A woman, seeing her lover, reflects with rapidity, or yields to the happiness of loving--happiness from which she is recalled in a disagreeable manner, if he make the least attack; for at the call to arms all pleasures must be abandoned. The lover's part is simpler--he looks in the eyes of the woman he loves; a single smile can raise him to the zenith of happiness, and he looks continually for it.[3] [Pg 38] The length of the siege humiliates a man; on the contrary it makes a woman's glory. A woman is capable of loving and, for an entire year, not saying more than ten or twelve words to the man whom she loves. At the bottom of her heart she keeps note how often she has seen him--twice she went with him to the theatre, twice she sat near him at dinner, three times he bowed to her out walking. One evening during some game he kissed her hand: it is to be noticed that she allows no one since to kiss it under any pretext, at the risk even of seeming peculiar. In a man, Léonore(6) remarked to me, such conduct would be called a feminine way of love. [1] Epicurus said that discrimination is necessary to participation in pleasure. [2] Remember the maxim of Beaumarchais: "Nature has said to woman: 'Be fair if you can, wise if you wish, but be _estimed_--you must.' No admiration in France without _estime_--equally no love." [3] Quando leggemmo il disiato riso Esser baciato da cotanto amante, Costui che mai da me non fia diviso, La bocca mi bacciò tutto tremante. Dante, _Inf._, Cant. V. ["When we read how the desired smile was kissed by such a lover, he, who never from me shall be divided, on my mouth kissed me all trembling."--Tr.] [Pg 39] CHAPTER IX I make every possible effort to be dry. I would impose silence upon my heart, which feels that it, has much to say. When I think that I have noted a truth, I always tremble lest I have written only a sigh. [Pg 40] CHAPTER X In proof of crystallisation I shall content myself with recalling the following anecdote. A young woman hears that Edward, her relation, who is to return from the Army, is a youth of great distinction; she is assured that he loves her on her reputation; but he will want probably to see her, before making a proposal and asking her of her parents. She notices a young stranger at church, she hears him called Edward, she thinks of nothing but him--she is in love with him. Eight days later the real Edward arrives; he is not the Edward of church. She turns pale and will be unhappy for ever, if she is forced to marry him. That is what the poor of understanding call an example of the senselessness of love.