what diantha did-第19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！


came　seldom。

Her　own　family　was　much　impressed　by　the　thousand　dollars；　and　found　the
occupation　of　housekeeper　a　long　way　more　tolerable　than　that　of
house…maid；　a　distinction　which　made　Diantha　smile　rather　bitterly。　
Even　her　father　wrote　to　her　once；　suggesting　that　if　she　chose　to
invest　her　salary　according　to　his　advice　he　could　double　it　for　her　in
a　year；　maybe　treble　it；　in　Belgian　hares。

_〃They'd_　double　and　treble　fast　enough！〃　she　admitted　to　herself；　but
she　wrote　as　pleasant　a　letter　as　she　could；　declining　his　proposition。

Her　mother　seemed　stronger；　and　became　more　sympathetic　as　the　months
passed。　　Large　affairs　always　appealed　to　her　more　than　small　ones；　and
she　offered　valuable　suggestions　as　to　the　account　keeping　of　the　big
house。　　They　all　assumed　that　she　was　permanently　settled　in　this　well
paid　position；　and　she　made　no　confidences。　　But　all　summer　long　she
planned　and　read　and　studied　out　her　progressive　schemes；　and
strengthened　her　hold　among　the　working　women。

Laundress　after　laundress　she　studied　personally　and　tested
professionally；　finding　a　general　level　of　mediocrity；　till　finally　she
hit　upon　a　melancholy　Danea　big　rawboned　red…faced　womanwhose
husband　had　been　a　miller；　but　was　hurt　about　the　head　so　that　he　was　no
longer　able　to　earn　his　living。　　The　huge　fellow　was　docile；　quiet；　and
endlessly　strong；　but　needed　constant　supervision。

〃He'll　do　anything　you　tell　him；　Miss；　and　do　it　well；　but　then　he'll
sit　and　dream　about　itI　can't　leave　him　at　all。　　But　he'll　take　the
clothes　if　I　give　him　a　paper　with　directions；　and　come　right　back。〃　
Poor　Mrs。　Thorald　wiped　her　eyes；　and　went　on　with　her　swift　ironing。

Diantha　offered　her　the　position　of　laundress　at　Union　House；　with　two
rooms　for　their　own；　over　the　laundry。　　〃There'll　be　work　for　him；　too；〃
she　said。　　〃We　need　a　man　there。　　He　can　do　a　deal　of　the　heavier
workbe　porter　you　know。　　I　can't　offer　him　very　much；　but　it　will　help
some。〃

Mrs。　Thorald　accepted　for　both；　and　considered　Diantha　as　a　special
providence。

There　was　to　be　cook；　and　two　capable　second　maids。　　The　work　of　the
house　must　be　done　thoroughly　well；　Diantha　determined；　〃and　the　food's
got　to　be　goodor　the　girls　wont　stay。〃　　After　much　consideration　she
selected　one　Julianna；　a　〃person　of　color；〃　for　her　kitchen：　not　the
jovial　and　sloppy　personage　usually　figuring　in　this　character；　but　a
tall；　angular；　and　somewhat　cynical　woman；　a　misanthrope　in　fact；　with　a
small　son。　　For　men　she　had　no　respect　whatever；　but　conceded　a　grudging
admiration　to　Mr。　Thorald　as　〃the　usefullest　biddablest　male　person〃　she
had　ever　seen。　　She　also　extended　special　sympathy　to　Mrs。　Thorald　on
account　of　her　peculiar　burden；　and　the　Swedish　woman　had　no　antipathy
to　her　color；　and　seemed　to　take　a　melancholy　pleasure　in　Julianna's
caustic　speeches。

Diantha　offered　her　the　place；　boy　and　all。　　〃He　can　be　'bell　boy'　and
help　you　in　the　kitchen；　too。　　Can't　you；　Hector？〃　　Hector　rolled　large
adoring　eyes　at　her；　but　said　nothing。　　His　mother　accepted　the
proposition；　but　without　enthusiasm。　　〃I　can't　keep　no　eye　on　him；　Miss；
if　I'm　cookin'　an　less'n　you　keep　your　eye　on　him　they's　no　work　to　be
got　out'n　any　kind　o'　boy。〃

〃What　is　your　last　name；　Julianna？〃　Diantha　asked　her。

〃I　suppose；　as　a　matter　o'　fac'　its　de　name　of　de　last　nigger　I
married；〃　she　replied。　　〃Dere　was　several　of　'em；　all　havin'　different
names；　and　to　tell　you　de　truf　Mis'　Bell；　I　got　clean　mixed　amongst　'em。
　But　Julianna's　my　nameworld　without　end　amen。〃

So　Diantha　had　to　waive　her　theories　about　the　surnames　of　servants　in
this　case。

〃Did　they　all　die？〃　she　asked　with　polite　sympathy。

〃No'm；　dey　didn't　none　of　'em　dieworse　luck。〃

〃I'm　afraid　you　have　seen　much　trouble；　Julianna；〃　she　continued
sympathetically；　〃They　deserted　you；　I　suppose？〃

Julianna　laid　her　long　spoon　upon　the　table　and　stood　up　with　great
gravity。　　〃No'm；〃　she　said　again；　〃dey　didn't　none　of　'em　desert　me　on
no　occasion。　　I　divorced　'em。〃

Marital　difficulties　in　bulk　were　beyond　Diantha's　comprehension；　and
she　dropped　the　subject。

Union　House　opened　in　the　autumn。　　The　vanished　pepper　trees　were　dim
with　dust　in　Orchardina　streets　as　the　long　rainless　summer　drew　to　a
close；　but　the　social　atmosphere　fairly　sparkled　with　new　interest。　
Those　who　had　not　been　away　chattered　eagerly　with　those　who　had；　and
both　with　the　incoming　tide　of　winter　visitors。

〃That　girl　of　Mrs。　Porne's　has　started　her　housekeeping　shop！〃

〃That　'Miss　Bell'　has　got　Mrs。　Weatherstone　fairly　infatuated　with　her
crazy　schemes。〃

〃Do　you　know　that　Bell　girl　has　actually　taken　Union　House？　　Going　to
make　a　Girl's　Club　of　it！〃

〃Did　you　ever　_hear_　of　such　a　thing！　　Diantha　Bell's　really　going　to
try　to　run　her　absurd　undertaking　right　here　in　Orchardina！〃

They　did　not　know　that　the　young　captain　of　industry　had　deliberately
chosen　Orchardina　as　her　starting　point　on　account　of　the　special
conditions。　　The　even　climate　was　favorable　to　〃going　out　by　the　day；〃
or　the　delivery　of　meals；　the　number　of　wealthy　residents　gave
opportunity　for　catering　on　a　large　scale；　the　crowding　tourists　and
health　seekers　made　a　market　for　all　manner　of　transient　service　and
cooked　food；　and　the　constant　lack　of　sufficient　or　capable　servants
forced　the　people　into　an　unwilling　consideration　of　any　plan　of
domestic　assistance。

In　a　year's　deliberate　effort　Diantha　had　acquainted　herself　with　the
rank　and　file　of　the　town's　housemaids　and　day　workers；　and　picked　her
assistants　carefully。　　She　had　studied　the　local　conditions　thoroughly；
and　knew　her　ground。　　A　big　faded　building　that　used　to　be　〃the　Hotel'
in　Orchardina's　infant　days；　standing；　awkward　and　dingy　on　a　site　too
valuable　for　a　house　lot　and　not　yet　saleable　as　a　business　block；　was
the　working　base。

A　half　year　with　Mrs。　Weatherstone　gave　her　500　in　cash；　besides　the
100　she　had　saved　at　Mrs。　Porne's；　and　Mrs。　Weatherstone's　cheerfully
offered　backing　gave　her　credit。

〃I　hate　to　let　you；〃　said　Diantha；　〃I　want　to　do　it　all　myself。〃

〃You　are　a　painfully　perfect　person；　Miss　Bell；〃　said　her　last　employer；
pleasantly；　〃but　you　have　ceased　to　be　my　housekeeper　and　I　hope　you
will　continue　to　be　my　friend。　　As　a　friend　I　claim　the　privilege　of
being　disagreeable。　　If　you　have　a　fault　it　is　conceit。　　Immovable
Colossal　Conceit！　　And　Obstinacy！〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　asked　Diantha。

〃It's　all　I've　foundso　far；〃　gaily　retorted　Mrs。　Weatherstone。　　〃Don't
you　see；　child；　that　you　can't　afford　to　wait？　　You　have　reasons　for
hastening；　you　know。　　I　don't　doubt　you　could；　in　a　series　of　years；
work　up　this　business　all　stark　alone。　　I　have　every　confidence　in　those
qualities　I　have　mentioned！　　But　what's　the　use？　　You'll　need　credit　for
groceries　and　furniture。　　I　am　profoundly　interested　in　this　business。　
I　am　more　than　willing　to　advance　a　little　capital；　or　to　ensure　your
credit。　　A　man　would　have　sense　enough　to　take　me　up　at　once。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　Diantha　reluctantly　agreed。　　〃And　you　shan't
lose　by　it！〃

Her　friends　were　acutely　interested　in　her　progress；　and　showed　it　in
practical　ways。　　The　New　Woman's　Club　furnished　five　families　of　patrons
for　the　regular　service　of　cooked　food；　which　soon　grew；　with
satisfaction；　to　a　dozen　or　so；　varying　from　time　to　time。　　The　many
families　with　invalids；　and　lonely　invalids　without　families；　were　glad
to　avail　themselves　of　the　special　delicacies　furnished　at　Union　House。　
Picnickers　found　it　easier　to　buy　Diantha's　marvelous　sandwiches　than　to
spend　golden　morning　hours　in　putting　up　inferior　ones　at　home；　and　many
who　cooked　for　themselves；　or　kept　servants；　were　glad　to　profit　by　this
outside　source　on　Sunday　evenings　and　〃days　out。〃

There　was　opposition　too；　both　the　natural　resistance　of　inertia　and
prejudice；　and　the　active　malignity　of　Mrs。　Thaddler。

The　Pornes　were　sympathetic　and　anxious。

〃That　place'll　cost　her　all　of　10；000　a　year；　with　those　twenty…five　to
feed；　and　they　only　pay　4。50　a　weekI　know　that！〃　said　Mr。　Porne。

〃It　does　look　impossible；〃　his　wife　agreed；　〃but　such　is　my　faith　in
Diantha　Bell　I'd　back　her　against　Rockefeller！〃

Mrs。　Weatherstone　was　not　alarmed　at　all。　　〃If　she　_should_　failwhich
I　don't　for　a　moment　expectit　wont　ruin　me；〃　she　told　Isabel。　　〃And　if
she　succeeds；　as　I　firmly　believe　she　will；　why；　I'd　be　willing　to　risk
almost　anything　to　prove　Mrs。　Thaddler　in　the　wrong。〃

Mrs。　Thaddler　was　making　herself　rather　disagreeable。　　She　used　what
power　she　had　to　cry　down　the　undertaking；　and　was　so　actively
malevolent　that　her　husband　was　moved　to　covert　opposition。　　He　never
argued　with　his　wifeshe　was　easily　ahead　of　him　in　that　art；　and；　if
it　came　to　recriminations；　had　certain　controvertible　charges　to　make
against　him；　which　mode　him　angrily　silent。　　He　was　convinced　in　a　dim
way　that　her　ruthless　domineering　spirit；　and　the　sheer　malice　she　often
showed；　were　more　evil　things　than　his　own　bad　habits；　and　that　even　in
their　domestic　relation　her　behavior　really　caused　him　more　pain　and
discomfort　than　he　caused　her；　but　he　could　not　convince　her　of　it；
naturally。

〃That　Diantha　Bell　is　a　fine　girl；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃A　damn　fine
girl；　and　as　straight　as　a　string！〃

There　had　crept　out；　through　the　quenchless　leak　of　servants　talk；　a
varicolored　version　of　the　incident　of　Mathew　and　the　transom；　and　the
town　had　grown　so　warm　for　that　young　gentleman　that　he　had　gone　to
Alaska　suddenly；　to　cool　off；　as　it　were。　　His　Grandmother；　finding　Mrs。
Thaddler　invincible　with　this　new　weapon；　and　what　she　had　so　long
regarded　as　her　home　now　visibly　Mrs。　Weatherstone's；　had　retired　in
regal　dignity　to　her　old　Philadelphia　establishment；　where　she　upheld
the　standard　of　decorum　against　the　weakening　habits　of　a　deteriorated
world；　for　many　years。

As　Mr。　Thaddler　thought　of　this　sweeping　victory；　he　chuckled　for　the
hundredth　time。　　〃She　ought　to　make　good；　and　she　will。　　Something's　got
to　be　done　about　it；〃　said　he。

Diantha　had　never　liked　Mr。　Thaddler；　she　did　not　like　that　kind　of　man
in　general；　nor　his　manner　toward　her　in　particular。　　Moreover　he　was
the　husband　of　Mrs。　Thaddler。　　She　did　not　know　that　he　was　still　the
largest　owner　in　the　town's　best　grocery　store；　and　when　that　store
offered　her　special　terms　for　her　exclusive　trade；　she　accepted　the
proposition　thankfully。

She　told　Ross　about　it；　as　a　matter　well　within　his　knowledge；　if　not
his　liking；　and　he　was　mildly　interested。　　〃I　am　much　alarmed　at　this
new　venture；〃　he　wrote；　〃but　you　must　get　your　experience。　　I　wish　I
could　save　you。　　As　to　the　groceries；　those　are　wholesale　rates；　nearly；
they'll　make　enough　on　it。　　Yours　is　a　large　order　you　see；　and　steady。〃

When　she　opened　her　〃Business　Men's　Lunch〃　Mr。　Thaddler　had　a　still
better　opportunity。　　He　had　a　reputation　as　a　high　flyer；　and　had　really
intended　to　sacrifice　himself　on　the　altar　of　friendship　by　patronizing
and　praising　this　〃undertaking〃　at　any　cost　to　his　palate；　but　no
sacrifice　was　needed。

Diantha's　group　of　day　workers　had　their　early　breakfast　and　departed；
taking　each　her　neat　lunch…pail；