what diantha did-第21章

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planning　for　a　restaurant　a　little　later。　　Her　bread　was　baked　in　long
cylindrical　closed　pans；　and　cut　by　machinery　into　thin　even　slices；　not
a　crust　wasted；　for　they　were　ground　into　crumbs　and　used　in　the
cooking。

The　filling　for　her　sandwiches　was　made　from　fish；　flesh；　and　fowl；　from
cheese　and　jelly　and　fruit　and　vegetables；　and　so　named　or　numbered　that
the　general　favorites　were　gradually　determined。

Mr。　Thaddler　chatted　with　her　over　the　counter；　as　far　as　she　would
allow　it；　and　discoursed　more　fully　with　his　friends　on　the　verandah。

〃Porne；〃　he　said；　〃where'd　that　girl　come　from　anyway？　　She's　a　genius；
that's　what　she　is；　a　regular　genius。〃

〃She's　all　that；〃　said　Mr。　Porne；　〃and　a　benefactor　to　humanity　thrown
in。　　I　wish　she'd　start　her　food　delivery；　though。　　I'm　tired　of　those
two　Swedes　already。　　Ocome　from？　　Up　in　Jopalez；　Inca　County；　I
believe。〃

〃New　England　stock　I　bet；〃　said　Mr。　Thaddler。　　〃Its　a　damn　shame　the　way
the　women　go　on　about　her。〃

〃Not　all　of　them；　surely；〃　protested　Mr。　Porne。

〃No；　not　all　of　'em；but　enough　of　'em　to　make　mischief；　you　may　be
sure。　　Women　are　the　devil；　sometimes。〃

Mr。　Porne　smiled　without　answer；　and　Mr。　Thaddler　went　sulking　awaya
bag　of　cakes　bulging　in　his　pocket。

The　little　wooden　hotel　in　Jopalez　boasted　an　extra　visitor　a　few　days
later。　　A　big　red　faced　man；　who　strolled　about　among　the　tradesmen；
tried　the　barber's　shop；　loafed　in　the　post　office；　hired　a　rig　and
traversed　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　town；　and　who　called　on　Mrs。
Warden；　talking　real　estate　with　her　most　politely　in　spite　of　her
protestation　and　the　scornful　looks　of　the　four　daughters；　who　bought
tobacco　and　matches　in　the　grocery　store；　and　sat　on　the　piazza　thereof
to　smoke；　as　did　other　gentlemen　of　leisure。

Ross　Warden　occasionally　leaned　at　the　door　jamb；　with　folded　arms。　　He
never　could　learn　to　be　easily　sociable　with　ranchmen　and　teamsters。　
Serve　them　he　must；　but　chat　with　them　he　need　not。　　The　stout　gentleman
essayed　some　conversation；　but　did　not　get　far。　　Ross　was　polite；　but
far　from　encouraging；　and　presently　went　home　to　supper；　leaving　a
carrot…haired　boy　to　wait　upon　his　lingering　customers。

〃Nice　young　feller　enough；〃　said　the　stout　gentleman　to　himself；　〃but
raised　on　ramrods。　　Never　got　'em　from　those　women　folks　of　his；　either。
　He　_has_　a　row　to　hoe！〃　　And　he　departed　as　he　had　come。

Mr。　Eltwood　turned　out　an　unexpectedly　useful　friend　to　Diantha。　　He
steered　club　meetings　and　〃sociables〃　into　her　large　rooms；　and　as
people　found　how　cheap　and　easy　it　was　to　give　parties　that　way；　they
continued　the　habit。　　He　brought　his　doctor　friends　to　sample　the　lunch；
and　they　tested　the　value　of　Diantha's　invalid　cookery；　and　were　more
than　pleased。

Hungry　tourists　were　wholly　without　prejudice；　and　prized　her　lunches
for　their　own　sake。　　They　descended　upon　the　caffeteria　in　chattering
swarms；　some　days；　robbing　the　regular　patrons　of　their　food；　and　sent
sudden　orders　for　picnic　lunches　that　broke　in　upon　the　routine　hours　of
the　place　unmercifully。

But　of　all　her　patrons；　the　families　of　invalids　appreciated　Diantha's
work　the　most。　　Where　a　little　shack　or　tent　was　all　they　could　afford
to　live　in；　or　where　the　tiny　cottage　was　more　than　filled　with　the
patient；　attending　relative；　and　nurse；　this　depot　of　supplies　was　a
relief　indeed。

A　girl　could　be　had　for　an　hour　or　two；　or　two　girls；　together；　with
amazing　speed；　could　put　a　small　house　in　dainty　order　while　the　sick
man　lay　in　his　hammock　under　the　pepper　trees；　and　be　gone　before　he　was
fretting　for　his　bed　again。　　They　lived　upon　her　lunches；　and　from　them；
and　other　quarters；　rose　an　increasing　demand　for　regular　cooked　food。

〃Why　don't　you　go　into　it　at　once？〃　urged　Mrs。　Weatherstone。

〃I　want　to　establish　the　day　service　first；〃　said　Diantha。　　〃It　is　a
pretty　big　business　I　find；　and　I　do　get　tired　sometimes。　　I　can't
afford　to　slip　up；　you　know。　　I　mean　to　take　it　up　next　fall；　though。〃

〃All　right。　　And　look　here；　see　that　you　begin　in　first　rate　shape。　
I've　got　some　ideas　of　my　own　about　those　food　containers。〃

They　discussed　the　matter　more　than　once；　Diantha　most　reluctant　to　take
any　assistance；　Mrs。　Weatherstone　determined　that　she　should。

〃I　feel　like　a　big　investor　already；〃　she　said。　　〃I　don't　think　even　you
realize　the　_money_　there　is　in　this　thing！　　You　are　interested　in
establishing　the　working　girls；　and　saving　money　and　time　for　the
housewives。　　I　am　interested　in　making　money　out　of　ithonestly！　　It
would　be　such　a　triumph！〃

〃You're　very　good〃　Diantha　hesitated。

〃I'm　not　good。　　I'm　most　eagerly　and　selfishly　interested。　　I've　taken　a
new　lease　of　life　since　knowing　you；　Diantha　Bell！　　You　see　my　father
was　a　business　man；　and　his　father　before　himI　_like　it。_　　There　I
was；　with　lots　of　money；　and　not　an　interest　in　life！　　Now？why；
there's　no　end　to　this　thing；　Diantha！　　It's　one　of　the　biggest
businesses　on　earthif　not　_the_　biggest！〃

〃YesI　know；〃　the　girl　answered。　　〃But　its　slow　work。　　I　feel　the
weight　of　it　more　than　I　expected。　　There's　every　reason　to　succeed；　but
there's　the　combined　sentiment　of　the　whole　world　to　liftit's　as　heavy
as　lead。〃

〃Heavy！　　Of　course　it's　heavy！　　The　more　fun　to　lift　it！　　You'll　do　it；
Diantha；　I　know　you　will；　with　that　steady；　relentless　push　of　yours。　
But　the　cooked　food　is　going　to　be　your　biggest　power；　and　you　must　let
me　start　it　right。　　Now　you　listen　to　me；　and　make　Mrs。　Thaddler　eat　her
words！〃

Mrs。　Thaddler's　words　would　have　proved　rather　poisonous；　if　eaten。　　She
grew　more　antagonistic　as　the　year　advanced。　　Every　fault　that　could　be
found　in　the　undertaking　she　pounced　upon　and　enlarged；　every　doubt　that
could　be　cast　upon　it　she　heavily　piled　up；　and　her　opposition　grew　more
rancorous　as　Mr。　Thaddler　enlarged　in　her　hearing　upon　the　excellence　of
Diantha's　lunches　and　the　wonders　of　her　management。

〃She's　picked　a　bunch　o'　winners　in　those　girls　of　hers；〃　he　declared　to
his　friends。　　〃They　set　out　in　the　morning　looking　like　a　flock　of　sweet
peasin　their　pinks　and　whites　and　greens　and　vi'lets；and　do　more
work　in　an　hour　than　the　average　slavey　can　do　in　three；　I'm　told。〃

It　was　a　pretty　sight　to　see　those　girls　start　out。　　They　had　a　sort　of
uniform；　as　far　as　a　neat　gingham　dress　went；　with　elbow　sleeves；　white
ruffled；　and　a　Dutch　collar；　a　sort　of　cross　between　a　nurses　dress　and
that　of　〃La　Chocolataire；〃　but　colors　were　left　to　taste。　　Each　carried
her　apron　and　a　cap　that　covered　the　hair　while　cooking　and　sweeping；
but　nothing　that　suggested　the　black　and　white　livery　of　the　regulation
servant。

〃This　is　a　new　stage　of　labor；〃　their　leader　reminded　them。　　〃You　are
not　servantsyou　are　employees。　　You　wear　a　cap　as　an　English　carpenter
doesor　a　French　cook；and　an　apron　because　your　work　needs　it。　　It　is
not　a　ruffled　label；it's　a　business　necessity。　　And　each　one　of　us
must　do　our　best　to　make　this　new　kind　of　work　valued　and　respected。〃

It　is　no　easy　matter　to　overcome　prejudices　many　centuries　old；　and　meet
the　criticism　of　women　who　have　nothing　to　do　but　criticize。　　Those　who
were　〃mistresses；〃　and　wanted　〃servants；〃someone　to　do　their　will　at
any　moment　from　early　morning　till　late　evening；were　not　pleased　with
the　new　way　if　they　tried　it；　but　the　women　who　had　interests　of　their
own　to　attend　to；　who　merely　wanted　their　homes　kept　clean；　and　the　food
well　cooked　and　served；　were　pleased。　　The　speed；　the　accuracy；　the
economy；　the　pleasant；　quiet；　assured　manner　of　these　skilled　employees
was　a　very　different　thing　from　the　old　slipshod　methods　of　the　ordinary
general　servant。

So　the　work　slowly　prospered；　while　Diantha　began　to　put　in　execution
the　new　plan　she　had　been　forced　into。

While　it　matured；　Mrs。　Thaddler　matured　hers。　　With　steady　dropping　she
had　let　fall　far　and　wide　her　suspicions　as　to　the　character　of　Union
House。

〃It　looks　pretty　queer　to　me！〃　she　would　say；　confidentially；　〃All　those
girls　together；　and　no　person　to　have　any　authority　over　them！　　Not　a
married　woman　in　the　house　but　that　washerwoman；and　her　husband's　a
fool！〃

〃And　again；　You　don't　see　how　she　does　it？　　Neither　do　I！　　The　expenses
must　be　tremendousthose　girls　pay　next　to　nothing；and　all　that　broth
and　brown　bread　flying　about　town！　　Pretty　queer　doings；　I　think！〃

〃The　men　seem　to　like　that　caffeteria；　don't　they？〃　urged　one　caller；
perhaps　not　unwilling　to　nestle　Mrs。　Thaddler；　who　flushed　darkly　as　she
replied。　　〃Yes；　they　do。　　Men　usually　like　that　sort　of　place。〃

〃They　like　good　food　at　low　prices；　if　that's　what　you　mean；〃　her
visitor　answered。

〃That's　not　all　I　meanby　a　long　way；〃　said　Mrs。　Thaddler。　　She　said　so
much；　and　said　it　so　ingeniously；　that　a　dark　rumor　arose　from　nowhere；
and　grew　rapidly。　　Several　families　discharged　their　Union　House　girls。　
Several　girls　complained　that　they　were　insultingly　spoken　to　on　the
street。　　Even　the　lunch　patronage　began　to　fall　off。

Diantha　was　puzzleda　little　alarmed。　　Her　slow；　steady　lifting　of　the
prejudice　against　her　was　checked。　　She　could　not　put　her　finger　on　the
enemy；　yet　felt　one　distinctly；　and　had　her　own　suspicions。　　But　she
also　had　her　new　move　well　arranged　by　this　time。

Then　a　maliciously　insinuating　story　of　the　place　came　out　in　a　San
Francisco　paper；　and　a　flock　of　local　reporters　buzzed　in　to　sample　the
victim。　　They　helped　themselves　to　the　luncheon；　and　liked　it。　　but　that
did　not　soften　their　pens。　　They　talked　with　such　of　the　girls　as　they
could　get　in　touch　with；　and　wrote　such　versions　of　these　talks　as
suited　them。

They　called　repeatedly　at　Union　House；　but　Diantha　refused　to　see　them。　
Finally　she　was　visited　by　the　Episcopalian　clergyman。　　He　had　heard　her
talk　at　the　Club；　was　favorably　impressed　by　the　girl　herself；　and
honestly　distressed　by　the　dark　stories　he　now　heard　about　Union　House。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　　he　said；　〃I　have　called　to　see　you　in　your　own
interests。　　I　do　not；　as　you　perhaps　know；　approve　of　your　schemes。　　I
consider　themahsubversive　of　the　best　interests　of　the　home！　　But　I
think　you　mean　well；　though　mistakenly。　　Now　I　fear　you　are　not　aware
that　this…ahill…considered　undertaking　of　yours；　is　giving　rise　to
considerable　adverse　comment　in　the　community。　　There　isahthere　is　a
great　deal　being　said　about　this　business　of　yours　which　I　am　sure　you
would　regret　if　you　knew　it。　　Do　you　think　it　is　wise；　do　you　think　it
isahright；　my　dear　Miss　Bell；　to　attempt　to　carry　on　aa　place　of
this　sort；　without　the　presence　of　aof　a　Matron　of　assured　standing？〃

Diantha　smiled　rather　coldly。

〃May　I　trouble　you　to　step　into　the　back　parlor；　Dr。　Aberthwaite；〃　she
said；　and　then；

〃May　I　have　the　pleasure　of　presenting　to　you　Mrs。　Henderson　Bellmy
mother？〃

*

〃Wasn't　it　great！〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone；　〃I　was　there　you　see；　I'd
come　to　call　on　Mrs。　Bellshe's　a　dear；and　in　came　Mrs。　Thaddler〃

〃Mrs。　Thaddler？〃

〃O　I　know　it　was　old　Aberthwaite；　but　he　represented　Mrs。　Thaddler　and
her　clique；　and　had　come　there　to　preach　to　Diantha　about　proprietyI
heard　him；and　she　brought　him　in　and　very　politely　introduced　him　to
her　mother！it　w