She is their fiction of the state they would fain beguile themselves to suppose her sex has reached, for their benefit; where she may be queen of it in a corner, certain of a loyal support, if she will only give men her half-the-world's assistance to uplift the fabric comfortable to them; together with assurance of paternity, case of mind in absence, exclusive possession, enormous and minutest, etc.; not by any means omitting a regimental orderliness, from which men are privately exempt, because they are men, or because they are grown boys--the brisker at lessons after a vacation or a truancy, says the fiction.
In those days the world had oscillated, under higher leading than its royal laxity, to rigidity.

Tiny peccadilloes were no longer matter of jest, and the sinner exposed stood 'sola' to receive the brand.

A beautiful Lady Doubtful needed her husband's countenance if she was to take one of the permanent steps in public places.

The party of Lady Charlotte Eglett called on the livid cloud-bank aforesaid to discharge celestial bolts and sulphur oil on the head of an impudent, underbred, ambitious young slut, whose arts had bewitched a distinguished nobleman not young in years at least, and ensnared the remainder wits of some principal ancient ladies of the land.

Professional Puritans, born conservatives, malicious tattlers, made up a goodly tail to Lady Charlotte's party.