The liberty and complaisance of the domestic relations were
complete. It is true there were examples of conjugal devotion,
for the gentle human affections never quite disappear in any
atmosphere; but the fact that they were considered worthy of note
sufficiently indicates the drift of the age. In the world of
fashion and of form there was not even a pretense of preserving
the sanctity of marriage, if the chronicles of the time are to be
credited. It was simply a commercial affair which united names
and fortunes, continued the glory of the families, replenished
exhausted purses, and gave freedom to women. If love entered
into it at all, it was by accident. This superfluous sentiment
was ridiculed, or relegated to the bourgeoisie, to whom it was
left to preserve the tradition of household virtues. Every one
seems to have accepted the philosophy of the irrepressible Ninon,
who "returned thanks to God every evening for her esprit, and
prayed him every morning to be preserved from follies of the
heart." If a young wife was modest or shy, she was the object of
unflattering persiflage. If she betrayed her innocent love for
her husband, she was not of the charmed circle of wit and good
tone which frowned upon so vulgar a weakness, and laughed at
inconvenient scruples.

"Indeed," says a typical husband of the period, "I cannot
conceive how, in the barbarous ages, one had the courage to wed.
The ties of marriage were a chain. Today you see kindness,
liberty, peace reign in the bosom of families. If husband and
wife love each other, very well; they live together; they are
happy. If they cease to love, they say so honestly, and return
to each other the promise of fidelity. They cease to be lovers;