what diantha did-第7章

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suggested；　holding　her　close　for　a　moment。

〃Don't！〃　she　said。　　〃I　can't　talk　straight　when　you　put　it　that　way。〃

She　rose　hurriedly　and　took　a　step　or　two　up　and　down。　　〃I　don't
supposein　spite　of　your　loving　me；　that　I　can　make　you　see　it　as　I　do。
　But　I'll　be　just　as　clear　as　I　can。　　There　are　some　years　before　us
before　we　can　be　together。　　In　that　time　I　intend　to　go　away　and
undertake　a　business　I　am　interested　in。　　My　purpose　is　todevelop　the
work；　to　earn　money；　to　help　my　family；　and　towell；　not　to　hinder
you。〃

〃I　don't　understand；　I　confess；〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　you　propose　to　tell　me
what　this　'work'　is？〃

〃YesI　willcertainly。　　But　not　yet　dear！　　Let　me　try　to　show　you　how
I　feel　about　it。〃

〃Wait；〃　said　he。　　〃One　thing　I　want　to　be　sure　of。　　Are　you　doing　this
with　any　quixotic　notion　of　helping　mein　_my_　business？　　Helping　me　to
take　care　of　my　family？　　Helping　me　to〃　he　stood　up　now；　looking　very
tall　and　rather　forbidding；　〃No；　I　won't　say　that　to　you。〃

〃Would　there　be　anything　wrong　in　my　meaning　exactly　that？〃　she　asked；
holding　her　own　head　a　little　higher；　〃both　what　you　said　and　what　you
didn't？〃

〃It　would　be　absolutely　wrong；　all　of　it；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　cannot
believe　that　the　woman　I　love　wouldcould　take　such　a　position。〃

〃Look　here；　Ross！〃　said　the　girl　earnestly。　　〃Suppose　you　knew　where
there　was　a　gold　mine_knew　it_and　by　going　away　for　a　few　years　you
could　get　a　real　fortunewouldn't　you　do　it？〃

〃Naturally　I　should；〃　he　agreed。

〃Well；　suppose　it　wasn't　a　gold　mine；　but　a　business；　a　new　system　like
those　cigar　storesorsome　patent　amusement　specialtyor
_anything_that　you　knew　was　better　than　what　you're　doingwouldn't
you　have　a　right　to　try　it？〃

〃Of　course　I　shouldbut　what　has　that　to　do　with　this　case？〃

〃Why　it's　the　same　thing！　　Don't　you　see？　　I　have　plans　that　will　be　of
real　benefit　to　all　of　us；　something　worth　while　to　_do_and　not　only
for　us　but　for　_everybody_a　real　piece　of　progressand　I'm　going　to
leave　my　peopleand　even　you！for　a　little　whileto　make　us　all
happier　later　on。〃

He　smiled　lovingly　at　her　but　shook　his　head　slowly。　　〃You　dear；　brave；
foolish　child！〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　for　one　moment　doubt　your　noble
purposes。　　But　you　don't　get　the　man's　point　of　viewnaturally。　　What's
more　you　don't　seem　to　get　the　woman's。〃

〃Can　you　see　no　other　point　of　view　than　those？〃　she　asked。

〃There　are　no　others；〃　he　answered。　　〃Come！　come！　my　darling；　don't　add
this　new　difficulty　to　what　we've　got　to　carry！　　I　know　you　have　a　hard
time　of　it　at　home。　　Some　day；　please　God；　you　shall　have　an　easier　one！
　And　I'm　having　a　hard　time　tooI　don't　deny　it。　　But　you　are　the
greatest　joy　and　comfort　I　have；　dearyou　know　that。　　If　you　go
awayit　will　be　harder　and　slower　and　longerthat's　all。　　I　shall　have
you　to　worry　about　too。　　Let　somebody　else　do　the　gold…mine；　dearyou
stay　here　and　comfort　your　Mother　as　long　as　you　canand　me。　　How　can　I
get　along　without　you？〃

He　tried　to　put　his　arm　around　her　again；　but　she　drew　back。　　〃Dear；〃
she　said。　　〃If　I　deliberately　do　what　I　think　is　rightagainst　your
wisheswhat　will　you　do？〃

〃Do？〃　The　laughed　bitterly。　　〃What　can　I　do？　　I'm　tied　by　the　leg
herel　can't　go　after　you。　　I've　nothing　to　pull　you　out　of　a　scrape
with　if　you　get　in　one。　　I　couldn't　do　anything　butstand　it。〃

〃And　if　I　go　ahead；　and　do　what　you　don't　likeand　make
yousufferwould　youwould　you　rather　be　free？〃　　Her　voice　was　very
low　and　shaken；　but　he　heard　her　well　enough。

〃Free　of　you？　　Free　of　_you_？〃　　He　caught　her　and　held　her　and　kissed
her　over　and　over。

〃You　are　mine！〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　given　yourself　to　me！　　You　cannot
leave　me。　　Neither　of　us　is　freeever　again。〃　　But　she　struggled　away
from　him。

〃Both　of　us　are　freeto　do　what　we　think　right；　_always_　Ross！　　I
wouldn't　try　to　stop　you　if　you　thought　it　was　your　duty　to　go　to　the
North　Pole！〃　　She　held　him　a　little　way　off。　　〃Let　me　tell　you；　dear。　
Sit　downlet　me　tell　you　all　about　it。〃　　But　he　wouldn't　sit　down。

〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　know　the　details；〃　he　said。　　〃It　doesn't　much
matter　what　you're　going　to　doif　you　really　go　away。　　I　can't　stop
youI　see　that。　　If　you　think　this　thing　is　your　'duty'　you'll　do　it　if
it　kills　us　alland　you　too！　　If　you　have　to　goI　shall　do
nothingcan　do　nothingbut　wait　till　you　come　back　to　me！　　Whatever
happens；　darlingno　matter　how　you　faildon't　ever　be　afraid　to　come
back　to　me。〃

He　folded　his　arms　nowdid　not　attempt　to　hold　hergave　her　the
freedom　she　asked　and　promised　her　the　love　she　had　almost　feared　to
loseand　her　whole　carefully　constructed　plan　seemed　like　a　child's
sand　castle　for　a　moment；　her　heroic　decision　the　wildest　folly。

He　was　not　even　looking　at　her；　she　saw　his　strong；　clean…cut　profile
dark　against　the　moonlit　house；　a　settled　patience　in　its　lines。　　Duty！　
Here　was　duty；　surely；　with　tenderest　happiness。　　She　was　leaning　toward
himher　hand　was　seeking　his；　when　she　heard　through　the　fragrant
silence　a　sound　from　her　mother's　roomthe　faint　creak　of　her　light
rocking　chair。　　She　could　not　sleepshe　was　sitting　up　with　her
trouble；　bearing　it　quietly　as　she　had　so　many　others。

The　quiet　everyday　tragedy　of　that　distasteful　lifethe　slow　withering
away　of　youth　and　hope　and　ambition　into　a　gray　waste　of　ineffectual
submissive　labornot　only　of　her　life；　but　of　thousands　upon　thousands
like　herit　all　rose　up　like　a　flood　in　the　girl's　hot　young　heart。

Ross　had　turned　to　herwas　holding　out　his　arms　to　her。　　〃You　won't　go；
my　darling！〃　he　said。

〃I　am　going　Wednesday　on　the　7。10；〃　said　Diantha。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　IV。

A　CRYING　NEED


〃Lovest　thou　me？〃　said　the　Fair　Ladye；
　And　the　Lover　he　said；　〃Yea！〃
〃Then　climb　this　treefor　my　sake；〃　said　she；
　〃And　climb　it　every　day！〃
So　from　dawn　till　dark　he　abrazed　the　bark
　And　wore　his　clothes　away；
Till；　〃What　has　this　tree　to　do　with　thee？〃
　The　Lover　at　last　did　say。


It　was　a　poor　dinner。　　Cold　in　the　first　place；　because　Isabel　would
wait　to　thoroughly　wash　her　long　artistic　hands；　and　put　on　another
dress。　　She　hated　the　smell　of　cooking　in　her　garments；　hated　it　worse
on　her　white　fingers；　and　now　to　look　at　the　graceful　erect　figure；　the
round　throat　with　the　silver　necklace　about　it；　the　soft　smooth　hair；
silver…filletted；　the　negative　beauty　of　the　dove…colored　gown；
specially　designed　for　home　evenings；　one　would　never　dream　she　had　set
the　table　so　welland　cooked　the　steak　so　abominably。


Isabel　was　never　a　cook。　　In　the　many　servantless　gaps　of　domestic　life
in　Orchardina；　there　was　always　a　strained　atmosphere　in　the　Porne
household。

〃Dear；〃　said　Mr。　Porne；　〃might　I　petition　to　have　the　steak　less　cooked？
　I　know　you　don't　like　to　do　it；　so　why　not　shorten　the　process？〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　answered；　〃I　always　forget　about　the　steak　from　one
time　to　the　next。〃

〃Yet　we've　had　it　three　times　this　week；　my　dear。〃

〃I　thought　you　liked　it　better　than　anything；〃　she　with　marked
gentleness。　　〃I'll　get　you　other　thingsoftener。〃

〃It's　a　shame　you　should　have　this　to　do；　Isabel。　　I　never　meant　you
should　cook　for　me。　　Indeed　I　didn't　dream　you　cared　so　little　about
it。〃

〃And　I　never　dreamed　you　cared　so　much　about　it；〃　she　replied；　still
with　repression。　　〃I'm　not　complaining；　am　I？　　I'm　only　sorry　you　should
be　disappointed　in　me。〃

〃It's　not　_you；_　dear　girl！　　You're　all　right！　　It's　just　this
everlasting　bother。　　Can't　you　get　_anybody_　that　will　stay？〃

I　can't　seem　to　get　anybody　on　any　terms；　so　far。　　I'm　going　again；
to…morrow。　　Cheer　up；　dearthe　baby　keeps　wellthat's　the　main　thing。〃

He　sat　on　the　rose…bowered　porch　and　smoked　while　she　cleared　the　table。
　At　first　he　had　tried　to　help　her　on　these　occasions；　but　their　methods
were　dissimilar　and　she　frankly　told　him　she　preferred　to　do　it　alone。

So　she　slipped　off　the　silk　and　put　on　the　gingham　again；　washed　the
dishes　with　the　labored　accuracy　of　a　trained　mind　doing　unfamiliar
work；　made　the　bread；　redressed　at　last；　and　joined　him　about　nine
o'clock。

〃It's　too　late　to　go　anywhere；　I　suppose？〃　he　ventured。

〃Yesand　I'm　too　tired。　　Besideswe　can't　leave　Eddie　alone。〃

〃O　yesI　forget。　　Of　course　we　can't。〃

His　hand　stole　out　to　take　hers。　　〃I　_am_　sorry；　dear。　　It's　awfully
rough　on　you　women　out　here。　　How　do　they　all　stand　it？〃

〃Most　of　them　stand　it　much　better　than　I　do；　Ned。　　You　see　they　don't
want　to　be　doing　anything　else。〃

〃Yes。　　That's　the　mischief　of　it！〃　he　agreed；　and　she　looked　at　him　in
the　clear　moonlight；　wondering　exactly　what　he　thought　the　mischief　was。

〃Shall　we　go　in　and　read　a　bit？〃　he　offered；　but　she　thought　not。

〃I'm　too　tired；　I'm　afraid。　　And　Eddie'll　wake　up　as　soon　as　we　begin。〃

So　they　sat　awhile　enjoying　the　soft　silence；　and　the　rich　flower　scents
about　them；　till　Eddie　did　wake　presently；　and　Isabel　went　upstairs。

She　slept　little　that　night；　lying　quite　still；　listening　to　her
husband's　regular　breathing　so　near　her；　and　the　lighter　sound　from　the
crib。　　〃I　am　a　very　happy　woman；〃　she　told　herself　resolutely；　but　there
was　no　outpouring　sense　of　love　and　joy。　　She　knew　she　was　happy；　but　by
no　means　felt　it。　　So　she　stared　at　the　moon　shadows　and　thought　it
over。

She　had　planned　the　little　house　herself；　with　such　love；　such　hope；
such　tender　happy　care！　　Not　her　first　work；　which　won　high　praise　in
the　school　in　Paris；　not　the　prize…winning　plan　for　the　library；　now
gracing　Orchardina's　prettiest　square；　was　as　dear　to　her　as　this　most
womanly　taskthe　making　of　a　home。

It　was　the　library　success　which　brought　her　here；　fresh　from　her
foreign　studies；　and　Orchardina　accepted　with　western　cordiality　the
youth　and　beauty　of　the　young　architect；　though　a　bit　surprised　at　first
that　〃I。　H。　Wright〃　was　an　Isabel。　　In　her　further　work　of　overseeing
the　construction　of　that　library；　she　had　met　Edgar　Porne；　one　of　the
numerous　eager　young　real　estate　men　of　that　region；　who　showed　a
liberal　enthusiasm　for　the　general　capacity　of　women　in　the　professions；
and　a　much　warmer　feeling　for　the　personal　attractions　of　this　one。

Together　they　chose　the　lot　on　pepper…shaded　Inez　Avenue；　together　they
watched　the　rising　of　the　concrete　walls　and　planned　the　garden　walks
and　seats；　and　the　tiny　precious　pool　in　the　far　corner。　　He　was　so
sympathetic！　so　admiring！　　He　took　as　much　pride　in　the　big　〃drawing
room〃　on　the　third　floor　as　she　did　herself。　　〃Architecture　is　such　fine
work　to　do　at　home！〃　they　had　both　agreed。　　〃Here　you　have　your　north
lightyour　big　tableplenty　of　room　for　work！　　You　will　grow　famouser
and　famouser；〃　he　had　lovingly　insisted。　　And　she　had　answered；　〃I　fear
I　shall　be　too　contented；　dear；　to　want　to　be　famous。〃

That　was　only　some　year　and　a…half　ago；but　Isabel；　lying　there　by　her
sleeping　husband　and　sleeping　child；　was　stark　awake　and　only　by
assertion　happy。　　She　was　thinking；　persistently；　of　dust。　　She　loved　a
delicate　cleanliness。　　Her　art　was　a　precise　one；　her　studio　a　workshop
of　white　paper　and　fine　pointed　hard　pencils；　her　painting　the
mechanical　perfection　of　an　even　wash　of　color。　　And　she　saw；　through
the　floors　and　walls　and　the　darkness；　the　dust　in　the　l