A woman's heart must be of such a size and no larger, else it must be pressed small, like Chinese feet her happiness is to be made as cakes are, by a fixed recipe.

Summary

This quote suggests that a woman's heart should only have a limited capacity for happiness, no more than a certain size. If it exceeds that size, it should be compressed, just as Chinese feet were historically bound to make them smaller. The metaphor implies that a woman's happiness should conform to a predetermined recipe, implying that her joy should be limited and defined by societal norms and expectations. This perspective disregards the individuality and freedom of women to experience happiness in their own unique ways.

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