Be convinced, therefore, of the advantages of coquetry.

Possessing that, one reigns a queen among women in cases where Providence has withheld that precious faculty of holding one's heart and mind in check." "How clever you are," said Montalais, "and how well you understand the duty women owe themselves!" "I am only settling a case of individual happiness," said Athenais modestly; "and defending myself, like all weak, loving dispositions, against the oppressions of the stronger." "La Valliere does not say a word." "Does she not approve of what we are saying ?" "Nay; only I do not understand it," said Louise.

"You talk like people not called upon to live in this world of ours." "And very pretty your world is," said Montalais.
"A world," returned Athenais, "in which men worship a woman until she has fallen,--and insult her when she has fallen." "Who spoke to you of falling ?" said Louise.
"Yours is a new theory, then; will you tell us how you intend to resist yielding to temptation, if you allow yourself to be hurried away by feelings of affection ?" "Oh!" exclaimed the young girl, raising towards the dark heavens her beautiful large eyes filled with tears, "if you did but know what a heart is, I would explain, and convince you; a loving heart is stronger than all your coquetry, more powerful than all your pride.

A woman is never truly loved, I believe; a man never loves with idolatry, unless he feels sure he is loved in return.

Let old men, whom we read of in comedies, fancy themselves adored by coquettes.