in the late afternoon they strolled the city , enjoying the clement weather , and virginia found herself sharing the contentment of the people she saw , or faking a contentment for those who seemed less than happy , craved after the bodies of the men -and women- who appealed to her and looked forward to hotter summer days , to the warm nights which would fire her fancy more than spring ever could , when the still air would be a skin which touched hers and the earth would be a creature to be loved , to bear her body as she lay down to dream .