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60
"What an ignoramus you are in th eways of the world Julia. how can it
ever be a dishonor, to be beloved, or admired. Do you forget one day, when
you were surrounded with admirers, a gentleman, asked your husband who
was standing near us, if he was not jealous? I say, do you forget his answer?
"Jealous!" he replied, "at seeing my wife admired, no certainly, so far from
it. I value her the more, & would not give a pin for a woman, whom no
one admired but myself." These were his very words, & should teach you
the way of recovering & preserving his affection."

"True," said Julia, "true. But should I in attempting to regain my own happiness
destroy that of another? what a wretch I should be! --

"Pho, pho, my dear girl, there is no danger of that; "men have died, &
worms have eat them," as some book says, "but not for love." -- no, no,
their vanity may be mortified, but their hearts are not so susceptible
& not to be broken by disappointed love, believe me. But for argu
ments sake, let us grant such a thing to be possible -- what then?
have they never triffled with woman's affection -- have they never
ruined her peace, what is far worse her reputation, & should we
in return cause them a few sleepless nights, & gloomy days, it would
only be a just retribution, & after all a poor revenge for the evils they
inflict on us. Assert the dignift of your sex, & since Nature has given
you the power, punish them for the wrongs they have so often inflicted.

"I arrogate no such power -- and if injured, should feel more inclined
to forgive, than to resent."

"It is this tameness of spirit, this mean submission to tyrany,
which "gives to these would be lords & masters, their power to oppress
us. Men must be controlled by fear, as well as love; alarm one of these selfish
beings with the fear of losing our affections, & you will then see, the devoted
attention, the fond cares they will bestow on its preservation. give them
security, & you inevitably produce indifference. Julia, you are a
mere infant in the knowledge of the human heart, or the ways of the world,
& unless you will study & practice the precepts of one who well
knows both, you will never regain the wandering affections of an incon
-stant husband." --

This artful woman, then turned the conversation