what diantha did-第16章

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meright　away。　　You　have　done　me　so　much　good　already。　　I　was　just　a
New　England　bred　school　teacher　myself　at　first；　so　we're　even　that　far。
　Then　you　took　a　step　upand　I　took　a　step　down。〃

Diantha　was　a　little　slow　in　understanding　the　quick　fervor　of　this　new
friend；　a　trifle　suspicious；　even；　being　a　cautious　soul；　and　somewhat
overstrung；　perhaps。　　Her　visitor；　bright…eyed　and　eager；　went　on。　　〃I
gave　up　school　teaching　and　married　a　fortune。　　You　have　given　it　up　to
do　a　more　needed　work。　　I　think　you　are　wonderful。　　Now；　I　know　this
seems　queer　to　you；　but　I　want　to　tell　you　about　it。　　I　feel　sure　you'll
understand。　　At　home；　Madam　Weatherstone　has　had　everything　in　charge
for　years　and　years；　and　I've　been　too　lazy　or　too　weak；　or　too
indifferent；　to　do　anything。　　I　didn't　care；　somehow。　　All　the　machinery
of　living；　and　no　_living_no　good　of　it　all！　　Yet　there　didn't　seem　to
be　anything　else　to　do。　　Now　you　have　waked　me　all　upyour　paper　this
afternoonwhat　Mr。　Eltwood　saidthe　way　those　poor；　dull；　blind　women
took　it。　　And　yet　I　was　just　as　dull　and　blind　myself！　　Well；　I　begin　to
see　things　now。　　I　can't　tell　you　all　at　once　what　a　difference　it　has
made；　but　I　have　a　very　definite　proposition　to　make　to　you。　　Will　you
come　and　be　my　housekeeper；　nowright　awayat　a　hundred　dollars　a
month？〃

Diantha　opened　her　eyes　wide　and　looked　at　the　eager　lady　as　if　she
suspected　her　nervous　balance。

〃The　other　one　got　a　thousand　a　yearyou　are　worth　more。　　Now；　don't
decline；　please。　　Let　me　tell　you　about　it。　　I　can　see　that　you　have
plans　ahead；　for　this　business；　but　it　can't　hurt　you　much　to　put　them
off　six　months；　say。　　Meantime；　you　could　be　practicing。　　Our　place　at
Santa　Ulrica　is　almost　as　big　as　this　one；　there　are　lots　of　servants
and　a　great；　weary　maze　of　accounts　to　be　kept；　and　it　wouldn't　be　bad
practice　for　younow；　would　it？〃

Diantha's　troubled　eyes　lit　up。　　〃Noyou　are　right　there；〃　she　said。　
〃If　I　could　do　it！〃

〃You'll　have　to　do　just　that　sort　of　thing　when　you　are　running　your
business；　won't　you？〃　her　visitor　went　on。　　〃And　the　summer's　not　a　good
time　to　start　a　thing　like　that；　is　it？〃

Diantha　meditated。　　〃No；　I　wasn't　going　to。　　I　was　going　to　start
somewheretake　a　cottage；　a　dozen　girls　or　soand　furnish　labor　by　the
day　to　the　other　cottages。〃

〃Well；　you　might　be　able　to　run　that　on　the　side；〃　said　Mrs。
Weatherstone。　　〃And　you　could　train　my　girls；　get　in　new　ones　if　you
like；　it　doesn't　seem　to　me　it　would　conflict。　　But　to　speak　to　you
quite　frankly；　Miss　Bell；　I　want　you　in　the　house　for　my　own　sake。　　You
do　me　good。〃

They　discussed　the　matter　for　some　time；　Diantha　objecting　mainly　to　the
suddenness　of　it　all。　　〃I'm　a　slow　thinker；〃　she　said；　〃and　this　is
soso　attractive　that　I'm　suspicious　of　it。　　I　had　the　other　thing　all
plannedthe　girls　practically　engaged。〃

〃Where　were　you　thinking　of　going？〃　asked　Mrs。　Weatherstone。

〃To　Santa　Ulrica。〃

〃Exactly！　　Well；　you　shall　have　your　cottage　and　our　girls　and　give　them
part　time。　　Orhow　many　have　you　arranged　with？〃

〃Only　six　have　made　definite　engagements　yet。〃

〃What　kind？〃

〃Two　laundresses；　a　cook　and　three　second　maids；　all　good　ones。〃

〃Excellent！　　Now；　I　tell　you　what　to　do。　　I　will　engage　all　those　girls。
　I'm　making　a　change　at　the　house；　for　various　reasons。　　You　bring　them
to　me　as　soon　as　you　like；　but　you　I　want　at　once。　　I　wish　you'd　come
home　with　me　to…night！　　Why　don't　you？〃

Diantha's　scanty　baggage　was　all　in　sight。　　She　looked　around　for　an
excuse。　　Mrs。　Weatherstone　stood　up　laughing。

〃Put　the　new　address　in　the　letter；〃　she　said；　mischievously；　〃and　come
along！〃

*

And　the　purple　chauffeur；　his　disapproving　back　ineffectual　in　the
darkness；　rolled　them　home。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　IX。

〃SLEEPING　IN。〃


Men　have　marched　in　armies；　fleets　have　borne　them；
　Left　their　homes　new　countries　to　subdue；
Young　men　seeking　fortune　wide　have　wandered
　We　have　something　new。

Armies　of　young　maidens　cross　our　oceans；
　Leave　their　mother's　love；　their　father's　care；
Maidens；　young　and　helpless；　widely　wander；
　Burdens　new　to　bear。

Strange　the　land　and　language；　laws　and　customs；
　Ignorant　and　all　alone　they　come；
Maidens　young　and　helpless；　serving　strangers；
　Thus　we　keep　the　Home。

When　on　earth　was　safety　for　young　maidens
　Far　from　mother's　love　and　father's　care？
We　preserve　The　Home；　and　call　it　sacred
　Burdens　new　they　bear。


The　sun　had　gone　down　on　Madam　Weatherstone's　wrath；　and　risen　to　find
it　unabated。　　With　condensed　disapprobation　written　on　every　well…cut
feature；　she　came　to　the　coldly　gleaming　breakfast　table。

That　Mrs。　Halsey　was　undoubtedly　gone；　she　had　to　admit；　yet　so　far
failed　to　find　the　exact　words　of　reproof　for　a　woman　of　independent
means　discharging　her　own　housekeeper　when　it　pleased　her。

Young　Mathew　unexpectedly　appeared　at　breakfast；　perhaps　in　anticipation
of　a　sort　of　Roman　holiday　in　which　his　usually　late　and　apologetic
stepmother　would　furnish　the　amusement。　　They　were　both　surprised　to
find　her　there　before　them；　looking　uncommonly　fresh　in　crisp；　sheer
white；　with　deep…toned　violets　in　her　belt。

She　ate　with　every　appearance　of　enjoyment；　chatting　amiably　about　the
lovely　morningthe　flowers；　the　garden　and　the　gardeners；　her　efforts
ill　seconded；　however。

〃Shall　I　attend　to　the　orders　this　morning？〃　asked　Madam　Weatherstone
with　an　air　of　noble　patience。

〃O　no；　thank　you！〃　replied　Viva。　　〃I　have　engaged　a　new　housekeeper。〃

〃A　new　housekeeper！　　When？〃　　The　old　lady　was　shaken　by　this
inconceivable　promptness。

〃Last　night；〃　said　her　daughter…in…law；　looking　calmly　across　the　table；
her　color　rising　a　little。

〃And　when　is　she　coming；　if　I　may　ask？〃

〃She　has　come。　　I　have　been　with　her　an　hour　already　this　morning。〃

Young　Mathew　smiled。　　This　was　amusing；　though　not　what　he　had　expected。
　〃How　extremely　alert　and　businesslike！〃　he　said　lazily。　　〃It's　becoming
to　youto　get　up　early！〃

〃You　can't　have　got　much　of　a　personat　a　minute's　notice；〃　said　his
grandmother。　　〃Or　perhaps　you　have　been　planning　this　for　some　time？〃

〃No；〃　said　Viva。　　〃I　have　wanted　to　get　rid　of　Mrs。　Halsey　for　some
time；　but　the　new　one　I　found　yesterday。〃

〃What's　her　name？〃　inquired　Mathew。

〃BellMiss　Diantha　Bell；〃　she　answered；　looking　as　calm　as　if
announcing　the　day　of　the　week；　but　inwardly　dreading　the　result
somewhat。　　Like　most　of　such　terrors　it　was　overestimated。

There　was　a　little　pauserather　an　intense　little　pause；　and
then〃Isn't　that　the　girl　who　set　'em　all　by　the　ears　yesterday？〃　asked
the　young　man；　pointing　to　the　morning　paper。　　〃They　say　she's　a
good…looker。〃

Madam　Weatherstone　rose　from　the　table　in　some　agitation。　　〃I　must　say　I
am　very　sorry；　Viva；　that　you　should　have　been　soprecipitate！　　This
young　woman　cannot　be　competent　to　manage　a　house　like　thisto　say
nothing　of　her　scandalous　ideas。　　Mrs。　Halsey　wasto　my　mindperfectly
satisfactory。　　I　shall　miss　her　very　much。〃　　She　swept　out　with　an
unanswerable　air。

〃So　shall　I；〃　muttered　Mat；　under　his　breath；　as　he　strolled　after　her；
〃unless　the　new　one's　equally　amiable。〃

Viva　Weatherstone　watched　them　go；　and　stood　awhile　looking　after　the
well…built；　well…dressed；　well…mannered　but　far　from　well…behaved　young
man。

〃I　don't　_know_；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃but　I　do　feelthinkimaginea
good　deal。　　I'm　sure　I　hope　not！　　Anywayit's　new　life　to　have　that
girl　in　the　house。〃

That　girl　had　undertaken　what　she　described　to　Ross　as　〃a　large　ordera
very　large　order。〃

〃It's　the　hardest　thing　I　ever　undertook；〃　she　wrote　him；　〃but　I　think　I
can　do　it；　and　it　will　be　a　tremendous　help。　　Mrs。　Weatherstone's　a
bricka　perfect　brick！　　She　seems　to　have　been　very　unhappyfor　ever
so　longand　to　have　submitted　to　her　domineering　old　mother…in…law　just
because　she　didn't　care　enough　to　resist。　　Now　she's　got　waked　up　all　of
a　suddenshe　says　it　was　my　paper　at　the　clubmore　likely　my　awful
example；　I　think！　and　she　fired　her　old　housekeeperI　don't　know　what
forand　rushed　me　in。

〃So　here　I　am。　　The　salary　is　good；　the　work　is　excellent　training；　and
I　guess　I　can　hold　the　place。　　But　the　old　lady　is　a　terror；　and　the
young　manhow　you　would　despise　that　Johnny！〃

The　home　letters　she　now　received　were　rather　amusing。　　Ross；　sternly
patient；　saw　little　difference　in　her　position。　　〃I　hope　you　will　enjoy
your　new　work；〃　he　wrote；　〃but　personally　I　should　prefer　that　you　did
notso　you　might　give　it　up　and　come　home　sooner。　　I　miss　you　as　you
can　well　imagine。　　Even　when　you　were　here　life　was　hard　enoughbut
now！

〃I　had　a　half　offer　for　the　store　the　other　day；　but　it　fell　through。　
If　I　could　sell　that　incubus　and　put　the　money　into　a　ranchfruit；
hens；　anythingthen　we　could　all　live　on　it；　more　cheaply；　I　think；　and
I　could　find　time　for　some　research　work　I　have　in　mind。　　You　remember
that　guinea…pig　experiment　I　want　so　to　try？〃

Diantha　remembered　and　smiled　sadly。　　She　was　not　much　interested　in
guinea…pigs　and　their　potential　capacities；　but　she　was　interested　in
her　lover　and　his　happiness。　　〃Ranch；〃　she　said　thoughtfully；　〃that's
not　a　bad　idea。〃

Her　mother　wrote　the　same　patient　loving　letters；　perfunctorily　hopeful。
　Her　father　wrote　none〃A　woman's　businessthis　letter…writin'；〃　he
always　held；　and　George；　after　one　scornful　upbraiding；　had　〃washed　his
hands　of　her〃　with　some　sense　of　relief。　　He　didn't　like　to　write
letters　either。

But　Susie　kept　up　a　lively　correspondence。　　She　was　attached　to　her
sister；　as　to　all　her　immediate　relatives　and　surroundings；　and　while
she　utterly　disapproved　of　Diantha's　undertaking；　a　sense　of　sisterly
duty；　to　say　nothing　of　affection；　prompted　her　to　many　letters。　　It　did
not；　however；　always　make　these　agreeable　reading。

〃Mother's　pretty　well；　and　the　girl　she's　got　now　does　nicelythat
first　one　turned　out　to　be　a　failure。　　Father's　as　cranky　as　ever。　　We
are　all　well　here　and　the　baby　（this　was　a　brand　new　baby　Diantha　had
not　seen）　is　just　a　Darling！　　You　ought　to　be　here；　you　unnatural　Aunt！　
Gerald　doesn't　ever　speak　of　youbut　I　do　just　the　same。　　You　hear　from
the　Wardens；　of　course。　　Mrs。　Warden's　got　neuralgia　or　something；　keeps
them　all　busy。　　They　are　much　excited　over　this　new　place　of　yoursyou
ought　to　hear　them　go　on！　　It　appears　that　Madam　Weatherstone　is　a
connection　of　theirsone　of　the　F。　F。　V's；　I　guess；　and　they　think
she's　something　wonderful。　　And　to　have　_you_　working　_there！_well；
you　can　just　see　how　they'd　feel；　and　I　don't　blame　them。　　It's　no　use
arguing　with　youbut　I　should　think　you'd　have　enough　of　this
disgraceful　foolishness　by　this　time　and　come　home！〃

Diantha　tried　to　be　very　philosophic　over　her　home　letters；　but　they
were　far　from　stimulating。　　〃It's　no　use　arguing　with　poor　Susie！〃　she
decided。　　〃Susie　thinks　the　sun　rises　and　sets　between　kitchen；　nursery
and　parlor！

〃Mother　can't　see　the　good　of　it　yet；　but　she　will　laterMother's　all
right。

〃I'm　awfully　sorry　the　Wardens　feel　soand　make　Ross　unhappybut　of
course　I　knew　they　would。　　It　can't　be　helped。　　It's　just　a　question　of
time　and　work。〃

And　she　went　to　work。

*

Mrs。　Porne　c