Girls brought up solely by their mothers—Old theory of early marriage—Education, especially physical and moral—Opinion of moralists and physicians: counsels of Anne of France—Utilitarian system of Germany—The intensive school: Vivès; St. Theresa; the Spanish system—The aesthetic school: Dolce; the Italian system—Louise of Savoy—New theory of late marriage—Protests against the realism of education—Tutors of girls—Moral freedom of girls—Protests against what they read—The story for girls, after Anne of France—The flirt—The hunt for a husband—Various ideas on that matter—Coquetry, intrigue, chambermaids—Jean Raulin’s sermon—Open-air life. Pages 86-108 CHAPTER V THE HUSBAND, AND THE VARIOUS WAYS OF SLIPPING HIS YOKE The husband lord and master: his absolute authority—The stick—The wife’s insignificance—The husband’s grievances against marriage—The wife’s grievances—Beware love!—_Modus vivendi_—Women dowered or not: growth of women’s influence on the dowry system—Practical philosophy—Unsatisfied affections—Wives separated or divorced—Widows—Sentimental finery—The wife of a dead husband—Classical widows: their spirit of order and piety—Gay widows—Widows’ virtue—Advantages and disadvantages of widowhood—Re-marriage—Sincerity of women’s praise of marriage. Pages 109-135 _BOOK II. SOCIAL LIFE_ CHAPTER I PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE Individualistic and anti-philosophic spirit of France—Flourishing of the salons—Reign of money: legitimated in Italy—The Roman programme—French society—Proposed remedies against Christian socialism—Anne of France—School of Cardinal d’Amboise—Principles of sentimental sociology—Social _raison d’être_ of platonism—Its Florentine origin—Development of the doctrine—Intellectual aristocracy—Platonism a fashionable craze—Discussions on the real character of love—Cataneo—Eloquent Bembo—Petrarchism—Elevation of sentiments by platonism—Michelangelo—French opposition to platonism—Triumph of platonism through Italianism and feminism—Anne of France—Margaret of France and her general philosophy. Pages 137-176 CHAPTER II THE SCIENCE OF PLATONISM Is platonism dangerous for women?—Double system for catching men: passion and sensibility—To spread love the end of life and the secret of happiness—Platonic virtue—Criticism of this virtue in practice—School of Anne of France—Vittoria Colonna and Michelangelo—Philosophic school—Multiplication and withdrawal of favours—Love through duty—Love of princesses—The veil of mystery—Practical recruiting of platonism—Sources of love or second love. Pages 177-193 CHAPTER III