what diantha did-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


difference；〃　she　said。　　〃I　_could_　get　a　girl　for　20。00　and　save　nearly
2。60　a　weekbut　you　know　what　they　are！〃

〃I　do　indeed；〃　he　admitted　fervently。　　〃It's　worth　the　money　to　have
this　thing　done　so　well。　　I　think　she's　right　about　the　wages。　　Better
keep　her。〃

〃Oshe'll　only　agree　to　stay　six　months　even　at　this　rate！〃

〃Wellkeep　her　six　months　and　be　thankful。　　I　thought　she　was　too　good
to　last！〃

They　looked　over　the　offered　contract　again。　　It　closed　with：

〃This　agreement　to　hold　for　six　months　from　date　if　mutually
satisfactory。　　In　case　of　disagreement　two　weeks'　notice　is　to　be　given
on　either　side；　or　two　weeks'　wages　if　preferred　by　the　employer。〃　　It
was　dated；　and　signed　〃Miss　D。　C。　Bell。〃

And　with　inward　amusement　and　great　display　of　penmanship　they　added
〃Mrs。　Isabel　J。　Porne；〃　and　the　contract　was　made。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　VI。

THE　CYNOSURE。


It's　a　singular　thing　that　the　commonest　place
　Is　the　hardest　to　properly　fill；
That　the　labor　imposed　on　a　full　half　the　race
　Is　so　seldom　performed　with　good　will
　To　say　nothing　of　knowledge　or　skill！

What　we　ask　of　all　women；　we　stare　at　in　one；
　And　tribute　of　wonderment　bring；
If　this　task　of　the　million　is　once　fitly　done
　We　all　hold　our　hands　up　and　sing！
　It's　really　a　singular　thing！


Isabel　Porne　was　a　cautious　woman；　and　made　no　acclaim　over　her　new
acquisition　until　its　value　was　proven。　　Her　husband　also　bided　his
time；　and　when　congratulated　on　his　improved　appearance　and　air　of
contentment；　merely　vouchsafed　that　his　wife　had　a　new　girl　who　could
cook。

To　himself　he　boasted　that　he　had　a　new　wife　who　could　loveso　cheerful
and　gay　grew　Mrs。　Porne　in　the　changed　atmosphere　of　her　home。

〃It　is　remarkable；　Edgar；〃　she　said；　dilating　repeatedly　on　the　peculiar
quality　of　their　good　fortune。　　〃It's　not　only　good　cooking；　and　good
waiting；　and　a　clean　housecleaner　than　I　ever　saw　one　before；　and　it's
not　only　the　quietness；　and　regularity　and　economywhy　the　bills　have
gone　down　more　than　a　third！〃

〃Yeseven　I　noticed　that；〃　he　agreed。

〃But　what　I　enjoy　the　most　is　the　_atmosphere；_〃　she　continued。　　〃When　I
have　to　do　the　work；　the　house　is　a　perfect　nightmare　to　me！〃　　She
leaned　forward　from　her　low　stool；　her　elbows　on　her　knees；　her　chin　in
her　hands；　and　regarded　him　intently。

〃Edgar！　　You　know　I　love　you。　　And　I　love　my　babyI'm　no　unfeeling
monster！　　But　I　can　tell　you　frankly　that　if　I'd　had　any　idea　of　what
housework　was　like　I'd　never　have　given　up　architecture　to　try　it。〃

〃Lucky　for　me　you　hadn't！〃　said　he　fondly。　　〃I　know　it's　been　hard　for
you；　little　girl。　　I　never　meant　that　you　should　give　up
architecturethat's　a　business　a　woman　could　carry　on　at　home　I
thought；　the　designing　part　anyway。　　There's　your　'drawing…room'　and　all
your　things〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　with　reminiscent　bitterness；　〃there　they　areand　there
they　might　have　stayed；　untouchedif　Miss　Bell　hadn't　come！〃

〃Makes　you　call　her　〃Miss　Bell〃　all　the　time；　does　she？〃

Mrs。　Porne　laughed。　　〃Yes。　　I　hated　it　at　first；　but　she　asked　if　I
could　give　her　any　real　reason　why　the　cook　should　be　called　by　her
first　name　more　than　the　seamstress　or　governess。　　I　tried　to　say　that
it　was　shorter；　but　she　smiled　and　said　that　in　this　case　it　was
longer！Her　name　is　DianthaI've　seen　it　on　letters。　　And　it　is　one
syllable　longer。　　Anyhow　I've　got　used　to　Miss　Bell　now。〃

〃She　gets　letters　often？〃

〃Yesvery　oftenfrom　Topolaya　where　she　came　from。　　I'm　afraid　she's
engaged。〃　　Mrs。　Porne　sighed　ruefully。

〃I　don't　doubt　it！〃　said　Mr。　Porne。　　〃That　would　account　for　her　six
months'　arrangement！　　Well；　my　dearmake　hay　while　the　sun　shines！〃

〃I　do！〃　she　boasted。　　〃Whole　stacks！　　I've　had　a　seamstress　in；　and　got
all　my　clothes　in　order　and　the　baby's。　　We've　had　lot　of　dinner…parties
and　teas　as　you　knowall　my　〃social　obligations〃　are　cleared　off！　
We've　had　your　mother　for　a　visit；　and　mine's　coming　nowand　I　wasn't
afraid　to　have　either　of　them！　　There's　no　fault　to　be　found　with　my
housekeeping　now！　　And　there　are　two　things　better　than　thatyes；
three。〃

〃The　best　thing　is　to　see　you　look　so　young　and　handsome　and　happy
again；〃　said　her　husband；　with　a　kiss。

〃Yesthat's　one。　　Another　is　that　now　I　feel　so　easy　and　lighthearted　I
can　love　you　and　babyasas　I　_do！_　　Only　when　I'm　tired　and
discouraged　I　can't　put　my　hand　on　it　somehow。

He　nodded　sympathetically。　　〃I　know；　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　that　way
myselfsometimes。　　What's　the　other？〃

〃Why　that's　best　of　aIl！〃　she　cried　triumphantly。　　〃I　can　Work　again！　
When　Baby's　asleep　I　get　hours　at　a　time；　and　even　when　he's　awake　I've
fixed　a　place　where　he　can　playand　I　can　draw　and　planjust　as　I　used
to_better_　than　I　used　to！〃

〃And　that　is　even　more　to　you　than　loving？〃　he　asked　in　a　quiet
inquiring　voice。

〃It's　more　because　it　means　_both！_〃　　She　leaned　to　him；　glowing；　〃Don't
you　see？　　First　I　had　the　work　and　loved　it。　　Then　you　cameand　I　loved
youbetter！　　Then　Baby　came　and　I　loved　himbest？　　I　don't　knowyou
and　baby　are　all　one　somehow。〃

There　was　a　brief　interim　and　then　she　drew　back；　blushing　richly。　　〃Now
stopI　want　to　explain。　　When　the　housework　got　to　be　such　a
nightmareand　I　looked　forward　to　a　whole　lifetime　of　it　and　_no_
improvement；　then　I　just　_ached_　for　my　workand　couldn't　do　it！　　And
thenwhy　sometimes　dear；　I　just　wanted　to　run　away！　　Actually！　　From
_both_　of　you！you　see；　I　spent　five　years　studyingI　was　a　_real_
architectand　it　did　hurt　to　see　it　go。　　And　nowO　now　I've　got　It　and
You　too；　darling！　　_And_　the　Baby！O　I'm　so　happy！〃

〃Thanks　to　the　Providential　Miss　Bell；〃　said　he。　　〃If　she'll　stay　I'll
pay　her　anything！〃

The　months　went　by。

Peace；　order；　comfort；　cleanliness　and　economy　reigned　in　the　Porne
household；　and　the　lady　of　the　house　blossomed　into　richer　beauty　and
happiness；　her　contentment　marred　only　by　a　sense　of　flying　time。

Miss　Bell　fulfilled　her　carefully　specified　engagement　to　the　letter；
rested　her　peaceful　hour　in　the　morning；　walked　and　rode　in　the
afternoon；　familiarized　herself　with　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　town；
and　visited　continuously　among　the　servants　of　the　neighborhood；
establishing　a　large　and　friendly　acquaintance。　　If　she　wore　rubber
gloves　about　the　rough　work；　she　paid　for　them　herself；　and　she　washed
and　ironed　her　simple　and　pretty　costumes　herselfwith　the　result　that
they　stayed　pretty　for　surprising　periods。

She　wrote　letters　long　and　loving；　to　Ross　daily；　to　her　mother　twice　a
week；　and　by　the　help　of　her　sister's　authority　succeeded　in　maintaining
a　fairly　competent　servant　in　her　deserted　place。

〃Father　was　bound　he　wouldn't；〃　her　sister　wrote　her；　〃but　I　stood　right
up　to　him；　I　can　now　I'm　married！and　Gerald　toothat　he'd　no　right　to
take　it　out　of　mother　even　if　he　was　mad　with　you。　　He　made　a　fuss　about
your　paying　for　the　girlbut　that　was　only　showing　off_he_　couldn't
pay　for　her　just　nowthat's　certain。　　And　she　does　very　wella　good
strong　girl；　and　quite　devoted　to　mother。〃　　And　then　she　scolded
furiously　about　her　sister's　〃working　out。〃

Diantha　knew　just　how　hard　it　was　for　her　mother。　　She　had　faced　all
sides　of　the　question　before　deciding。

〃Your　mother　misses　you　badly；　of　course；〃　Ross　wrote　her。　　〃I　go　in　as
often　as　I　can　and　cheer　her　up　a　bit。　　It's　not　just　the　workshe
misses　you。　　By　the　wayso　do　I。〃　　He　expressed　his　views　on　her　new
employment。

Diantha　used　to　cry　over　her　letters　quite　often。　　But　she　would　put
them　away；　dry　her　eyes；　and　work　on　at　the　plans　she　was　maturing；　with
grim　courage。　　〃It's　hard　on　them　now；〃　she　would　say　to　herself。　　〃Its
hard　on　mesome。　　But　we'll　all　be　better　off　because　of　it；　and　not
only　usbut　everybody！〃

Meanwhile　the　happy　and　unhappy　households　of　the　fair　town　buzzed　in
comment　and　grew　green　with　envy。

In　social　circles　and　church　circles　and　club　circles；　as　also　in
domestic　circles；　it　was　noised　abroad　that　Mrs。　Edgar　Porne　had　〃solved
the　servant　question。〃　　News　of　this　marvel　of　efficiency　and　propriety
was　discussed　in　every　household；　and　not　only　so　but　in　barber…shops
and　other　downtown　meeting　places　mentioned。　　Servants　gathered　it　at
dinner…tables；　and　Diantha；　much　amused；　regathered　it　from　her　new
friends　among　the　servants。


Does　she　keep　on　just　the　same？〃　asked　little　Mrs。　Ree　of　Mrs。　Porne　in
an　awed　whisper。

〃Just　the　same　if　not　better。　　I　don't　even　order　the　meals　now；　unless
I　want　something　especial。　　She　keeps　a　calendar　of　what　we've　had　to
eat；　and　what　belongs　to　the　time　of　year；　prices　and　things。　　When　I
used　to　ask　her　to　suggest　（one　does；　you　know：　it　is　so　hard　to　think
up　a　variety！）；　she'd　always　be　ready　with　an　idea；　or　remind　me　that　we
had　had　so　and　so　two　days　before；　till　I　asked　her　if　she'd　like　to
order；　and　she　said　she'd　be　willing　to　try；　and　now　I　just　sit　down　to
the　table　without　knowing　what's　going　to　be　there。〃

〃But　I　should　think　that　would　interfere　with　your　sense　of　freedom；〃
said　Mrs。　Ellen　A　Dankshire；　〃A　woman　should　be　mistress　of　her　own
household。〃

〃Why　I　am！　　I　order　whenever　I　specially　want　anything。　　But　she　really
does　it　moremore　scientifically。　　She　has　made　a　study　of　it。　　And　the
bills　are　very　much　lower。〃

〃Well；　I　think　you　are　the　luckiest　woman　alive！〃　sighed　Mrs。　Ree。　　〃I
wish　I　had　her！〃

Many　a　woman　wished　she　had　her；　and　some；　calling　when　they　knew　Mrs。
Porne　was　out；　or　descending　into　their　own　kitchens　of　an　evening　when
the　strange　Miss　Bell　was　visiting　〃the　help；〃　made　flattering
propositions　to　her　to　come　to　them。　　She　was　perfectly　polite　and
agreeable　in　manner；　but　refused　all　blandishments。

〃What　are　you　getting　at　your　present　placeif　I　may　ask？〃　loftily
inquired　the　great　Mrs。　Thaddler；　ponderous　and　beaded。

〃There　is　surely　no　objection　to　your　asking；　madam；〃　she　replied
politely。　　〃Mrs。　Porne　will　not　mind　telling　you；　I　am　sure。〃

〃Hm！〃　said　the　patronizing　visitor；　regarding　her　through　her　lorgnette。
　〃Very　good。　　Whatever　it　is　I'll　double　it。　　When　can　you　come？〃

〃My　engagement　with　Mrs。　Porne　is　for　six　months；〃　Diantha　answered；
〃and　I　do　not　wish　to　close　with　anyone　else　until　that　time　is　up。　
Thank　you　for　your　offer　just　the　same。〃

〃Peculiarly　offensive　young　person！〃　said　Mrs。　Thaddler　to　her　husband。　
〃Looks　to　me　like　one　of　these　literary　imposters。　　Mrs。　Porne　will
probably　appear　in　the　magazines　before　long。〃

Mr。　Thaddler　instantly　conceived　a　liking　for　the　young　person；　〃sight
unseen。〃

Diantha　acquired　quite　a　list　of　offers；　places　open　to　her　as　soon　as
she　was　free；　at　prices　from　her　present　seven　dollars　up　to　the
proposed　doubling。

〃Fourteen　dollars　a　week　and　found！that's　not　so　bad；〃　she　meditated。　
〃That　would　mean　over　650　clear　in　a　year！　　It's　a　wonder　to　me　girls
don't　try　it　long　enough　to　get　a　start　at　something　else。　　With　even
two　or　three　hundred　aheadand　an　outfitit　would　be　easier　to　make
good　in　a　store　or　any　other　way。　　WellI　have　other　fish　to　fry！〃

So　she　pursued　her　way；　and；　with　Mrs。　Porne's　permissionheld　a　sort
of　girl's　club　in　her　spotless　kitchen　one　evening　a　week　during　the
last　three　mon