Do not say to him, “I love you”; that phrase may perhaps recall to him a recollection or two.  But lead him on to say to you, “You do love me, then?” and answer “No,” but with a little kiss which means “Yes.”  Make him feel beside you the present to be so pleasant that the past will fade from his memory; and to this end let nothing about you recall that past, for, despite himself, he would never forgive it in you.  Do not imitate the women whom he may have known, nor their head-dresses or toilettes; that would tend to make him believe he has not changed his manner of life.  You have in yourself another kind of grace, another wit, another coquetry, and above all that rejuvenescence of heart and mind which those women have never had.  You have an eagerness in life, a need of expansion, a freshness of impression which are—­though perhaps you may not imagine it—­irresistible charms.  Be yourselves throughout, and you will be for this loved spouse a novelty, a thousand times more charming in his eyes than all the bygones possible.  Conceal from him neither your inclinations nor your inexperience, your childish joys or your childish fears; but be as coquettish with all these as you are of the features of your face, of your fine, black eyes and your long, fair hair.

Nothing is more easily acquired than a little adroitness; do not throw yourself at his head, and always have confidence in yourself.

Usually, a man marries when he thinks himself ruined; when he feels in his waistcoat pocket—­not a louis—­he is then seasoned; he goes at once before the registrar.  But let me tell you, sisters, he is still rich.  He has another pocket of which he knows nothing, the fool! and which is full of gold.  It is for you to act so that he shall find it out and be grateful to you for the happiness he has had in finding a fortune.

I will sum up, at once, as time is flying and I should not like you to be late for dinner.  For Heaven’s sake, ladies, tear from the clutches of the women, whose toilettes you do very wrong in imitating, your husbands’ affections.  Are you not more refined, more sprightly, than they?  Do for him whom you love that which these women do for all the world; do not content yourselves with being virtuous—­be attractive, perfume your hair, nurture illusion as a rare plant in a golden vase.  Cultivate a little folly when practicable; put away your marriage-contract and look at it only once in ten years; love one another as if you had not sworn to do so; forget that there are bonds, contracts, pledges; banish from your mind the recollection of the Mayor and his scarf.  Sometimes when you are alone fancy that you are only sweethearts; sister, is not that what you eagerly desire?

Ah! let candor and youth flourish.  Let us love and laugh while spring blossoms.  Let us love our babies, the little dears, and kiss our wives.  Yes, that is moral and healthy; the world is not a shivering convent, marriage is not a tomb.  Shame on those who find in it only sadness, boredom, and sleep.