what diantha did-第24章

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on　the　scientific　mind　of　Mr。　Henderson　Bell；　still　of　Jopalez。

〃I　don't　see　how　he　can　bear　to　let　her　out　of　his　sight；〃　said　Mr。
Thaddler。

〃Of　course　he　hated　to　let　her　go；〃　replied　the　lady。　　〃We　both　did。　
But　he　is　very　proud　of　her　now。〃

〃I　guess　there's　somebody　else　who's　proud　of　her；　too；〃　he　suggested。　
〃Excuse　me；　ma'am；　I　don't　mean　to　intrude；　but　we　know　there　must　be　a
good　reason　for　your　daughter　keeping　all　Orchardina　at　a　distance。　
Why；　she　could　have　married　six　times　over　in　her　first　year　here！〃

〃She　does　not　wish　to　give　up　her　work；〃　Mrs。　Bell　explained。

〃Of　course　not；　and　why　should　she？　　Nice；　womanly　business；　I　am　sure。　
I　hope　nobody'd　expect　a　girl　who　can　keep　house　for　a　whole　township　to
settle　down　to　bossing　one　man　and　a　hired　girl。〃

In　course　of　time　he　got　a　pretty　clear　notion　of　how　matters　stood；　and
meditated　upon　it；　seriously　rolling　his　big　cigar　about　between　pursed
lips。　　Mr。　Thaddler　was　a　good　deal　of　a　gossip；　but　this　he　kept　to
himself；　and　did　what　he　could　to　enlarge　the　patronage　of　Union　House。

The　business　grew。　　It　held　its　own　in　spite　of　fluctuations；　and　after
a　certain　point　began　to　spread　steadily。　　Mrs。　Bell's　coming　and　Mr。
Eltwood's　ardent　championship；　together　with　Mr。　Thaddler's；　quieted　the
dangerous　slanders　which　had　imperilled　the　place　at　one　time。　　They
lingered；　subterraneously；　of　course。　　People　never　forget　slanders。　　A
score　of　years　after　there　were　to　be　found　in　Orchardina　folk　who　still
whispered　about　dark　allegations　concerning　Union　House；　and　the　papers
had　done　some　pretty　serious　damage；　but　the　fame　of　good　food；　good
service；　cheapness　and　efficiency　made　steady　headway。

In　view　of　the　increase　and　of　the　plans　still　working　in　her　mind；
Diantha　made　certain　propositions　to　Mr。　Porne；　and　also　to　Mrs。　Porne；
in　regard　to　a　new；　specially　built　club…house　for　the　girls。

〃I　have　proved　what　they　can　do；　with　me　to　manage　them；　and　want　now　to
prove　that　they　can　do　it　themselves；　with　any　matron　competent　to
follow　my　directions。　　The　house　need　not　be　so　expensive；　one　big
dining…room；　with　turn…up　tables　like　those　ironing…board　seat…tables；
you　knowthen　they　can　dance　there。　　Small　reception　room　and　office；
hall；　kitchen　and　laundry；　and　thirty　bedrooms；　forty　by　thirty；　with　an
〃ell〃　for　the　laundry；　ought　to　do　it；　oughtn't　it？〃

Mrs。　Porne　agreed　to　make　plans；　and　did　so　most　successfully；　and　Mr。
Porne　found　small　difficulty　in　persuading　an　investor　to　put　up　such　a
house；　which　visibly　could　be　used　as　a　boarding…house　or　small　hotel；
if　it　failed　in　its　first　purpose。

It　was　built　of　concrete；　a　plain　simple　structure；　but　fine　in
proportions　and　pleasantly　colored。

Diantha　kept　her　plans　to　herself；　as　usual；　but　they　grew　so　fast　that
she　felt　a　species　of　terror　sometimes；　lest　the　ice　break　somewhere。

〃Steady；　now！〃　she　would　say。　　〃This　is　real　business；　just　plain
business。　　There's　no　reason　why　I　shouldn't　succeed　as　well　as　Fred
Harvey。　　I　will　succeed。　　I　am　succeeding。〃

She　kept　well；　she　worked　hard；　she　was　more　than　glad　to　have　her
mother　with　her；　but　she　wanted　something　else；　which　seemed　farther　off
than　ever。　　Her　lover's　picture　hung　on　the　wall　of　her　bedroom；　stood
on　her　bureau；　and　（but　this　was　a　secret）　a　small　one　was　carried　in
her　bosom。

Rather　a　grim　looking　young　woman；　Diantha；　with　the　cares　of　the　world
of　house…keepers　upon　her　proud　young　shoulders；　with　all　the　stirring
hopes　to　be　kept　within　bounds；　all　the　skulking　fears　to　be　resisted；
and　the　growing　burden　of　a　large　affair　to　be　carried　steadily。

But　when　she　woke；　in　the　brilliant　California　mornings；　she　would　lie
still　a　few　moments　looking　at　the　face　on　the　wall　and　the　face　on　the
bureau；　would　draw　the　little　picture　out　from　under　her　pillow　and　kiss
it；　would　say　to　herself　for　the　thousandth　time；　〃It　is　for　him；　too。〃

She　missed　him；　always。

The　very　vigor　of　her　general　attitude；　the　continued　strength　with
which　she　met　the　days　and　carried　them；　made　it　all　the　more　needful
for　her　to　have　some　one　with　whom　she　could　forget　every　care；　every
purpose；　every　effort；　some　one　who　would　put　strong　arms　around　her　and
call　her　〃Little　Girl。〃　　His　letters　were　both　a　comfort　and　a　pain。　　He
was　loyal；　kind；　loving；　but　always　that　wall　of　disapproval。　　He　loved
her；　he　did　not　love　her　work。

She　read　them　over　and　over；　hunting　anew　for　the　tender　phrases；　the
things　which　seemed　most　to　feed　and　comfort　her。　　She　suffered　not　only
from　her　loneliness；　but　from　his；　and　most　keenly　from　his　sternly
suppressed　longing　for　freedom　and　the　work　that　belonged　to　him。

〃Why　can't　he　see；〃　she　would　say　to　herself；　〃that　if　this　succeeds；　he
can　do　his　work；　that　I　can　make　it　possible　for　him？　　And　he　won't　let
me。　　He　won't　take　it　from　me。　　Why　are　men　so　proud？　　Is　there　anything
so　ignominious　about　a　woman　that　it　is　disgraceful　to　let　one　help　you？
　And　why　can't　he　think　at　all　about　the　others？　　It's　not　just　us；　it's
all　people。　　If　this　works；　men　will　have　easier　times；　as　well　as
women。　　Everybody　can　do　their　real　work　better　with　this　old　primitive
business　once　set　right。〃

And　then　it　was　always　time　to　get　up；　or　time　to　go　to　bed；　or　time　to
attend　to　some　of　the　numberless　details　of　her　affairs。

She　and　her　mother　had　an　early　lunch　before　the　caffeteria　opened；　and
were　glad　of　the　afternoon　tea；　often　held　in　a　retired　corner　of　the
broad　piazza。　　She　sat　there　one　hot；　dusty　afternoon；　alone　and
unusually　tired。　　The　asphalted　street　was　glaring　and　noisy；　the　cross
street　deep　in　soft　dust；　for　months　unwet。

Failure　had　not　discouraged　her；　but　increasing　success　with　all　its
stimulus　and　satisfaction　called　for　more　and　more　power。　　Her　mind　was
busy　foreseeing；　arranging；　providing　for　emergencies；　and　then　the
whole　thing　slipped　away　from　her；　she　dropped　her　head　upon　her　arm　for
a　moment；　on　the　edge　of　the　tea　table；　and　wished　for　Ross。

From　down　the　street　and　up　the　street　at　this　moment；　two　men　were
coming；　both　young；　both　tall；　both　good　looking；　both　apparently
approaching　Union　House。　　One　of　them　was　the　nearer；　and　his　foot　soon
sounded　on　the　wooden　step。　　The　other　stopped　and　looked　in　a　shop
window。

Diantha　started　up；　came　forward；it　was　Mr。　Eltwood。　　She　had　a　vague
sense　of　disappointment；　but　received　him　cordially。　　He　stood　there；
his　hat　off；　holding　her　hand　for　a　long　moment；　and　gazing　at　her　with
evident　admiration。　　They　turned　and　sat　down　in　the　shadow　of　the
reed…curtained　corner。

The　man　at　the　shop　window　turned；　too；　and　went　away。

Mr。　Eltwood　had　been　a　warm　friend　and　cordial　supporter　from　the　epoch
of　the　Club…splitting　speech。　　He　had　helped　materially　in　the　slow；
up…hill　days　of　the　girl's　effort；　with　faith　and　kind　words。　　He　had
met　the　mother's　coming　with　most　friendly　advances；　and　Mrs。　Bell　found
herself　much　at　home　in　his　liberal　little　church。

Diantha　had　grown　to　like　and　trust　him　much。

〃What's　this　about　the　new　house；　Miss　Bell？　　Your　mother　says　I　may
know。〃

〃Why　not？〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　followed　this　thing　from　the　first。　
Sugar　or　lemon？　　You　see　I　want　to　disentangle　the　undertakings；　set
them　upon　their　own　separate　feet；　and　establish　the　practical　working
of　each　one。〃

〃I　see；〃　he　said；　〃and　'day　service'　is　not　'cooked　food　delivery。'〃

〃Nor　yet　'rooms　for　entertainment；'　she　agreed。　　〃We've　got　them　all
labelled；　mother　and　I。　　There's　the　'd。　s。'　and　'c。　f。　d。'　and　'r。　f。
e。'　and　the　'p。　p。'　　That's　picnics　and　parties。　　And　more　coming。〃

〃What；　more　yet？　　You'll　kill　yourself；　Miss　Bell。　　Don't　go　too　fast。　
You　are　doing　a　great　work　for　humanity。　　Why　not　take　a　little　more
time？〃

〃I　want　to　do　it　as　quickly　as　I　can；　for　reasons；〃　answered　Diantha。

Mr。　Eltwood　looked　at　her　with　tender　understanding。　　〃I　don't　want　to
intrude　any　further　than　you　are　willing　to　want　me；〃　he　said；　〃but
sometimes　I　think　that　even　youstrong　as　you　arewould　be　better　for
some　help。〃

She　did　not　contradict　him。　　Her　hands　were　in　her　lap；　her　eyes　on　the
worn　boards　of　the　piazza　floor。　　She　did　not　see　a　man　pass　on　the
other　side　of　the　street；　cast　a　searching　glance　across　and　walk
quickly　on　again。

〃If　you　were　quite　free　to　go　on　with　your　beautiful　work；〃　said　Mr。
Eltwood　slowly；　〃if　you　were　offered　heartiest　appreciation；　profound
respect；　as　well　as　love；　of　course；　would　you　object　to　marrying；　Miss
Bell？〃　asked　in　an　even　voice；　as　if　it　were　a　matter　of　metaphysical
inquiry。　　Mrs。　Porne　had　told　him　of　her　theory　as　to　a　lover　in　the
home　town；　wishing　to　save　him　a　long　heart　ache；　but　he　was　not　sure　of
it；　and　he　wanted　to　be。

Diantha　glanced　quickly　at　him；　and　felt　the　emotion　under　his　quiet
words。　　She　withdrew　her　eyes；　looking　quite　the　other　way。

〃You　are　enough　of　a　friend　to　know；　Mr。　Eltwood；〃　she　said；　〃I　rather
thought　you　did　know。　　I　am　engaged。〃

〃Thank　you　for　telling　me；　some　one　is　greatly　to　be　congratulated；〃　he
spoke　sincerely；　and　talked　quietly　on　about　less　personal　matters；
holding　his　tea　untasted　till　it　was　cold。

〃Do　let　me　give　you　some　that　is　hot；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃and　let　me
thank　you　from　my　heart　for　the　help　and　strength　and　comfort　you　have
been　to　me；　Mr。　Eltwood。〃

〃I'm　very　glad；〃　he　said；　and　again；　〃I　am　very　glad。〃　　〃You　may　count
upon　anything　I　can　do　for　you；　always；〃　he　continued。　　〃I　am　proud　to
be　your　friend。〃

He　held　her　hand　once　more　for　a　moment；　and　went　away　with　his　head　up
and　a　firm　step。　　To　one　who　watched　him　go；　he　had　almost　a　triumphant
air；　but　it　was　not　triumph；　only　the　brave　beginning　of　a　hard　fight
and　a　long　one。

Then　came　Mrs。　Bell；　returned　from　a　shopping　trip；　and　sank　down　in　a
wicker　rocker；　glad　of　the　shade　and　a　cup　of　tea。　　No；　she　didn't　want
it　iced。　　〃Hot　tea　makes　you　cooler；〃　was　her　theory。

〃You　don't　look　very　tired；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃Seems　to　me　you　get
stronger　all　the　time。〃

〃I　do；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃You　don't　realize；　you　can't　realize；
Diantha；　what　this　means　to　me。　　Of　course　to　you　I　am　an　old　woman；　a
back　numberone　has　to　feel　so　about　one's　mother。　　I　did　when　I
married；　and　my　mother　then　was　five　years　younger　than　I　am　now。〃

〃I　don't　think　you　old；　mother；　not　a　bit　of　it。　　You　ought　to　have
twenty　or　thirty　years　of　life　before　you；　real　life。〃

〃That's　just　what　I'm　feeling；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell；　〃as　if　I'd　just　begun　to
live！　　This　is　so　_different！_　　There　is　a　big；　moving　thing　to　work
for。　　There　iswhy　Diantha；　you　wouldn't　believe　what　a　comfort　it　is
to　me　to　feel　that　my　work　here　isreallyadding　to　the　profits！〃

Diantha　laughed　aloud。

〃You　dear　old　darling；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　think　it　was！　　It　is
_making_　the　profits。〃

〃And　it　grows　so；〃　her　mother　went　on。　　〃Here's　this　part　so　well
assured　that　you're　setting　up　the　new　Union　House！　　Are　you　_sure_
about　Mrs。　Jessup；　dear？〃

〃As　sure　as　I　can　be　of　any　one　till　I've　tried　a　long　time。　　She　has
done　all　I've　asked　her　to　here；　and　done　it　well。　　Besides；　I　mean　to
keep　a　hand　on　it　for　a　year　or　two　yetI　can't　afford　t