Girlism

I had no moments of weakness, no bed times kissings, no morning fondlings, no little rewards for good girlism; cold and stern, I tried to brace the system,...

"I did not approve of the marriage from the first," retorted Lotty; "it is so absurd of girls to go and marry when they do not quite know their own minds, and, at all events, have not lost all their girlisms, and become reasonable women."

October 30 1788, Anna Seward, letter to Rev. Dr. Gregory Ah! my friend, can I learn to think these thrilling recollections the prejudices of girlism, and the echo of other people's opinions?