[197] It is naturally impossible to discuss or enumerate the many vices that may or may not fall to the share of the negative woman; for they would consist of all the positive woman’s vices, _plus_ those vices that come with subnormal health, and _minus_, of course, sensuality. Negative women can at least pride themselves on this _minus_. [198] No reference will be made to those vices that result from a thwarting of her natural instincts—such vices as cruelty, gluttony, and drunkenness; for most of these were discussed in the Chapter on the Old Maid. [199] Byron has already been mentioned in this volume as one who also detected women as the creators of this tinsel of false sentiment. Michelet and Alphonse Daudet were among the Frenchmen who saw eye to eye with Byron on this point. Daudet said: “_La femme deteste l’ironie qui la déconcerte et qu’elle sent être l’antagoniste des enthusiasmes et des rêveries de l’amour._” [200] See Havelock Ellis, Op. cit., p. 196: “Whenever a man or a woman are found under compromising circumstances, it is nearly always the woman who with ready wit audaciously retrieves the situation. Every one is acquainted with instances from life or from history of women whose quick and cunning ruses have saved lover or husband or child. It is unnecessary to insist on this quality, which in its finest forms is called tactfulness.” See also Lecky, _History of European Morals_, Vol. II., p. 358. See as a magnificent poetic representation of this power in women Byron’s _Don Juan_, Canto I, stanzas CXLII to CLXXVIII. The latter stanza is worth quoting in full. It is as follows:— “A hint, in tender cases is enough; Silence is best; besides, there is a _tact_— (That modern phrase appears to me sad stuff, But it will serve to keep my verse compact)— Which keeps, when push’d by questions rather rough, A lady always distant from the fact: The charming creatures lie with such a grace, There’s nothing so becoming to the face.” [201] Speaking of little girls Henri Marion says: “_De même les observateurs n’hésitent pas à déclarer les petites filles moins parfaitement droites que les garçons, en général, plus compliquées, plus diplomates, plus fertiles en petites roueries, plus inclinées à biaiser, à broder, à inventer, tout au moins à aranger et amplifier.... Surtout quand elles veulent mentir, elles sont plus habiles que les petits garçons, se troublent moins, ont plus de présence d’esprit pour soutenir un premier mensonge._” Op. cit., p. 86. Monsieur Marion adduces Mgr Dupanloup and Mlle Lauriol as his authorities for this view.