Dr. Staines then invited Mr. Lusignan to his lodgings, and promised to explain the matter anatomically. “Meantime,” said he, “would you be good enough to put your hands to my waist, as I did to the patient's.”
Mr. Lusignan complied; and the patient began to titter directly, to put them out of countenance.
“Please observe what takes place when I draw a full breath.
“Now apply the same test to the patient. Breathe your best, please, Miss Lusignan.”
The patient put on a face full of saucy mutiny.
“To oblige us both.”
“Oh, how tiresome!”
“I am aware it is rather laborious,” said Staines, a little dryly; “but to oblige your father!”
“Oh, anything to oblige papa,” said she, spitefully. “There! And I do hope it will be the last—la! no; I don't hope that, neither.”
Dr. Staines politely ignored her little attempts to interrupt the argument. “You found, sir, that the muscles of my waist, and my intercostal ribs themselves, rose and fell with each inhalation and exhalation of air by the lungs.”