Sybil Graham and Chaen-Li sat close together, exchanging short phrases. They spoke little, partly from Chaen-Li's minimal English and partly to preserve what little warmth they had. There was no fire and the silk drapings on the wall, with beautifully painted characters chanting moral principles, were little insulation from the cold. Sybil and her father had been invited by Mr Li to share tea, and see if Mr Graham could offer any advice for his …showed first 75 words of 1645 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1645 total…trousers and warm coats, not knowing pain or discomfort. Her thoughts returned to the corset, and then the binding cloth that Chaen-Li showed her and how it would become her source of pain. Neither material was comfortable. Why, they serve only to make ladies look pretty. All beautiful and do-nothings. They disable and confine them to petty accomplishments such as needlework. The ties that bind! Corsets and bandages, those are the true ties that bind!