A few weeks after she had become restored apparently to her usual
health, as Amanda was dressing one morning to go out, her mother
said--

"Your clothes are a great deal too tight, Amanda."

"Oh no, I am not tight at all, ma. Julia Mason laces as tight again.
She gets her sister to draw her lacings for her, and she has to pull
with all her strength."

"That is wrong in Julia Mason, and yet half the pressure that she
can bear would seriously injure you."

"How can that be, ma? I am as healthy as she is."

"I will tell you, Amanda. She has a full round chest, giving free
play to the lungs; while your chest is narrow and flat. Without any
compression, the action of your lungs is not so free and healthy as
hers would be, laced as tightly as you say she laces. But when to
your natural conformation you add artificial pressure, the action of
your lungs becomes not only enfeebled, but the unhealthy action
induced tends to develop that peculiar form of disease, the
predisposition to which you inherit."

"That is only an idea of yours, ma. I am sure I have quite a full
bust," said Amanda, glancing down at her chest, and embracing it
with her hands.

"There you are mistaken. I have noticed this defect, with much
anxiety, ever since you were a child; and having had my attention