Aristotle, in his Politics, doth them, I believe, more justice, when he says, "The modesty and fortitude of men differ from those virtues in women; for the fortitude which becomes a woman, would be cowardice in a man; and the modesty which becomes a man, would be
pertness in a woman." Nor is there, perhaps, more of truth in the opinion of those who derive the partiality which women are inclined to show to the brave, from this excess of their fear.
He many a time spoke sternly to me about my pertness; and averred that the stab of a knife could not inflict a worse pang than he suffered at seeing his lady vexed.
Catherine and Isabella were sitting in the library, on hostile terms, but silent: the latter alarmed at her recent indiscretion, and the disclosure she had made of her secret feelings in a transient fit of passion; the former, on mature consideration, really offended with her companion; and, if she laughed again at her pertness, inclined to make it no laughing matter to her.
At times, too, when the wild fit was upon her, she would break into
pertness and rebel openly against Alleyne's gentle firmness.
Once, however, she retorted, with a rather grim
pertness: "He'll have to get tired of me first." A long silence ensued.
But if you hit it not you are in for a sound drubbing for your
pertness."
'And aunt Maxwell is never going to leave off hers,' persisted the naughty boy; but when he saw that his
pertness was seriously displeasing and painful to his aunt, he went and silently put his arm round her neck, kissed her cheek, and withdrew to the recess of one of the great bay-windows, where he quietly amused himself with his dog, while Mrs.
Gloomy majesty on the part of Mrs Wilfer, and native
pertness on the part of Lavvy, did not mend the matter.
[Smiling at her
pertness.] If it is, we shall have to give Lady Caversham a narcotic.
We've all got cellulite, we've all got breasts of all shapes and sizes and
pertness - or unpertness - and it's fine."
Meanwhile, over at Kylie's World of
Pertness, the popette is said to keep the wrinkles at bay with a PS250 a time radio-wave tightening technique.
Slowly but surely, she began making her distinct mark by way of a relatively more focused, felt and "undecorated" acting style, unlike many of her contemporaries, who opted for more generic "cuteness" and "
pertness" to divert viewers.