what diantha did-µÚ2ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Warden¡¡held¡¡it¡¡a
miracle¡¡of¡¡management¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡¡¨do¡¡with¡¡one¡¡servant£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the
height¡¡of¡¡womanly¡¡devotion¡¡on¡¡her¡¡daughters'¡¡part¡¡that¡¡they¡¡dusted¡¡the
parlor¡¡and¡¡arranged¡¡the¡¡flowers¡£
Roscoe¡¡shut¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡rest£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡problem¡¡beset¡¡him
ruthlessly¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡storetheir¡¡one¡¡and¡¡only¡¡source¡¡of¡¡income¡£¡¡
There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡a¡¡steady£»¡¡large¡¡expense¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡five¡¡women¡¡to
clothe¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡contented£»¡¡beside¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡unappeasable
demand¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mortgageand¡¡there¡¡was¡¡Diantha¡£
When¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Warden¡¡died£»¡¡some¡¡four¡¡years¡¡previously£»¡¡Roscoe¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lad¡¡of
about¡¡twenty£»¡¡just¡¡home¡¡from¡¡college£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡dreams¡¡of¡¡great¡¡service¡¡to
the¡¡world¡¡in¡¡science£»¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡for¡¡his¡¡doctor's¡¡degree¡¡next
year¡£¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡older¡¡man¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡dropped¡¡beneath¡¡the
burden¡¡he¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡with¡¡such¡¡visible¡¡happiness¡¡and¡¡pride£»¡¡such
unknown¡¡anxiety¡¡and¡¡straining¡¡effort£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡one¡¡had¡¡to¡¡step
into¡¡the¡¡harness¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡£
He¡¡was¡¡brave£»¡¡capable£»¡¡wholly¡¡loyal¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡sisters£»¡¡reared¡¡in
the¡¡traditions¡¡of¡¡older¡¡days¡¡as¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡duty¡¡toward¡¡women¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡his
first¡¡grief¡¡for¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ready¡¡pride¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡undertook
to¡¡fill¡¡his¡¡place£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡least¡¡estimated¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡care
he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡carry£»¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡carry¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡year£»¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or
two£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡years£»¡¡he¡¡told¡¡himself£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡make
more¡¡money£»¡¡the¡¡girls£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡would¡¡marry£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡¡¨retire¡¨¡¡in¡¡time
and¡¡take¡¡up¡¡his¡¡scientific¡¡work¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Thenthere¡¡was¡¡Diantha¡£
When¡¡he¡¡found¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡this¡¡young¡¡neighbor¡¡of¡¡theirs£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡loved
him£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡flush¡¡of¡¡happiness¡¡made¡¡all¡¡life¡¡look¡¡easier¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had
been¡¡engaged¡¡six¡¡monthsand¡¡it¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡dawn¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man
that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡six¡¡yearsor¡¡sixteen¡¡yearsbefore¡¡he¡¡could¡¡marry¡£
He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡sell¡¡the¡¡businessand¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡no¡¡better
way¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girls¡¡did¡¡not¡¡marry£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡when
they¡¡did£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡figured¡¡this¡¡out¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dreary¡¡certainty£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡still
not¡¡be¡¡free¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡mortgages¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡up¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡even
without¡¡his¡¡sisters£»¡¡would¡¡require¡¡all¡¡the¡¡money¡¡the¡¡store¡¡would¡¡bring
in¡¡for¡¡some¡¡six¡¡years¡¡ahead¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡young¡¡man¡¡set¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡hard¡¡and
turned¡¡his¡¡head¡¡sharply¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡road¡£
And¡¡there¡¡was¡¡Diantha¡£
She¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sprang¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet£»
headacheless¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡joined¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Warden£»¡¡from¡¡the
lounge¡¡by¡¡her¡¡bedroom¡¡window£»¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡move¡¡off¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡sighed¡£
¡¨Poor¡¡Roscoe£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he
carries¡¡his¡¡difficulties¡¡nobly¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡son¡¡to¡¡be¡¡proud¡¡of¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡she
wept¡¡a¡¡little¡£
Diantha¡¡slipped¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡his¡¡offered¡¡armhe¡¡clasped¡¡it¡¡warmly¡¡with
his£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡along¡¡together¡£
¡¨You¡¡won't¡¡come¡¡in¡¡and¡¡see¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girls£¿¡¨
¡¨No£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»¡¡not¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡get¡¡home¡¡and¡¡get¡¡supper¡£¡¡
Besides£»¡¡I'd¡¡rather¡¡see¡¡just¡¡you¡£¡¨
He¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡a¡¡pity¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡so¡¡many¡¡houses¡¡along¡¡the¡¡road¡¡here£»
but¡¡squeezed¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡anyhow¡£
She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡¡keenly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Headache£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¡it's¡¡nothing£»¡¡it's¡¡gone¡¡already¡£¡¨
¡¨Worry£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡worry¡£¡¡¡¡I've
got¡¡a¡¡good¡¡home£»¡¡a¡¡good¡¡mother£»¡¡good¡¡sisters£»¡¡andyou£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡took
advantage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡high¡¡hedge¡¡and¡¡an¡¡empty¡¡lot¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Diantha¡¡returned¡¡his¡¡kiss¡¡affectionately¡¡enough£»¡¡but¡¡seemed¡¡preoccupied£»
and¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡till¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡about¡£
¡¨About¡¡you£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡brightly¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡are¡¡things¡¡I¡¡want
to¡¡say£»¡¡and¡¡yetI¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡can¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡£
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡twenty¡four£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡began£»¡¡musingly¡£
¡¨Admitted¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡I'm¡¡twenty¡one¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡£¡¨
¡¨That's¡¡no¡¡such¡¡awful¡¡revelation£»¡¡surely£¡¡¨
¡¨And¡¡we've¡¡been¡¡engaged¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡my¡¡birthday£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡pursued¡£
¡¨All¡¡these¡¡are¡¡facts£»¡¡dearest¡£¡¨
¡¨Now£»¡¡Ross£»¡¡will¡¡you¡¡be¡¡perfectly¡¡frank¡¡with¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¡May¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡anan
impertinent¡¡question£¿¡¨
¡¨You¡¡may¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡any¡¡question¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¡it¡¡couldn't¡¡be¡¡impertinent¡£¡¨
¡¨You'll¡¡be¡¡scandalised£»¡¡I¡¡knowbutwell£»¡¡here¡¡goes¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡would¡¡you
think¡¡if¡¡Madelineor¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girlsshould¡¡go¡¡away¡¡to¡¡work£¿¡¨
He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡lovingly£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡smile¡¡on¡¡his¡¡firm¡¡mouth¡£
¡¨I¡¡shouldn't¡¡allow¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¨Oallow¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡you¡¡what¡¡you'd¡¡think¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡disgrace¡¡to¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡direct¡¡reproach
to¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡be¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡it's¡¡no¡¡use¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the
girls¡¡have¡¡any¡¡such¡¡foolish¡¡notion¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡permit¡¡it¡¡if¡¡they
had¡£¡¨
Diantha¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡never¡¡would¡¡permit¡¡your¡¡wife¡¡to¡¡work£¿¡¨
¡¨My¡¡widow¡¡might¡¡have¡¡tonot¡¡my¡¡wife¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡held¡¡his¡¡fine¡¡head¡¡a¡¡trifle
higher£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡ached¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£
¡¨Wouldn't¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me¡¡workto¡¡help¡¡you£»¡¡Ross£¿¡¨
¡¨My¡¡dearest¡¡girl£»¡¡you've¡¡got¡¡something¡¡far¡¡harder¡¡than¡¡that¡¡to¡¡do¡¡for
me£»¡¡and¡¡that's¡¡wait¡£¡¨
His¡¡face¡¡darkened¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡his¡¡forehead¡£¡¡
¡¨Sometimes¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡you¡¡at¡¡all£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡burst¡¡out£»
bitterly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡free¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡a¡¡better¡¡man¡£¡¨
¡¨There¡¡aren't¡¡any£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Diantha£»¡¡shaking¡¡her¡¡head¡¡slowly¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to
side¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡there¡¡weremillionsI¡¡wouldn't¡¡marry¡¡any¡¡of¡¡'em¡£¡¡¡¡I
love¡¡_you£»¡¨_¡¡she¡¡firmly¡¡concluded¡£
¡¨Then¡¡we'll¡¡just¡¡_wait£»¡¨_¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡setting¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡on¡¡the¡¡word£»¡¡as¡¡if
he¡¡would¡¡crush¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡hard¡¡with¡¡you¡¡to¡¡help¡£¡¡¡¡You're¡¡better
worth¡¡it¡¡than¡¡Rachael¡¡and¡¡Leah¡¡together¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡They¡¡walked¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps
silently¡£
¡¨But¡¡how¡¡about¡¡science£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡him¡£
¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡let¡¡myself¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡that¡¡up¡¡later¡£¡¡¡¡We're¡¡young
enough£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡our¡¡happiness¡£¡¨
¡¨And¡¡have¡¡you¡¡any¡¡ideawe¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡face¡¡the¡¡worsthow¡¡many¡¡years
do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be£»¡¡dearest£¿¡¨
He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡annoyed¡¡at¡¡her¡¡persistence¡£¡¡¡¡Also£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not
admit¡¡the¡¡thought£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡quite¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡ask¡£¡¡¡¡A
woman¡¡should¡¡not¡¡seek¡¡too¡¡definite¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡waiting¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡ought¡¡to
trustto¡¡just¡¡wait¡¡on¡¡general¡¡principles¡£
¡¨I¡¡can¡¡face¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡better¡¡if¡¡I¡¡know¡¡just¡¡what¡¡I'm¡¡facing£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the
girl£»¡¡quietly£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I'd¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to£»¡¡all¡¡my¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡it
be¡¡twenty¡¡years£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think£¿¡¨
He¡¡looked¡¡relieved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡no£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡darling¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡oughtn't¡¡to¡¡be¡¡at
the¡¡outside¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡£¡¡¡¡Or¡¡six£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡honest¡¡though¡¡reluctant¡£
¡¨You¡¡see£»¡¡father¡¡had¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡anything£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡outstanding
accounts£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡funeral¡¡expenses£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mortgages¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡business
is¡¡good£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡can¡¡carry¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡build¡¡it¡¡up¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡broad
shoulders¡¡determinedly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡within¡¡five£»
perhaps¡¡even¡¡less¡£¡¡Good¡¡things¡¡happen¡¡sometimessuch¡¡as¡¡you£»¡¡my¡¡heart's
delight¡£¡¨
They¡¡were¡¡at¡¡her¡¡gate¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡to¡¡say
good¡night¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡step¡¡inside¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡seat£»¡¡walled¡¡in¡¡by¡¡evergreen£»
roofed¡¡over¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡acacia¡¡boughs¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡a¡¡long¡¡good¡night¡¡had¡¡they
exchanged¡¡there£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡large£»¡¡brilliant¡¡California¡¡moon¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡sat
there£»¡¡silent£»¡¡now¡£
Diantha's¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡love¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡confidence¡¡in
him£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡other¡¡feelings£»¡¡too£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡fathom¡£¡¡
His¡¡trouble¡¡was¡¡clearer¡¡to¡¡her¡¡than¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡heavy¡¡to¡¡bear¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡her
mind£»¡¡trained¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡minutiae¡¡of¡¡domestic¡¡economy£»¡¡the¡¡Warden¡¡family
lived¡¡in¡¡careless¡¡wastefulness¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡five¡¡womenfor¡¡Dora¡¡was¡¡older
than¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡when¡¡she¡¡began¡¡to¡¡do¡¡houseworkshould¡¡require
servants£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡this¡¡New¡¡England¡born¡¡girl¡¡mere¡¡laziness¡¡and¡¡pride¡£¡¡
That¡¡two¡¡voting¡¡women¡¡over¡¡twenty¡¡should¡¡prefer¡¡being¡¡supported¡¡by¡¡their
brother¡¡to¡¡supporting¡¡themselves£»¡¡she¡¡condemned¡¡even¡¡more¡¡sharply¡£¡¡
Moreover£»¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡well¡¡assured¡¡that¡¡with¡¡a¡¡different¡¡family¡¡to
¡¨support£»¡¨¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Warden¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡broken¡¡down¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡and
irrecoverably¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡that¡¡funeralher¡¡face¡¡hardened¡¡as¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡of
the¡¡conspicuous¡¡¡¨lot£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡continual¡¡flowers£»¡¡the¡¡monument¡¡£¨not¡¡wholly
paid¡¡for¡¡yet£»¡¡that¡¡monument£»¡¡though¡¡this¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know£©all¡¡that
expenditure¡¡to¡¡do¡¡honor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡they¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡to¡¡death¡¡£¨thus
brutally¡¡Diantha¡¡put¡¡it£©¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡put¡¡off¡¡their¡¡happiness
for¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡year¡£
She¡¡rose¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡still¡¡held¡¡in¡¡his¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡sorry£»¡¡but¡¡I've¡¡got
to¡¡get¡¡supper£»¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡you¡¡must¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡Good¡night¡¡for¡¡the
present£»¡¡you'll¡¡be¡¡round¡¡by¡¡and¡¡by£¿¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while£»¡¡after¡¡we¡¡close¡¡up£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡himself
off£»¡¡not¡¡too¡¡suddenly£»¡¡walking¡¡straight¡¡and¡¡proud¡¡while¡¡her¡¡eves¡¡were¡¡on
him£»¡¡throwing¡¡her¡¡a¡¡kiss¡¡from¡¡the¡¡corner£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡step¡¡lagging¡¡and¡¡his
headache¡¡settling¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡again¡¡as¡¡he¡¡neared¡¡the¡¡large¡¡house¡¡with
the¡¡cupola¡£
Diantha¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight£»¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡up¡¡the¡¡path¡¡to¡¡her
own¡¡door£»¡¡her¡¡lips¡¡set¡¡tight£»¡¡her¡¡well¡shaped¡¡head¡¡as¡¡straightly¡¡held¡¡as
his¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡a¡¡shame£»¡¡a¡¡cruel£»¡¡burning¡¡shame£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡told¡¡herself
rebelliously¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡man¡¡of¡¡his¡¡ability¡£¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡¡anything£»¡¡in¡¡his
own¡¡work£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡it¡¡so£¡
¡¨To¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡grocery¡¡store
¡¨¡¨And¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡show¡¡for¡¡all¡¡that¡¡splendid¡¡effort£¡
¡¨They¡¡don't¡¡do¡¡a¡¡thing£¿¡¡¡¡They¡¡just¡¡_live_and¡¡'keep¡¡house£¡'¡¡¡¡All¡¡those
women£¡
¡¨Six¡¡years£¿¡¡¡¡Likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sixty£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡wait£¡¡¨
WHAT¡¡DIANTHA¡¡DID
CHAPTER¡¡II¡£
AN¡¡UNNATURAL¡¡DAUGHTER
The¡¡brooding¡¡bird¡¡fulfills¡¡her¡¡task£»
¡¡Or¡¡she¡bear¡¡lean¡¡and¡¡brown£»
All¡¡parent¡¡beasts¡¡see¡¡duty¡¡true£»
All¡¡parent¡¡beasts¡¡their¡¡duty¡¡do£»
We¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only¡¡kind¡¡that¡¡asks
¡¡For¡¡duty¡¡upside¡¡down¡£
The¡¡stiff¡rayed¡¡windmill¡¡stood¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡mechanical¡¡flower£»¡¡turning
slowly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡afternoon¡¡wind£»¡¡its¡¡faint¡¡regular¡¡metallic¡¡squeak
pricked¡¡the¡¡dry¡¡silence¡¡wearingly¡£¡¡¡¡Rampant¡¡fuchsias£»¡¡red¡jewelled£»
heavy£»¡¡ran¡¡up¡¡its¡¡framework£»¡¡with¡¡crowding¡¡heliotrope¡¡and¡¡nasturtiums¡£¡¡
Thick¡¡straggling¡¡roses¡¡hung¡¡over¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡windows£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡dusty
eucalyptus¡¡trees¡¡rustled¡¡their¡¡stiff¡¡leaves£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡an¡¡ineffectual
shade¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house¡£
It¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡small¡¡frame¡¡houses¡¡common¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northeastern
states£»¡¡which¡¡must¡¡be¡¡dear¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡their¡¡dwellers¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡no
other¡¡reason£»¡¡surely£»¡¡would¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡grey¡¡steep¡roofed¡¡little¡¡boxes¡¡be
repeated¡¡so¡¡faithfully¡¡in¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡glow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡semi¡tropical¡¡landscape¡£¡¡
There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡a¡¡¡¨lawn£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡pet¡¡ambition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡transplanted
easterner£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡further¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡¡¨flower¡beds£»¡¨¡¡which¡¡merely¡¡served
as¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡springboard¡¡to¡¡their¡¡far¡reaching¡¡products¡£
The¡¡parlor£»¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡closed¡¡blinds£»¡¡was¡¡as¡¡New¡¡England¡¡parlors¡¡are£»
minus¡¡the¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡cosiness¡¡given¡¡by¡¡even¡¡a¡¡fireless¡¡stove£»¡¡the¡¡little
bedrooms¡¡baked¡¡under¡¡the¡¡roof£»¡¡only¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡human¡¡living£»
and¡¡the¡¡living¡¡it¡¡portrayed¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡to¡¡say¡¡the¡¡least£»¡¡joyous¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
clean£»¡¡clean¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cleanness¡¡that¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡conscientious¡¡labor¡¡and
unremitting¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡zinc¡¡mat¡¡under¡¡the¡¡big¡¡cook¡stove¡¡was¡¡scoured¡¡to
a¡¡dull¡¡glimmer£»¡¡while¡¡that¡¡swart¡¡altar¡¡itself¡¡shone¡¡darkly¡¡from¡¡its
daily¡¡rubbing¡£
There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡dust¡¡nor¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡dust£»¡¡no¡¡grease¡¡spots£»¡¡no¡¡litter
anywhere¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡place¡¡bore¡¡no¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡contented¡¡pride£»¡¡as¡¡does
a¡¡Dutch£»¡¡German¡¡or¡¡French¡¡kitchen£»¡¡it¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡Labor£»¡¡Economy¡¡and
Dutyunder¡¡restriction¡£
In¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡quiet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡Diantha¡¡and¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡sa