what diantha did-第22章

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heard　him；and　she　brought　him　in　and　very　politely　introduced　him　to
her　mother！it　was　rich；　Isabel。〃

〃How　did　Diantha　manage　it？〃　asked　her　friend。

〃She's　been　trying　to　arrange　it　for　ever　so　long。　　Of　course　her　father
objectedyou'd　know　that。　　But　there's　a　sisternot　a　bad　sort；　only
very　limited；　she's　taken　the　old　man　to　board；　as　it　were；　and　I　guess
the　mother　really　set　her　foot　down　for　oncesaid　she　had　a　right　to
visit　her　own　daughter！〃

〃It　would　seem　so；〃　Mrs。　Porne　agreed。　　〃I　_am_　so　glad！　　It　will　be　so
much　easier　for　that　brave　little　woman　now。〃

It　was。

Diantha　held　her　mother　in　her　arms　the　night　she　came；　and　cried　tike　a
baby。

〃O　mother　_dear！_〃　she　sobbed；　〃I'd　no　idea　I　should　miss　you　so　much。　
O　you　blessed　comfort！〃

Her　mother　cried　a　bit　too；　she　enjoyed　this　daughter　more　than　either
of　her　older　children；　and　missed　her　more。　　A　mother　loves　all　her
children；　naturally；　but　a　mother　is　also　a　personand　may；　without
sin；　have　personal　preferences。

She　took　hold　of　Diantha's　tangled　mass　of　papers　with　the　eagerness　of
a　questing　hound。

〃You've　got　all　the　bills；　of　course；〃　she　demanded；　with　her　anxious
rising　inflection。

〃Every　one；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃You　taught　me　that　much。　　What　puzzles　me
is　to　make　things　balance。　　I'm　making　more　than　I　thought　in　some
lines；　and　less　in　others；　and　I　can't　make　it　come　out　straight。〃

〃It　won't；　altogether；　till　the　end　of　the　year　I　dare　say；〃　said　Mrs。
Bell；　〃but　let's　get　clear　as　far　as　we　can。　　In　the　first　place　we　must
separate　your　business；see　how　much　each　one　pays。〃

〃The　first　one　I　want　to　establish；〃　said　her　daughter；　〃is　the　girl's
club。　　Not　just　this　one；　with　me　to　run　it。　　But　to　show　that　any　group
of　twenty　or　thirty　girls　could　do　this　thing　in　any　city。　　Of　course
where　rents　and　provisions　were　high　they'd　have　to　charge　more。　　I　want
to　make　an　average　showing　somehow。　　Now　can　you　disentangle　the　girl
part　front　the　lunch　part　and　the　food　part；　mother　dear；　and　make　it
all　straight？〃

Mrs。　　Bell　could　and　did；　it　gave　her　absolute　delight　to　do　it。　　She
set　down　the　total　of　Diantha's　expenses　so　far　in　the　Service
Department；　as　follows：

Rent　of　Union　House　。　。　。　1；500
Rent　of　furniture　。　。　。　300
One　payment　on　furniture　。　。　。　400
Fuel　and　lights；　etc。　。　。　。　352
Service　of　5　at　10　a　week　each　。　。　。　2；600
Food　for　thirty…seven　。　。　。　3；848
　…
Total　。　。　。　9；000

〃That　covers　everything　but　my　board；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell。

〃Now　your　income　is　easy35　x　4。50　equals　8；190。　　Take　that　from　your
9；000　and　you　are　810　behind。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Diantha；　eagerly；　〃but　if　it　was　merely　a　girl's
club　home；　the　rent　and　fixtures　would　be　much　less。　　A　home　could　be
built；　with　thirty　bedroomsand　all　necessary　conveniencesfor　7；000。
　I've　asked　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Porne　about　it；　and　the　furnishing　needn't　cost
over　2；000　if　it　was　very　plain。　　Ten　per　cent。　of　that　is　a　rent　of
900　you　see。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃Better　say　a　thousand。　　I　guess　it　could　be
done　for　that。〃

So　they　set　down　rent；　1；000。

〃There　have　to　be　five　paid　helpers　in　the　house；〃　Diantha　went　on；　〃the
cook；　the　laundress；　the　two　maids；　and　the　matron。　　She　must　buy　and
manage。　　She　could　be　one　of　their　mothers　or　aunts。〃

Mrs。　Bell　smiled。　　〃Do　you　really　imagine；　Diantha；　that　Mrs。
O'Shaughnessy　or　Mrs。　Yon　Yonson　can　manage　a　house　like　this　as　you
can？〃

Diantha　flushed　a　little。　　〃No；　mother；　of　course　not。　　But　I　am　keeping
very　full　reports　of　all　the　work。　　Just　the　schedule　of　laborthe
hoursthe　exact　things　done。　　One　laundress；　with　machinery；　can　wash
for　thirty…five；　（its　only　six　a　day　you　see）；　and　the　amount　is
regulated；　about　six　dozen　a　day；　and　all　the　flat　work　mangled。

〃In　a　Girl's　Club　alone　the　cook　has　all　day　off；　as　it　were；　she　can　do
the　down　stairs　cleaning。　　And　the　two　maids　have　only　table　service　and
bedrooms。〃

〃Thirty…five　bedrooms？〃

〃Yes。　　But　two　girls　together；　who　know　how；　can　do　a　room　in　8
minuteseasily。　　They　are　small　and　simple　you　see。　　Make　the　bed；
shake　the　mats；　wipe　the　floors　and　windows；you　watch　them！〃

〃I　have　watched　them；〃　the　mother　admitted。　　〃They　are　as　quick　asas
mill…workers！〃

〃Well；〃　pursued　Diantha；　〃they　spend　three　hours　on　dishes　and　tables；
and　seven　on　cleaning。　　The　bedrooms　take　280　minutes；　that's　nearly
five　hours。　　The　other　two　are　for　the　bath　rooms；　halls；　stairs；
downstairs　windows；　and　so　on。　　That's　all　right。　　Then　I'm　keeping　the
menusjust　what　I　furnish　and　what　it　costs。　　Anybody　could　order　and
manage　when　it　was　all　set　down　for　her。　　And　you　seeas　you　have
figured　itthey'd　have　over　500　leeway　to　buy　the　furniture　if　they
were　allowed　to。〃

〃Yes；〃　Mrs。　Bell　admitted；　〃_if_　the　rent　was　what　you　allow；　and　_if_
they　all　work　all　the　time！〃

〃That's　the　hitch；　of　course。　　But　mother；　the　girls　who　don't　have
steady　jobs　do　work　by　the　hour；　and　that　brings　in　more；　on　the　whole。　
If　they　are　the　right　kind　they　can　make　good。　　If　they　find　anyone　who
don't　keep　her　jobfor　good　reasonsthey　can　drop　her。〃

〃M'm！〃　said　Mrs。　Bell。　　〃Well；　it's　an　interesting　experiment。　　But　how
about　you？　　So　far　you　are　410　behind。〃

〃Yes；　because　my　rent's　so　big。　　But　I　cover　that　by　letting　the　rooms；
you　see。〃

Mrs。　Bell　considered　the　orders　of　this　sort。　　〃So　far　it　averages　about
25。00　a　week；　that's　doing　well。〃

〃It　will　be　less　in　summermuch　less；〃　Diantha　suggested。　　〃Suppose　you
call　it　an　average　of　15。00。〃

〃Call　it　10。00；〃　said　her　mother　ruthlessly。　　〃At　that　it　covers　your
deficit　and　110　over。〃

〃Which　isn't　much　to　live　on；〃　Diantha　agreed；　〃but　then　comes　my
special　catering；　and　the　lunches。〃

Here　they　were　quite　at　sea　for　a　while。　　But　as　the　months　passed；　and
the　work　steadily　grew　on　their　hands；　Mrs。　Bell　became　more　and　more
cheerful。　　She　was　up　with　the　earliest；　took　entire　charge　of　the
financial　part　of　the　concern；　and　at　last　Diantha　was　able　to　rest
fully　in　her　afternoon　hours。　　What　delighted　her　most　was　to　see　her
mother　thrive　in　the　work。　　Her　thin　shoulders　lifted　a　little　as　small
dragging　tasks　were　forgotten　and　a　large　growing　business　substituted。　
Her　eyes　grew　bright　again；　she　held　her　head　as　she　did　in　her　keen
girlhood；　and　her　daughter　felt　fresh　hope　and　power　as　she　saw　already
the　benefit　of　the　new　method　as　affecting　her　nearest　and　dearest。

All　Diantha's　friends　watched　the　spread　of　the　work　with　keenly
sympathetic　intent；　but　to　Mrs。　Weatherstone　it　became　almost　as
fascinating　as　to　the　girl　herself。

〃It's　going　to　be　one　of　the　finest　businesses　in　the　world！〃　she　said；
〃And　one　of　the　largest　and　best　paying。　　Now　I'll　have　a　surprise　ready
for　that　girl　in　the　spring；　and　another　next　year；　if　I'm　not
mistaken！〃

There　were　long　and　vivid　discussions　of　the　matter　between　her　and　her
friends　the　Pornes；　and　Mrs。　Porne　spent　more　hours　in　her　〃drawing
room〃　than　she　had　for　years。

But　while　these　unmentioned　surprises　were　pending；　Mrs。　Weatherstone
departed　to　New　Yorkto　Europe；　and　was　gone　some　months。　　In　the
spring　she　returned；　in　Aprilwhich　is　late　June　in　Orchardina。　　She
called　upon　Diantha　and　her　mother　at　once；　and　opened　her　attack。

〃I　do　hope；　Mrs。　Bell；　that　you'll　back　me　up；〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　the
better　business　head　I　think；　in　the　financial　line。〃

〃She　has；〃　Diantha　admitted。　　〃She's　ten　times　as　good　as　I　am　at　that；
but　she's　no　more　willing　to　carry　obligation　than　I　am；　Mrs。
Weatherstone。〃

〃Obligation　is　one　thinginvestment　is　another；〃　said　her　guest。　　〃I
live　on　my　moneythat　is；　on　other　people's　work。　　I　am　a　base
capitalist；　and　you　seem　to　me　good　material　to　invest　in。　　Sotake　it
or　leave　itI've　brought　you　an　offer。〃

She　then　produced　from　her　hand　bag　some　papers；　and；　from　her　car
outside；　a　large　object　carefully　boxed；　about　the　size　and　shape　of　a
plate　warmer。　　This　being　placed　on　the　table　before　them；　was
uncovered；　and　proved　to　be　a　food　container　of　a　new　model。

〃I　had　one　made　in　Paris；〃　she　explained；　〃and　the　rest　copied　here　to
save　paying　duty。　　Lift　it！〃

They　lifted　it　in　amazementit　was　so　light。

〃Aluminum；〃　she　said；　proudly；　〃Silver　platednew　process！　　And　bamboo
at　the　corners　you　see。　　All　lined　and　interlined　with　asbestos；　rubber
fittings　for　silver　ware；　plate　racks；　food　compartmentssee？〃

She　pulled　out　drawers；　opened　little　doors；　and　rapidly　laid　out　a
table　service　for　five。

〃It　will　hold　food　for　fivethe　average　family；　you　know。　　For　larger
orders　you'll　have　to　send　more。　　I　had　to　make　_some_　estimate。〃

〃What　lovely　dishes！〃　said　Diantha。

〃Aren't　they！　　Aluminum；　silvered！　　If　your　washers　are　careful　they
won't　get　dented；　and　you　can't　break　'em。〃

Mrs。　Bell　examined　the　case　and　all　its　fittings　with　eager　attention。

〃It's　the　prettiest　thing　I　ever　saw；〃　she　said。　　〃Look；　Diantha；　here's
for　soup；　here's　for　wateror　wine　if　you　want；　all　your　knives　and
forks　at　the　side；　Japanese　napkins　up　here。　　Its　lovely；　butI　should
thinkexpensive！〃

Mrs。　Weatherstone　smiled。　　〃I've　had　twenty…five　of　them　made。　　They
cost；　with　the　fittings；　100　apiece；　2；500。　　I　will　rent　them　to　you；
Miss　Bell；　at　a　rate　of　10　per　cent。　interest；　only　250　a　year！〃

〃It　ought　to　take　more；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell；　〃there'll　be　breakage　and
waste。〃

〃You　can't　break　them；　I　tell　you；〃　said　the　cheerful　visitor；　〃and
dents　can　be　smoothed　out　in　any　tin　shopyou'll　have　to　pay　for
it；will　that　satisfy　you？〃

Diantha　was　looking　at　her；　her　eyes　deep　with　gratitude。　　〃Iyou　know
what　I　think　of　you！〃　she　said。

Mrs。　Weatherstone　laughed。　　〃I'm　not　through　yet；〃　she　said。　　〃Look　at
my　next　piece　of　impudence！〃　　This　was　only　on　paper；　but　the　pictures
were　amply　illuminating。

〃I　went　to　several　factories；〃　she　gleefully　explained；　〃here　and
abroad。　　A　Yankee　firm　built　it。　　It's　in　my　garage　now！〃

It　was　a　light　gasolene　motor　wagon；　the　body　built　like　those
old…fashioned　moving　wagons　which　were　also　used　for　excursions；　wherein
the　floor　of　the　vehicle　was　rather　narrow；　and　set　low；　and　the　seats
ran　lengthwise；　widening　out　over　the　wheels；　only　here　the　wheels　were
lower；　and　in　the　space　under　the　seats　ran　a　row　of　lockers　opening
outside。　　Mrs。　Weatherstone　smiled　triumphantly。

〃Now；　Diantha　Bell；〃　she　said；　〃here's　something　you　haven't　thought　of；
I　do　believe！　　This　estimable　vehicle　will　carry　thirty　people　inside
easily；〃　and　she　showed　them　how　each　side　held　twelve；　and　turn…up
seats　accommodated　six　more；　〃and　outside；〃she　showed　the　lengthwise
picture〃it　carries　twenty…four　containers。　　If　you　want　to　send　all
your　twenty…five　at　once；　one　can　go　here　by　the　driver。

〃Now　then。　　This　is　not　an　obligation；　Miss　Bell；　it　is　another　valuable
investment。　　I'm　having　more　made。　　I　expect　to　have　use　for　them　in　a
good　many　places。　　This　cost　pretty　near　3；000；　and　you　get　it　at　the
same　good　interest；　for　300　a　year。　　What's　more；　if　you　are　smart
enoughand　I　don't　doubt　you　are；you　can　buy　the　whole　thing　on
installments；　same　as　you　mean　to　with　your　furniture。〃

Diantha　was　dumb；　but　her　mother　wasn