what diantha did-第15章

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　Why　don't　I？〃　she　rose　and　walked　slowly　up　and　down；　her　hands
behind　her。　　〃I　will！〃　she　said　at　last。

Then　she　dressed　for　dinner；　revolving　in　her　mind　certain　suspicions
long　suppressed；　but　now　flaming　out　in　clear　conviction　in　the　light　of
Diantha's　words。　　〃Sleeping　in；　indeed！〃　she　murmured　to　herself。　　〃And
nobody　doing　anything！〃

She　looked　herself　in　the　eye　in　the　long　mirror。　　Her　gown　was　an
impressive　one；　her　hair　coiled　high；　a　gold　band　ringed　it　like　a
crown。　　A　clear　red　lit　her　checks。

She　rang。　　Little　Ilda；　the　newest　maid；　appeared；　gazing　at　her　in　shy
admiration。　　Mrs。　Weatherstone　looked　at　her　with　new　eyes。　　〃Have　you
been　here　long？〃　she　asked。　　〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃No；　ma'am；〃　said　the　childshe　was　scarce　more。　　〃Only　a　week　and　two
days。　　My　name　is　Ilda。〃

〃Who　engaged　you？〃

〃Mrs。　Halsey；　ma'am。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone；　musing　to　herself；　〃and　I　engaged　Mrs。
Halsey！〃　　〃Do　you　like　it　here？〃　she　continued　kindly。

〃Oh　yes；　ma'am！〃　said　Ilda。　　〃That　is〃　she　stopped；　blushed；　and
continued　bravely。　　〃I　like　to　work　for　you；　ma'am。〃

〃Thank　you；　Ilda。　　Will　you　ask　Mrs。　Halsey　to　come　to　meat　once；
please。〃

Ilda　went；　more　impressed　than　ever　with　the　desirability　of　her　new
place；　and　mistress。

As　she　was　about　to　pass　the　door　of　Mr。　Matthew　Weatherstone；　that
young　gentleman　stepped　out　and　intercepted　her。　　〃Whither　away　so　fast；
my　dear？〃　he　amiably　inquired。

〃Please　let　one　pass；　sir！　　I'm　on　an　errand。　　Please；　sir？〃

〃You　must　give　me　a　kiss　first！〃　said　heand　since　there　seemed　no
escape　and　she　was　in　haste；　she　submitted。　　He　took　sixand　she　ran
away　half　crying。

Mrs。　Halsey；　little　accustomed　to　take　orders　from　her　real　mistress；
and　resting　comfortably　in　her　room；　had　half　a　mind　to　send　an　excuse。

〃I'm　not　dressed；〃　she　said　to　the　maid。

〃Well　she　is！〃　replied　Ilda；　〃dressed　splendid。　　She　said　'at　once；
please。'〃

〃A　pretty　time　o'　day！〃　said　the　housekeeper　with　some　asperity；　hastily
buttoning　her　gown；　and　she　presently　appeared；　somewhat　heated；　before
Mrs。　Weatherstone。

That　lady　was　sitting；　cool　and　gracious；　her　long　ivory　paper…cutter
between　the　pages　of　a　new　magazine。

〃In　how　short　a　time　could　you　pack；　Mrs。　Halsey？〃　she　inquired。

〃Pack；　ma'am？　　I'm　not　accustomed　to　doing　packing。　　I'll　send　one　of
the　maids。　　Is　it　your　things；　ma'am？〃

〃No；〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　〃It　is　yours　I　refer　to。　　I　wish　you　to
pack　your　things　and　leave　the　housein　an　hour。　　One　of　the　maids　can
help　you；　if　necessary。　　Anything　you　cannot　take　can　be　sent　after　you。
　Here　is　a　check　for　the　following　month's　wages。〃

Mrs。　Halsey　was　nearly　a　head　taller　than　her　employer；　a　stout　showy
woman；　handsome　enough；　red…lipped；　and　with　a　moist　and　crafty　eye。　
This　was　so　sudden　a　misadventure　that　she　forgot　her　usual　caution。　
〃You've　no　right　to　turn　me　off　in　a　minute　like　this！〃　she　burst　forth。
　〃I'll　leave　it　to　Madam　Weatherstone！〃

〃If　you　will　look　at　the　terms　on　which　I　engaged　you；　Mrs。　Halsey；　you
will　find　that　a　month's　warning；　or　a　month's　wages；　was　specified。　
Here　are　the　wagesas　to　the　warning；　that　has　been　given　for　some
months　past！〃

〃By　whom；　Ma'am？〃

〃By　yourself；　Mrs。　HalseyI　think　you　understand　me。　　Oscar　will　take
your　things　as　soon　as　they　are　ready。〃

Mrs。　Halsey　met　her　steady　eye　a　momentsaw　more　than　she　cared　to
faceand　left　the　room。

She　took　care；　however；　to　carry　some　letters　to　Madam　Weatherstone；　and
meekly　announced　her　discharge；　also；　by　some　coincidence；　she　met　Mr。
Matthew　in　the　hall　upstairs；　and　weepingly　confided　her　grievance　to
him；　meeting　immediate　consolation；　both　sentimental　and　practical。

When　hurried　servants　were　sent　to　find　their　young　mistress　they
reported　that　she　must　have　gone　out；　and　in　truth　she　had；　out　on　her
own　roof；　where　she　sat　quite　still；　though　shivering　a　little　now　and
then　from　the　new　excitement；　until　dinner　time。

This　meal；　in　the　mind　of　Madam　Weatherstone；　was　the　crowning　factor　of
daily　life；　and；　on　state　occasions；　of　social　life。　　In　her　cosmogony
the　central　sun　was　a　round　mahogany　table；　all　other　details　of
housekeeping　revolved　about　it　in　varying　orbits。　　To　serve　an　endless
series　of　dignified　delicious　meals；　notably　dinners；　was；　in　her　eyes；
the　chief　end　of　woman；　the　most　high　purpose　of　the　home。

Therefore；　though　angry　and　astounded；　she　appeared　promptly　when　the
meal　was　announced；　and　when　her　daughter…in…law；　serene　and　royally
attired；　took　her　place　as　usual；　no　emotion　was　allowed　to　appear
before　the　purple　footman　who　attended。

〃I　understood　you　were　out；　Viva；〃　she　said　politely。

〃I　was；〃　replied　Viva；　with　equal　decorum。　　〃It　is　charming　outside　at
this　time　in　the　eveningdon't　you　think　so？〃

Young　Matthew　was　gloomy　and　irritable　throughout　the　length　and　breadth
of　the　meal；　and　when　they　were　left　with　their　coffee　in　the　drawing
room；　he　broke　out；　〃What's　this　I　hear　about　Mrs。　Halsey　being　fired
without　notice？〃

〃That　is　what　I　wish　to　know；　Viva；〃　said　the　grandmother。　　〃The　poor
woman　is　greatly　distressed。　　Is　there　not　some　mistake？〃

〃It's　a　damn　shame；〃　said　Matthew。

The　younger　lady　glanced　from　one　to　the　other；　and　wondered　to　see　how
little　she　minded　it。　　〃The　door　was　there　all　the　time！〃　she　thought　to
herself；　as　she　looked　her　stepson　in　the　eye　and　said；　〃Hardly
drawing…room　language；　Matthew。　　Your　grandmother　is　present！〃

He　stared　at　her　in　dumb　amazement；　so　she　went　on；　〃No；　there　is　no
mistake　at　all。　　I　discharged　Mrs。　Halsey　about　an　hour　before　dinner。　
The　terms　of　the　engagement　were　a　month's　warning　or　a　month's　wages。　
I　gave　her　the　wages。〃

〃But！　but！〃　Madam　Weatherstone　was　genuinely　confused　by　this　sudden
inexplicable；　yet　perfectly　polite　piece　of　what　she　still　felt　to　be　in
the　nature　of　'interference'　and　'presumption。'　　〃I　have　had　no　fault　to
find　with　her。〃

〃I　have；　you　see；〃　said　her　daughter…in…law　smiling。　　〃I　found　her
unsatisfactory　and　shall　replace　her　with　something　better　presently。　
How　about　a　little　music；　Matthew？　　Won't　you　start　the　victrolla？〃

Matthew　wouldn't。　　He　was　going　out；　went　out　with　the　word。　　Madam
Weatherstone　didn't　wish　to　hear　ithad　a　headachemust　go　to　her
roomwent　to　her　room　forthwith。　　There　was　a　tension　in　the
athmosphere　that　would　have　wrung　tears　from　Viva　Weatherstone　a　week
ago；　yes；　twenty…four　hours　ago。

As　it　was　she　rose　to　her　feet；　stretching　herself　to　her　full　height；
and　walked　the　length　of　the　great　empty　room。　　She　even　laughed　a
little。　　〃It's　open！〃　said　she；　and　ordered　the　car。　　While　waiting　for
it　she　chatted　with　Mrs。　Porne　awhile　over　the　all…convenient　telephone。

*

Diantha　sat　at　her　window；　watching　the　big　soft；　brilliant　moon　behind
the　eucalyptus　trees。　　After　the　close　of　the　strenuous　meeting；　she　had
withdrawn　from　the　crowd　of　excited　women　anxious　to　shake　her　hand　and
engage　her　on　the　spot；　had　asked　time　to　consider　a　number　of　good
opportunities　offered；　and　had　survived　the　cold　and　angry　glances　of
the　now　smaller　but　far　more　united　Home　and　Culture　Club。　　She　declined
to　talk　to　the　reporters；　and　took　refuge　first　in　an　open　car。　　This
proved　very　unsatisfactory；　owing　to　her　sudden　prominence。　　Two
persistent　newspaper　men　swung　themselves　upon　the　car　also　and　insisted
on　addressing　her。

〃Excuse　me；　gentlemen；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　you。〃

They　eagerly　produced　their　cardsand　said　they　were　〃newspaper　men。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Diantha；　〃But　you　are　still　men？　　And　gentlemen；　I
suppose？　　I　am　a　woman；　and　I　do　not　wish　to　talk　with　you。〃

〃Miss　Bell　Declines　to　Be　Interviewed；〃　wrote　the　reporters；　and　spent
themselves　on　her　personal　appearance；　being　favorably　impressed
thereby。

But　Miss　Bell　got　off　at　the　next　corner　and　took　a　short　cut　to　the
house　where　she　had　rented　a　room。　　Reporters　were　waiting　there；　two
being　women。

Diantha　politely　but　firmly　declined　to　see　them　and　started　for　the
stairs；　but　they　merely　stood　in　front　of　her　and　asked　questions。　　The
girl's　blood　surged　to　her　cheeks；　she　smiled　grimly；　kept　absolute
silence；　brushed　through　them　and　went　swiftly　to　her　room；　locking　the
door　after　her。

The　reporters　described　her　appearanceunfavorably　this　time；　and　they
described　the　housealso　unfavorably。　　They　said　that　〃A　group　of
adoring…eyed　young　men　stood　about　the　doorway　as　the　flushed　heroine　of
the　afternoon　made　her　brusque　entrance。〃　　These　adorers　consisted　of
the　landlady's　Johnny；　aged　thirteen；　and　two　satellites　of　his；　still
younger。　　They　_did_　look　at　Diantha　admiringly；　and　she　_was_　a　little
hurried　in　her　entrancetruth　must　be　maintained。

Too　irritated　and　tired　to　go　out　for　dinner；　she　ate　an　orange　or　two；
lay　down　awhile；　and　then　eased　her　mind　by　writing　a　long　letter　to
Ross　and　telling　him　all　about　it。　　That　is；　she　told　him　most　of　it；
all　the　pleasant　things；　all　the　funny　things；　leaving　out　about　the
reporters；　because　she　was　too　angry　to　be　just；　she　told　herself。　　She
wrote　and　wrote；　becoming　peaceful　as　the　quiet　moments　passed；　and　a
sense　grew　upon　her　of　the　strong；　lasting　love　that　was　waiting　so
patiently。

〃Dearest；〃　her　swift　pen　flew　along；　〃I　really　feel　much　encouraged。　　An
impression　has　been　made。　　One　or　two　men　spoke　to　me　afterward；　the
young　minister；　who　said　such　nice　things；　and　one　older　man；　who　looked
prosperous　and　reliable。　　'When　you　begin　any　such　business　as　you　have
outlined；　you　may　count　on　me；　Miss　Bell；'　he　said；　and　gave　me　his
card。　　He's　a　lawyerP。　L。　Wiscomb；　nice　man；　I　should　think。　　Another
big；　sheepish…looking　man　said；　'And　me；　Miss　Bell。'　　His　name　is
Thaddler；　his　wife　is　very　disagreeable。　　Some　of　the　women　are
favorably　impressed；　but　the　old…fashioned　kindmy！　　'If　hate　killed
men；　Brother　Lawrence！'but　it　don't。〃

She　wrote　herself　into　a　good　humor；　and　dwelt　at　considerable　length　on
the　pleasant　episode　of　the　minister　and　young　Mrs。　Weatherstone's
remarks。　　〃I　liked　her；〃　she　wrote。　　〃She's　a　nice　womaneven　if　she　is
rich。〃

There　was　a　knock　at　her　door。　　〃Lady　to　see　you；　Miss。〃

〃I　cannot　see　anyone；〃　said　Diantha；　〃you　must　excuse　me。〃

〃Beg　pardon；　Miss；　but　it's　not　a　reporter；　it's。〃　　The　landlady
stretched　her　lean　neck　around　the　door　edge　and　whispered　hoarsely；
〃It's　young　Mrs。　Weatherstone！〃

Diantha　rose　to　her　feet；　a　little　bewildered。　　〃I'll　be　right　down；〃
she　said。　　But　a　voice　broke　in　from　the　hall；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Miss
Bell；　but　I　took　the　liberty　of　coming　up；　may　I　come　in？〃

She　came　in；　and　the　landlady　perforce　went　out。　　Mrs。　Weatherstone　held
Diantha's　hand　warmly；　and　looked　into　her　eyes。　　〃I　was　a　schoolmate　of
Ellen　Porne；〃　she　told　the　girl。　　〃We　are　dear　friends　still；　and　so　I
feel　that　I　know　you　better　than　you　think。　　You　have　done　beautiful
work　for　Mrs。　Porne；　now　I　want　you　to　do　to　it　for　me。　　I　need　you。〃

〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃　said　Diantha。

〃You；　too；〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　〃Now　I　want　you　to　come　to
meright　away。　　You　have　done　me　so　much　good　already。　　I　was　just　a
New　England　bred　school　teacher　myself　a