Women there are who firmly believe that, were they to try, they could enthrall any man beyond possibility of extrication.  And 48 so perhaps they could; but the achievement would require as much unscrupulousness as it would seductiveness.

The seductive and unscrupulous woman is hatred of women.

* * *

Under the gaze of a group of men whom she knows that her brilliancy dazzles, a woman, like the snow-clad hearth, sparkles:  Under the gaze of a man by whom she knows she is passionately desired, like the same earth under the lordly sun, she melts.

* * *

All women think they can cozen men:  few women think they can cozen women.

* * *

The women who perturb men most are those who combine too effectively adorableness with desirableness.

* * *

As in nature, so in humanity, flight on the part of the lady is not always symbol of unwillingness of pursuit.  On the other hand

Feminine audacity by no means betokens feminine immodesty.

Feminine obduracy is invincible by man.  Luckily, it is rare.

* * *

Men call women variable:  did she not vary, men would tire.  This, women instinctively know.

Women rightly dislike and disgust variability in men.  For

Women like best to be liked:  to lead gives them but paltry and temporary pleasure. (Though this they do not always instinctively know; or, if they do, they conceal their knowledge.) And

Variability is incompatible with leadership.

* * *

How delicately a loving woman reproves!  How defiantly an unloving!

* * *

How many lonely women—­married and unmarried—­the world contains, only these lonely women know.

* * *

The feminine metier par excellence is:  to allure.  And

The subtle and elaborate means by which women will devise to intensify the lure, passes the comprehension o f men.  Yet

In all ages, to make herself attractive was as right and proper for the woman as to make himself feared was for the man.  Besides,

With women the art of attracting has long since become second nature.

* * *

Women are quick to recognize a rake.  For

A rake always rouses curiosity, never aversion.

* * *

A worsted woman always, either silently or volubly, calls down a curse upon her successful rival.—­And ’t is a curse that too often fails.

Many women handicap other women; and they handicap them in multifarious ways.  Probably the one most frequently used is lavishness of favors.

The woman who is lavish of favors is hated of her stricter sisters.  But, before these, what an air of bravado she wears!

* * *

As a rule, women are far better readers of character than are men.  A woman will often startle a man by her penetrating insight into character.  And