‘My dear,’ said Minna, ‘you would look very beautiful in such a costume, I have no doubt. My opinion is, that beautiful clothes and jewels always look more beautiful still when worn by beautiful persons, and perhaps you have heard before now that you are beautiful.’ ‘I have heard it a great many times, especially lately,’ replied Fulvia, in a hard, rasping voice. ‘But you look very grave. You do not speak as if you would like to see me in such a dress--wearing such ornaments.’ ‘To tell the truth, I would rather see you still simply dressed, even in this old blue frock which you so much dislike.’ (She noticed that Fulvia started, and looked down with a half-frightened expression at the folds of her old gown.) ‘You are very, very young. Velvet and diamonds worn by women mean a great many things--generally, amongst others, that they have a position to maintain and responsibilities to fulfil--for which you are very young. I should think you might be very happy for some time yet in your youth, enjoying yourself, and studying a little, perhaps, because, of course, you can’t know everything yet.’ She smiled kindly. ‘Oh, pooh!’ cried Fulvia, with a toss of her head. ‘I have been shut up so long. There is all the world to see, and it is quite time I began. I am a Roman girl,’ she went on, lifting her head with a superb gesture. ‘We Roman people do not wait so long to begin our lives as you cold people in your cold country. Beppo told me that. He knows everything. I often go and sit with him in his little room while he is reading. What learned, profound books he reads!’ she went on. ‘He is a scholar indeed, and he has taught me some things from his books. The other day--before we went away, that is--I was reading in a book which he had from the library, translated from the German, about ancient customs here and about what became of Roman girls long ago, when there were emperors here and slaves, and when this city was the mistress of the world--and of your country too.’ She looked defiantly at Minna, who only smiled, saying: ‘Yes, I know it was a great thing for our country that your city and your emperors were its masters once. Well?’ ‘I read how by the time a girl was thirteen or fourteen, at the latest, she was married. She went straight home to her husband’s house, and was immediately the most important person in it. Her husband called her Domina; she had power unlimited to amuse herself, to interest herself, to do what she liked. She had even the power of life and death over her slaves, and many members of her household----’ ‘And it did her no good,’ interposed Minna hastily. ‘If you had read further you would most likely have found that these young ladies, so early promoted, did not turn out the best of characters afterwards.’ Ignoring this, Fulvia went on: ‘And I am rather more than sixteen, so I think it is high time that I began to follow this good example. Mamma, moreover, says that I am to do so. She has arranged it all.’