what diantha did-第12章

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of　girl's　club　in　her　spotless　kitchen　one　evening　a　week　during　the
last　three　months　of　her　engagement。　　It　was　a　〃Study　and　Amusement
Club。〃　　She　gave　them　short　and　interesting　lessons　in　arithmetic；　in
simple　dressmaking；　in　easy　and　thorough　methods　of　housework。　　She　gave
them　lists　of　books；　referred　them　to　articles　in　magazines；　insidiously
taught　them　to　use　the　Public　Library。

They　played　pleasant　games　in　the　second　hour；　and　grew　well　acquainted。
　To　the　eye　or　ear　of　any　casual　visitor　it　was　the　simplest　and　most
natural　affair；　calculated　to　〃elevate　labor〃　and　to　make　home　happy。

Diantha　studied　and　observed。　　They　brought　her　their　poor　confidences；
painfully　similar。　　Always　povertyor　they　would　not　be　there。　　Always
ignorance；　or　they　would　not　stay　there。　　Then　either　incompetence　in
the　work；　or　inability　to　hold　their　little　earningsor　both；　and
further　the　Tale　of　the　Other　Sidethe　exactions　and　restrictions　of
the　untrained　mistresses　they　served；　cases　of　withheld　wages；　cases　of
endless　requirements；　cases　of　most　arbitrary　interference　with　their
receiving　friends　and　〃followers；〃　or　going　out；　and　cases；　common
enough　to　be　horrible；　of　insult　they　could　only　escape　by　leaving。

〃It's　no　wages；　of　courseand　no　recommendation；　when　you　leave　like
thatbut　what　else　can　a　girl　do；　if　she's　honest？〃

So　Diantha　learned；　made　friends　and　laid　broad　foundations。

The　excellence　of　her　cocking　was　known　to　many；　thanks　to　the　weekly
〃entertainments。〃　　No　one　refused。　　No　one　regretted　acceptance。　　Never
had　Mrs。　Porne　enjoyed　such　a　sense　of　social　importance。

All　the　people　she　ever　knew　called　on　her　afresh；　and　people　she　never
knew　called　on　her　even　more　freshly。　　Not　that　she　was　directly
responsible　for　it。　　She　had　not　triumphed　cruelly　over　her　less　happy
friends；　nor　had　she　cried　aloud　on　the　street　corners　concerning　her
good　fortune。　　It　was　not　her　fault；　nor；　in　truth　anyone's。　　But　in　a
community　where　the　〃servant　question〃　is　even　more　vexed　than　in　the
country　at　large；　where　the　local　product　is　quite　unequal　to　the
demand；　and　where　distance　makes　importation　an　expensive　matter；　the
fact　of　one　woman's　having；　as　it　appeared；　settled　this　vexed　question；
was　enough　to　give　her　prominence。

Mrs。　Ellen　A。　Dankshire；　President　of　the　Orchardina　Home　and　Culture
Club；　took　up　the　matter　seriously。

〃Now　Mrs。　Porne；〃　said　she；　settling　herself　vigorously　into　a
comfortable　chair；　〃I　just　want　to　talk　the　matter　over　with　you；　with　a
view　to　the　club。　　We　do　not　know　how　long　this　will　last〃

〃Don't　speak　of　it！〃　said　Mrs。　Porne。

〃and　it　behooves　us　to　study　the　facts　while　we　have　them。〃

〃So　much　is　involved！〃　said　little　Mrs。　Ree；　the　Corresponding
Secretary；　lifting　her　pale　earnest　face　with　the　perplexed　fine　lines
in　it。　　〃We　are　all　so　truly　convinced　of　the　sacredness　of　the　home
duties！〃

〃Well；　what　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　asked　their　hostess。

〃We　must　have　that　remarkable　young　woman　address　our　club！〃　Mrs。
Dankshire　announced。　　〃It　is　one　case　in　a　thousand；　and　must　be
studied！〃

〃So　noble　of　her！〃　said　Mrs。　Ree。　　〃You　say　she　was　really　a
school…teacher？　　Mrs。　Thaddler　has　put　it　about　that　she　is　one　of　these
dreadful　writing　personsin　disguise！〃

〃O　no；〃　said　Mrs。　Porne。　　〃She　is　perfectly　straightforward　about　it；
and　had　the　best　of　recommendations。　　She　was　a　teacher；　but　it　didn't
agree　with　her　health；　I　believe。〃

〃Perhaps　there　is　a　story　to　it！〃　Mrs。　Ree　advanced；　but　Mrs。　Dankshire
disagreed　with　her　flatly。

〃The　young　woman　has　a　theory；　I　believe；　and　she　is　working　it　out。　　I
respect　her　for　it。　　Now　what　we　want　to　ask　you；　Mrs。　Porne；　is　this：
do　you　think　it　would　make　any　trouble　for　youin　the　household
relations；　you　knowif　we　ask　her　to　read　a　paper　to　the　Club？　　Of
course　we　do　not　wish　to　interfere；　but　it　is　a　remarkable
opportunityvery。　　You　know　the　fine　work　Miss　Lucy　Salmon　has　done　on
this　subject；　and　Miss　Frances　Kellor。　　You　know　how　little　data　we
have；　and　how　great；　how　serious；　a　question　it　is　daily　becoming！　　Now
here　is　a　young　woman　of　brains　and　culture　who　has　apparently　grappled
with　the　question；　her　example　and　influence　must　not　be　lost！　　We　must
hear　from　her。　　The　public　must　know　of　this。〃

〃Such　an　ennobling　example！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Ree。　　〃It　might　lead　numbers
of　other　school…teachers　to　see　the　higher　side　of　the　home　duties！〃

〃Furthermore；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Dankshire；　〃this　has　occured　to　me。　　Would
it　not　be　well　to　have　our　ladies　bring　with　them　to　the　meeting　the
more　intelligent　of　their　servants；　that　they　might　hear　and　see
thethe　dignity　of　household　laborso　ably　set　forth？

〃Isn't　itwouldn't　that　be　aan　almost　dangerous　experiment？〃　urged
Mrs。　Ree；　her　high　narrow　forehead　fairly　creped　with　little　wrinkles：
〃She　mightsay　something；　you　know；　that　they　mighttake　advantage
of！〃

〃Nonsense；　my　dear！〃　replied　Mrs。　Dankshire。　　She　was　very　fond　of　Mrs。
Ree；　but　had　small　respect　for　her　judgment。　　〃What　could　she　say？　　Look
at　what　she　does！　　And　how　beautifullyhow　perfectlyshe　does　it！　　I
would　wager　now_may_　I　try　an　experiment　Mrs。　Porne？〃　and　she　stood
up；　taking　out　her　handkerchief。

〃Certainly；〃　said　Mrs。　Porne；　〃with　pleasure！　　You　won't　find　any！〃

Mrs。　Dankshire　climbed　heavily　upon　a　carefully　selected　chair　and
passed　her　large　clean　plain…hemmed　handkerchief　across　the　top　of　a
picture。

〃I　knew　it！〃　she　proclaimed　proudly　from　her　eminence；　and　showed　the
cloth　still　white。　　〃That；〃　she　continued　in　ponderous　descent；　〃that　is
Knowledge；　Ability　and　Conscience！〃

〃I　don't　see　how　she　gets　the　time！〃　breathed　Mrs。　Ree；　shaking　her　head
in　awed　amazement；　and　reflecting　that　she　would　not　dare　trust　Mrs。
Dankshire's　handkerchief　on　her　picture　tops。

〃We　must　have　her　address　the　Club；〃　the　president　repeated。　　〃It　will
do　worlds　of　good。　　Let　me　seea　paper　onwe　might　say　'On　the　True
Nature　of　Domestic　Industry。'　　How　does　that　strike　you；　Mrs。　Ree？〃

〃Admirable！〃　said　Mrs。　Ree。　　〃So　strong！　so　succinct。〃

〃That　certainly　covers　the　subject；〃　said　Mrs。　Porne。　　〃Why　don't　you
ask　her？〃

〃We　will。　　We　have　come　for　that　purpose。　　But　we　felt　it　right　to　ask
you　about　it　first；〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire。

〃Why　I　have　no　control　over　Miss　Bell's　movements；　outside　of　working
hours；〃　answered　Mrs。　Porne。　　〃And　I　don't　see　that　it　would　make　any
difference　to　our　relations。　　She　is　a　very　self…poised　young　woman；　but
extremely　easy　to　get　along　with。　　And　I'm　sure　she　could　write　a
splendid　paper。　　You'd　better　ask　her；　I　think。〃

〃Would　you　call　her　in？〃　asked　Mrs。　Dankshire；　〃or　shall　we　go　out　to
the　kitchen？〃

〃Come　right　out；　I'd　like　you　to　see　how　beautifully　she　keeps
everything。〃

The　kitchen　was　as　clean　as　the　parlor；　and　as　prettily　arranged。　　Miss
Bell　was　making　her　preparation　for　lunch；　and　stopped　to　receive　the
visitors　with　a　serenely　civil　airas　of　a　country　store…keeper。

〃I　am　very　glad　to　meet　you；　Miss　Bell；　very　glad　indeed；〃　said　Mrs。
Dankshire；　shaking　hands　with　her　warmly。　　〃We　have　at　heard　so　much　of
your　beautiful　work　here；　and　we　admire　your　attitude！　　Now　would　you　be
willing　to　give　a　paperor　a　talkto　our　club；　the　Home　and　Culture
Club；　some　Wednesday；　on　The　True　Nature　of　Domestic　Industry？〃

Mrs。　Ree　took　Miss　Bell's　hand　with　something　of　the　air　of　a　Boston
maiden　accosting　a　saint　from　Hindoostan。　　〃If　you　only　would！〃　she
said。　　〃I　am　sure　it　would　shed　light　on　this　great　subject！〃

Miss　Bell　smiled　at　them　both　and　looked　at　Mrs。　Porne　inquiringly。

〃I　should　be　delighted　to　have　you　do　it；〃　said　her　employer。　　〃I　know
it　would　be　very　useful。〃

〃Is　there　any　date　set？〃　asked　Miss　Bell。

〃Any　Wednesday　after　February；〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire。

〃WellI　will　come　on　the　first　Wednesday　in　April。　　If　anything　should
happen　to　prevent　I　will　let　you　know　in　good　season；　and　if　you　should
wish　to　postpone　or　alter　the　programshould　think　better　of　the
ideajust　send　me　word。　　I　shall　not　mind　in　the　least。〃

They　went　away　quite　jubilant；　Miss　Bell's　acceptance　was　announced
officially　at　the　next　club…meeting；　and　the　Home　and　Culture　Club　felt
that　it　was　fulfilling　its　mission。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　VII。

HERESY　AND　SCHISM。


You　may　talk　about　religion　with　a　free　and　open　mind；
　For　ten　dollars　you　may　criticize　a　judge；
You　may　discuss　in　politics　the　newest　thing　you　find；
　And　open　scientific　truth　to　all　the　deaf　and　blind；
But　there's　one　place　where　the　brain　must　never　budge！

CHORUS。

Oh；　the　Home　is　Utterly　Perfect！
And　all　its　works　within！
　To　say　a　word　about　it
　To　criticize　or　doubt　it
　To　seek　to　mend　or　move　it
　To　venture　to　improve　it
Is　The　Unpardonable　Sin！

〃Old　Song。〃


Mr。　Porne　took　an　afternoon　off　and　came　with　his　wife　to　hear　their
former　housemaid　lecture。　　As　many　other　men　as　were　able　did　the　same。　
All　the　members　not　bedridden　were　present；　and　nearly　all　the　guests
they　had　invited。

So　many　were　the　acceptances　that　a　downtown　hall　had　been　taken；　the
floor　was　more　than　filled；　and　in　the　gallery　sat　a　block　of　servant
girls；　more　gorgeous　in　array　than　the　ladies　below　whispering　excitedly
among　themselves。　　The　platform　recalled　a　〃tournament　of　roses；〃　and；
sternly　important　among　all　that　fragrant　loveliness；　sat　Mrs。　Dankshire
in　〃the　chair〃　flanked　by　Miss　Torbus；　the　Recording　Secretary；　Miss
Massing；　the　Treasurer；　and　Mrs。　Ree；　tremulous　with　importance　in　her
official　position。　　All　these　ladies　wore　an　air　of　high　emprise；　even
more　intense　than　that　with　which　they　usually　essayed　their　public
duties。　　They　were　richly　dressed；　except　Miss　Torbus；　who　came　as　near
it　as　she　could。

At　the　side；　and　somewhat　in　the　rear　of　the　President；　on　a　chair　quite
different　from　〃the　chair；〃　discreetly　gowned　and　of　a　bafflingly　serene
demeanor；　sat　Miss　Bell。　　All　eyes　were　upon　hereven　some　opera
glasses。

〃She's　a　good…looker　anyhow；〃　was　one　masculine　opinion。

〃She's　a　peach；〃　was　another；　〃Tell　youthe　chap　that　gets　her　is　well
heeled！〃　said　a　third。

The　ladies　bent　their　hats　toward　one　another　and　conferred　in　flowing
whispers；　and　in　the　gallery　eager　confidences　were　exchanged；　with
giggles。

On　the　small　table　before　Mrs。　Dankshire；　shaded　by　a　magnificent　bunch
of　roses；　lay　that　core　and　crux　of　all　parliamentry　dignity；　the　gavel；
an　instrument　no　self…respecting　chairwoman　may　be　without；　yet　which
she　still　approaches　with　respectful　uncertainty。

In　spite　of　its　large　size　and　high　social　standing；　the　Orchardina　Home
and　Culture　Club　contained　some　elements　of　unrest；　and　when　the　yearly
election　of　officers　came　round　there　was　always　need　for　careful　work
in　practical　politics　to　keep　the　reins　of　government　in　the　hands　of
〃the　right　people。〃

Mrs。　Thaddler；　conscious　of　her　New　York　millions；　and　Madam
Weatherstone；　conscious　of　her　Philadelphia　lineage；　with　Mrs。　Johnston
A。　Marrow　（〃one　of　the　Boston　Marrows！〃　was　awesomely　whispered　of　her）；
were　the　heads　of　what　might　be　called　〃the　conservative　party〃　in　this
small　parliament；　while　Miss　Miranda　L。　Eagerson；　describing　hersel