There is a very decided, but wholly indefinable, line of demarcation between the kissed and the unkissed woman.  In other words,

The “status quo ante exosculationem” can never be re-established:  hitherto the kisses may have been friends; henceforward they may be. . . they may be . . . . . .  But

Who shall say to what kissing may lead?  Besides,

Much more kissing than is supposed goes by purchase than by favor.  All which, probably, will be Greek to the uninitiated.  Nevertheless, and at all times, and in all places,

A kiss is like faith:  it is “the evidence of things not seen, the substance of things hoped for.”

* * *

How appalling the immensity of the results due to the minutest of causes —­a burning city from a lighted match; a life-long tragedy from a stolen kiss!  In truth,

Fate is often another name for Folly.

* * *

A woman who is afraid of a kiss knows much.  Amongst other things, perhaps, that

Kisses, like misfortunes, rarely come singly—­and bear many things in their train.

* * *

Despite the varieties of beards and mustachios, never will you hear from your osculatrix the source of her knowledge of that variety.

If by any chance the divulgence leaks out—­how the girl beshrews the mischance!  For, though the man may hold his peace, she knows that she gives him to think.

* * *

It takes two to make a quarrel.  Yes:  and it takes two to make the reconciliating kiss.

* * *

XII.  On Engagements and on Being Engaged

Chalepon to mae philaesai
Chalepon de kai philaesai
—­Anacreon.

Perhaps the pleasantest and most satisfactory period in a girl’s life is the time of her first youthful engagement: 

Never is a girl more jubilant, never more buoyant, never so charming, so blithesome, or so debonair, as when she is the gazetted about-to-be bride of the man of her girlish choice.  For

During her engagement, a girl is owned and petted; and
Ownership and petting are dear to women—­whether young or old: 

Ownership is proof, at all events, that she is of value to the man—­else the man would not sought to make her his; and

Petting is proof that the man properly appreciates the value.  Yet meanwhile, anomalous as it may sound,

The engaged girl is still her own property, and is practically free.  Besides,

What more delectable to a girl than to have captured and kept a real man?  This flatters her, uplifts her, makes of her a woman at once:  she holds her head higher she carries herself with an air; she shows off her capture.  Besides, also,

The engaged girl is looked up to by her compeers, is congratulated y her elders.  Even if she keeps the engagement secret, these compeers and congratulatresses do not (sometimes, alas!  To her detriment).—­In addition to all this,