“Because we’re little more than livestock by law,” said Evie, flicking at the fat vein at the juncture of her elbow, which was already quite bruised from bloodletting. “They can’t marry us any more than we could marry a dairy cow.” “That’s not true,” said Irene, with surprising sharpness. “And it’s in poor form to liken our plight, a plight we chose, to that of those with no liberty to make that decision themselves.”