Last night I took Constantia for the first time to one of the dressed balls; we staid to the very fast, and guess what time it was before we were in bed; absolutely half past three in the morning. – The Assembly was magnificent; an immense croud and all the prettiest women in Paris were there; but they only appeared to shew their fine clothes; for they came at two, and went away again at three; that is, as soon as they had been viewed by the whole Assembly, and when their rouge began to run, and their hair to get out of order: they gaped, complained of heat, and retired. Oh! in our time, people had more real spirit; I cannot conceive any thing more absolutely dull or inanimate than the flirtations now a-days; for they really consist in nothing more than grimaces and inquiries about dress. – I supped the other night with one of these fashionable flirts; it was Madame de Blemur; she is ugly, but thinks herself clever and agreeable; she has a flow of words, with a constant giggle which she styles wit; she has a positive manner, and her conversation is as insipid as it is common; and, when she particularly wishes to shew herself off, one may discover it in a moment, for she tosses herself about the room, never sits still, walks with a careless air, and even jumps to admire herself in the looking-glass; and finds a thousand occasions to shew a pretty foot, and she laughs quite loud. – These now are all the artifices of a fashionable Coquette: they appear to me perfectly innocent, because it is impossible that they can ever injure any one. – Constantia was with me the evening I met her, and all the company were full of her praises; indeed I never saw her look so well.