But the whole serio-comic tone of the Gentleman's _Essay_ makes it difficult of interpretation. Sophia writes as if she were in genuine earnest in her protest and propaganda. But it seems much less certain that the Gentleman is not merely playing with the situation.[417] The identity of the writers has not been discovered. Miss McIlquham[418] believes Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to be Sophia. But this is hardly likely, since 1739 is the year Lady Mary went to Italy. A writer signing himself "Medley," in _Notes and Queries_, suggests that "Sophia" was Lady Sophia Fermor, the second wife of Lord Cararet, and thinks she may also have been the "Sophia" of _Letters of Portia to her Daughter Sophia_, though these were not published till years later.[419] CHAPTER IV MISCELLANEOUS BOOKS ON WOMEN IN SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE In addition to definite discussions as to the learning appropriate for women, there were numerous books on general topics pertaining to women, with incidental but often most illuminating comments on the advantages or disadvantages of a liberal education. These books also aid in building up a conception of the prevailing ideas concerning women apart from technical questions of education. [Sidenote: The Ladies' Calling (1673, 2d ed.)] _The Ladies' Calling_, the second edition of which appeared in 1673, was the most important as well as the most influential of all the seventeenth-century books on the social and domestic aspects of the life of women. The book is eminently well-bred, dignified, and aristocratic in tone, and ardently religious. The authorship of _The Ladies' Calling_ has long been in dispute. Tradition has persistently ascribed it to Lady Pakington who, said Lady Winchilsea, Of each Sex the two best Gifts enjoy'd, The Skill to write, the Modesty to hide.