what diantha did-第25章

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keep　a　hand　on　it　for　a　year　or　two　yetI　can't　afford　to　have　that
fail。〃

Mrs。　Jessup　was　an　imported　aunt；　belonging　to　one　of　the　cleverest
girls；　and　Diantha　had　had　her　in　training　for　some　weeks。

〃Well；　I　guess　she's　as　good　as　any　you'd　be　likely　to　get；〃　Mrs。　Bell
admitted；　〃and　we　mustn't　expect　paragons。　　If　this　can't　be　done　by　an
average　bunch　of　working　women　the　world　over；　it　can't　be　donethat's
all！〃

〃It　can　be　done；〃　said　the　girl；　calmly。　　〃It　will　be　done。　　You　see。〃

〃Mr。　Thaddler　says　you　could　run　any　kind　of　a　business　you　set　your
hand　to；〃　her　mother　went　on。　　〃He　has　a　profound　respect　for　your
abilities；　Dina。〃

〃Seems　to　me　you　and　Mr。　Thaddler　have　a　good　deal　to　say　to　each　other；
motherkins。　　I　believe　you　enjoy　that　caffeteria　desk；　and　all　the
compliments　you　get。〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell　stoutly。　　〃I　do　indeed！　　Why；　I　haven't　seen　so
many　men；　to　speak　to；　sincewhy；　never　in　my　life！　　And　they　are　very
amusingsome　of　them。　　They　like　to　come　herelike　it　immensely。　　And
I　don't　wonder。　　I　believe　you'll　do　well　to　enlarge。〃

Then　they　plunged　into　a　discussion　of　the　winter's　plans。　　The　day
service　department　and　its　employment　agency　was　to　go　on　at　the　New
Union　House；　with　Mrs。　Jessup　as　manager；　the　present　establishment　was
to　be　run　as　a　hotel　and　restaurant；　and　the　depot　for　the　cooked　food
delivery。

Mrs。　Thorvald　and　her　husband　were　installed　by　themselves　in　another
new　venture；　a　small　laundry　outside　the　town。　　This　place　employed
several　girls　steadily；　and　the　motor　wagon　found　a　new　use　between
meals；　in　collecting　and　delivering　laundry　parcels。

〃It　simplifies　it　a　lotto　get　the　washing　out　of　the　place　and　the
girls　off　my　mind；〃　said　Diantha。　　〃Now　I　mean　to　buckle　down　and　learn
the　hotel　businessthoroughly；　and　develop　this　cooked　food　delivery　to
perfection。〃

〃Modest　young　lady；〃　smiled　her　mother。　　〃Where　do　you　mean　to　stopif
ever？〃

〃I　don't　mean　to　stop　till　I'm　dead；〃　Diantha　answered；　〃but　I　don't
mean　to　undertake　any　more　trades；　if　that　is　what　you　mean。　　You　know
what　I'm　afterto　get　'housework'　on　a　business　basis；　that's　all；　and
prove；　prove；　PROVE　what　a　good　business　it　is。　　There's　the　cleaning
branchthat's　all　started　and　going　well　in　the　day　service。　　There's
the　washingthat's　simple　and　easy。　　Laundry　work's　no　mystery。　　But
the　food　part　is　a　big　thing。　　It's　an　art；　a　science；　a　business；　and　a
handicraft。　　I　had　the　handicraft　to　start　with；　I'm　learning　the
business；　but　I've　got　a　lot　to　learn　yet　in　the　science　and　art　of　it。〃
　

〃Don't　do　too　much　at　once；〃　her　mother　urged。　　〃You've　got　to　cater　to
people　as　they　are。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　the　girl　agreed。　　〃They　must　be　led；　step　by　stepthe
natural　method。　　It's　a　big　job；　but　not　too　big。　　Out　of　all　the　women
who　have　done　housework　for　so　many　ages；　surely　it's　not　too　much　to
expect　one　to　have　a　special　genius　for　it！〃

Her　mother　gazed　at　her　with　loving　admiration。

〃That's　just　what　you　have；　Dinaa　special　genius　for　housework。　　I
wish　there　were　more　of　you！〃

〃There　are　plenty　of　me；　mother　dear；　only　they　haven't　come　out。　　As
soon　as　I　show　'em　how　to　make　the　thing　pay；　you'll　find　that　we　have　a
big　percentage　of　this　kind　of　ability。　　It's　all　buried　now　in　the
occasional　'perfect　housekeeper。'

〃But　they　won't　leave　their　husbands；　Dina。〃

〃They　don't　need　to；〃　the　girl　answered　cheerfully。　　〃Some　of　them
aren't　married　yet；　some　of　them　have　lost　their　husbands；　and　_some_　of
them〃she　said　this　a　little　bitterly〃have　husbands　who　will　be
willing　to　let　their　wives　grow。〃

〃Not　many；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell；　also　with　some　gloom。

Diantha　lightened　up　again。　　〃Anyhow；　here　you　are；　mother　dear！　　And
for　this　year　I　propose　that　you　assume　the　financial　management　of　the
whole　business　at　a　salary　of　1；000　'and　found。'　　How　does　that　suit
you？〃

Mrs。　Bell　looked　at　her　unbelievingly。

〃You　can't　afford　it；　Dina！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　canyou　know　I　can；　because　you've　got　the　accounts。　　I'm
going　to　make　big　money　this　year。〃

〃But　you'll　need　it。　　This　hotel　and　restaurant　business　may　not　do
well。〃

〃Now；　mother；　you　_know_　we're　doing　well。　　Look　here！〃　　And　Diantha
produced　her　note…book。

〃Here's　the　little　laundry　place；　its　fittings　come　to　so　much；　wages　so
much；　collection　and　delivery　so　much；　supplies　so　muchand　already
enough　patronage　engaged　to　cover。　　It　will　be　bigger　in　winter；　a　lot；
with　transients；　and　this　hotel　to　fall　back　on；　ought　to　clear　at　least
a　thousand　a　year。　　The　service　club　don't　pay　me　anything；　of　course；
that　is　for　the　girls'　benefit；　but　the　food　delivery　is　doing　better
than　I　dared　hope。〃

Mrs。　Bell　knew　the　figures　better　than　Diantha；　even；　and　they　went　over
them　carefully　again。　　If　the　winter's　patronage　held　on　to　equal　the
summer'sand　the　many　transient　residents　ought　to　increase　itthey
would　have　an　average　of　twenty　families　a　week　to　provide　forone
hundred　persons。

The　expenses　were：


Food　for　100　at　250　a　week。　　Per　capita。　　　600
…
per　year　13；000

Labordelivery　man。　　600
Head　cook。　　600
Two　assistant　cooks。　　1；040
Three　washers　and　packers。　　1；560
Office　girl。　　520
…
Per　year　4；320

Rent；　kitchen；　office；　etc。　　500
Rent　of　motor。　　300
Rent　of　cases。　　250
Gasolene　and　repairs。　　630
…
Per　year　1；680

Total。　　19；000


〃How　do　you　make　the　gasolene　and　repairs　as　much　as　that？〃　asked　Mrs。
Bell。

〃It's　margin；　mothermakes　it　even　money。　　It　won't　be　so　much；
probably。〃

The　income　was　simple　and　sufficient。　　They　charged　5。00　a　week　per
capita　for　three　meals；　table　d'hote；　delivered　thrice　daily。　　Frequent
orders　for　extra　meals　really　gave　them　more　than　they　set　down；　but　the
hundred…person　estimate　amounted　to　26；000　a　year。

〃Now；　see；〃　said　Diantha　triumphantly；　〃subtract　all　that　expense　list
（and　it　is　a　liberal　one）；　and　we　have　7；000　left。　　I　can　buy　the　car
and　the　cases　this　year　and　have　1；600　over！　　More；　because　if　I　do　buy
them　I　can　leave　off　some　of　the　interest；　and　the　rent　of　kitchen　and
office　comes　to　Union　House！　　Then　there's　all　of　the　extra　orders。　
It's　going　to　pay　splendidly；　mother！　　It　clears　70　a　year　per　person。　
Next　year　it　will　clear　a　lot　more。〃

It　did　not　take　long　to　make　Mrs。　Bell　admit　that　if　the　business　went
on　as　it　had　been　going　Diantha　would　be　able　to　pay　her　a　salary　of　a
thousand　dollars；　and　have　five　hundred　leftfrom　the　food　business
alone。

There　remained　the　hotel；　with　large　possibilities。　　The　present　simple
furnishings　were　to　be　moved　over　to　New　Union　House；　and　paid　for　by
the　girls　in　due　time。　　With　new　paint；　paper；　and　furniture；　the　old
house　would　make　a　very　comfortable　place。

〃Of　course；　it's　the　restaurant　mainlythese　big　kitchens　and　the
central　location　are　the　main　thing。　　The　guests　will　be　mostly
tourists；　I　suppose。〃

Diantha　dwelt　upon　the　prospect　at　some　length；　and　even　her　cautious
mother　had　to　admit　that　unless　there　was　some　setback　the　year　had　a
prospect　of　large　success。

〃How　about　all　this　new　furnishing？〃　Mrs。　Bell　said　suddenly。　　〃How　do
you　cover　that？　　Take　what　you've　got　ahead　now？〃

〃Yes；　there's　plenty；〃　said　Diantha。　　〃You　see；　there　is　all　Union　House
has　made；　and　this　summer's　profit　on　the　cooked　foodit's　plenty。〃

〃Then　you　can't　pay　for　the　motor　and　cases　as　you　planned；〃　her　mother
insisted。

〃No；　not　unless　the　hotel　and　restaurant　pays　enough　to　make　good。　　But
I　don't　_have_　to　buy　them　the　first　year。　　If　I　don't；　there　is　5；500
leeway。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　safe　enough；　there's　over　4；000　in　the　bank　now；〃　Mrs。
Bell　admitted。　　〃But；　child；〃　she　said　suddenly；　〃your　father！〃

〃Yes；　I've　thought　of　father；〃　said　the　girl；　〃and　I　mean　to　ask　him　to
come　and　live　at　the　hotel。　　I　think　he'd　like　it。　　He　could　meet　people
and　talk　about　his　ideas；　and　I'm　sure　I'd　like　to　have　him。〃

〃They　talked　much　and　long　about　this；　till　the　evening　settled　about
them；　till　they　had　their　quiet　supper；　and　the　girls　came　home　to　their
noisy　one；　and　late　that　evening；　when　all　was　still　again；　Diantha　came
to　the　dim　piazza　corner　once　more　and　sat　there　quite　alone。

Full　of　hope；　full　of　courage；　sure　of　her　progressand　aching　with
loneliness。

She　sat　with　her　head　in　her　hands；　and　to　her　ears　came　suddenly　the
sound　of　a　familiar　stepa　well…known　voicethe　hands　and　the　lips　of
her　lover。

〃Diantha！〃　　He　held　her　close。

〃Oh；　Ross！　　Ross！　　Darling！　　Is　it　true？　　When　did　you　come？　　Oh；　I'm　so
glad！　　So　_glad_　to　see　you！〃

She　was　so　glad　that　she　had　to　cry　a　little　on　his　shoulder；　which　he
seemed　to　thoroughly　enjoy。

〃I've　good　news　for　you；　little　girl；〃　he　said。　　〃Good　news　at　last！　
Listen；　dear；　don't　cry。　　There's　an　end　in　sight。　　A　man　has　bought　out
my　shop。　　The　incubus　is　offI　can　_live_　now！〃

He　held　his　head　up　in　a　fine　triumph；　and　she　watched　him　adoringly。

〃Did　youwas　it　profitable？〃　she　asked。

〃It's　all　exchange；　and　some　cash　to　boot。　　Just　think！　　You　know　what
I've　wanted　so　longa　ranch。　　A　big　one　that　would　keep　us　all；　and　let
me　go　on　with　my　work。　　And；　dearI've　got　it！　　It's　a　big　fruit　ranch；
with　its　own　waterthink　of　that！　　And　a　vegetable　garden；　too；　and
small　fruit；　and　everything。　　And；　what's　better；　it's　all　in　good
running　order；　with　a　competent　ranchman；　and　two　Chinese　who　rent　the
vegetable　part。　　And　there　are　two　houses　on　it_two_。　　One　for　mother
and　the　girls；　and　one　for　us！〃

Diantha's　heart　stirred　suddenly。

〃Where　is　it；　dear？〃　she　whispered。

He　laughed　joyfully。　　〃It's　_here！〃_　he　said。　　〃About　eight　miles　or　so
out；　up　by　the　mountains；　has　a　little　canyon　of　its　ownits　own　little
stream　and　reservoir。　　Oh；　my　darling！　　My　darling！〃

They　sat　in　happy　silence　in　the　perfumed　night。　　The　strong　arms　were
around　her；　the　big　shoulder　to　lean　on；　the　dear　voice　to　call　her
〃little　girl。〃

The　year　of　separation　vanished　from　their　thoughts；　and　the　long　years
of　companionship　opened　bright　and　glorious　before　them。

〃I　came　this　afternoon；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃but　I　saw　another　man
coming。　　He　got　here　first。　　I　thought〃

〃Ross！　　You　didn't！　　And　you've　left　me　to　go　without　you　all　these
hours！〃

〃He　looked　so　confident　when　he　went　away　that　I　was　jealous；〃　Ross
admitted；　〃furiously　jealous。　　And　then　your　mother　was　here；　and　then
those　cackling　girls。　　I　wanted　youalone。〃

And　then　he　had　her；　alone；　for　other　quiet；　happy　moments。　　She　was　so
glad　of　him。　　Her　hold　upon　his　hand；　upon　his　coat；　was　tight。

〃I　don't　know　how　I've　lived　without　you；〃　she　said　softly。

〃Nor　I；〃　said　he。　　〃I　haven't　lived。　　It　isn't　lifewithout　you。　　Well；
dearest；　it　needn't　be　much　longer。　　We　closed　the　deal　this　afternoon。　
I　came　down　here　to　see　the　place；　andincidentallyto　see　you！〃

More　silence。

〃I　shall　turn　over　the　store　at　once。　　It　won't　take　long　to　move　and
settle；　there's　enough　money　over　to　do　that。　　And　the　ranch　pays；
Diantha！　　It　really　_pays；_　and　will　carry　us　all。　　How　long　will　it
take　you　to　get　out　of　this？〃

〃Get　out　ofwhat？〃　she　faltered。

〃Why；　the　whole　abominable　business　you're　so　deep　in