recedes; he was about to assume an air of protection toward us, but he is obliged to prostrate himself once more. The result of all which is, that, instead of having a husband who is jealous and troublesome, from restraint in his conduct toward us, we have a lover always trembling in our presence, always fascinated by our attractions, and always submissive; and for this simple reason, that he finds the same woman never the same. 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 defend myself, like all weak, loving dispositions, against the oppressions of the stronger."
La Valliere did 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 those who would not be 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 — or 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 toward the dark heavens her beautiful eyes filled with tears, "if you did but know what a heart was, I would explain, and would convince you; a loving heart is stronger than all your coquetry, and more powerful than all your pride. A woman is never truly loved, I believe; a man never loves with idolatry, except he feels himself loved in return. Let old men, whom we read of in comedies, fancy themselves adored by coquettes. A young man is conscious of, and knows them; if he has a fancy, or a strong desire, or an absorbing passion, for a coquette, he cannot mistake her; a coquette may drive him out of his senses, but will never make him fall in love. Love, such as I conceive it to be, is an incessant, complete, and perfect sacrifice; but it is not the sacrifice of one only of the two persons who are united. It is the perfect abnega-
