man with icy disdain when all the while thou art secretly longing that he will be bold and dare thy displeasure. When a girl knows how to tell a man that he must not, but he may if he will, her education is complete."
"I do not understand," Varia said slowly, and flushed again. "I am very stupid; but—may, if he will, do what?"
"Nay, never put such fancies in this innocent's head!" cried Gratia, in a protest only half serious. "She will learn soon enough without thy teaching."
Nigidia left the ivory casket and came and sat on a footstool at Varia's feet, looking up at her with black eyes alight with raillery.
"Tell us, cara," she said, "dost love him very much, this so masterful lover of thine?"
"Nay," said Varia, in all seriousness. "I love him not at all."
At once they fluttered around her, exchanging glances.
"Why, how may that be? Tell us of it! How did he woo thee? What did he say and do?"
Varia, laughing because they laughed, considered a moment, her head on one side.