what diantha did-第13节

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awell　it's　as　clean　and　orderly　as　if　no　one　was　ever　in　it。〃

〃Ten　hoursthat's　fourteen。〃

〃I　know　it；　but　she　takes　out　four。　　She　claims　time　to　eat　her　meals。〃

〃Preposterous！〃

〃Half　an　hour　apiece；　and　half　an　hour　in　the　morning　to　restand　two
in　the　afternoon。　　Anyway　she　is　out；　two　hours　every　afternoon；　riding
in　the　electric　cars！〃

〃That　don't　look　like　a　very　hard　job。　　Her　day　laborer　doesn't　get　two
hours　off　every　afternoon　to　take　excursions　into　the　country！〃

〃No；　I　know　that；　but　he　doesn't　begin　so　early；　nor　stop　so　late。　　She
does　her　square　ten　hours　work；　and　I　suppose　one　has　a　right　to　time
off。〃

〃You　seem　dubious　about　that；　my　dear。〃

〃Yes；　that's　just　where　it's　awkward。　　I'm　used　to　girls　being　in　all
the　time；　excepting　their　day　out。　　You　see　I　can't　leave　baby；　nor
always　take　himand　it　interferes　with　my　freedom　afternoons。〃

〃Wellcan't　you　arrange　with　her　somehow？〃

〃See　if　you　can。　　She　says　she　will　only　give　ten　hours　of　time　for　a
dollar　and　a　half　a　daytisn't　but　fifteen　cents　an　hourI　have　to　pay
a　woman　twenty　that　comes　in。　　And　if　she　is　to　give　up　her　chance　of
sunlight　and　fresh　air　she　wants　me　to　pay　her　extraby　the　hour。　　Or
she　says；　if　I　prefer；　she　would　take　four　hours　every　other　dayand　so
be　at　home　half　the　time。　　I　said　it　was　difficult　to　arrangewith
baby；　and　she　was　very　sympathetic　and　nice；　but　she　won't　alter　her
plans。〃

〃Let　her　go；　and　get　a　less　exacting　servant。〃

〃Butshe　does　her　work　so　well！　　And　it　saves　a　lot；　really。　　She　knows
all　about　marketing　and　things；　and　plans　the　meals　so　as　to　have　things
lap；　and　it's　a　comfort　to　have　her　in　the　house　and　feel　so　safe　and
sure　everything　will　be　done　right。〃

〃Well；　it's　your　province；　my　dear。　　I　don't　profess　to　advise。　　But　I
assure　you　I　appreciate　the　table；　and　the　cleanness　of　everything；　and
the　rested　look　in　your　eyes；　dear　girl！〃

She　slipped　her　hand　into　his　affectionately。　　〃It　does　make　a
difference；〃　she　said。　　〃I　_could_　get　a　girl　for　20。00　and　save　nearly
2。60　a　weekbut　you　know　what　they　are！〃

〃I　do　indeed；〃　he　admitted　fervently。　　〃It's　worth　the　money　to　have
this　thing　done　so　well。　　I　think　she's　right　about　the　wages。　　Better
keep　her。〃

〃Oshe'll　only　agree　to　stay　six　months　even　at　this　rate！〃

〃Wellkeep　her　six　months　and　be　thankful。　　I　thought　she　was　too　good
to　last！〃

They　looked　over　the　offered　contract　again。　　It　closed　with：

〃This　agreement　to　hold　for　six　months　from　date　if　mutually
satisfactory。　　In　case　of　disagreement　two　weeks'　notice　is　to　be　given
on　either　side；　or　two　weeks'　wages　if　preferred　by　the　employer。〃　　It
was　dated；　and　signed　〃Miss　D。　C。　Bell。〃

And　with　inward　amusement　and　great　display　of　penmanship　they　added
〃Mrs。　Isabel　J。　Porne；〃　and　the　contract　was　made。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　VI。

THE　CYNOSURE。


It's　a　singular　thing　that　the　commonest　place
　Is　the　hardest　to　properly　fill；
That　the　labor　imposed　on　a　full　half　the　race
　Is　so　seldom　performed　with　good　will
　To　say　nothing　of　knowledge　or　skill！

What　we　ask　of　all　women；　we　stare　at　in　one；
　And　tribute　of　wonderment　bring；
If　this　task　of　the　million　is　once　fitly　done
　We　all　hold　our　hands　up　and　sing！
　It's　really　a　singular　thing！


Isabel　Porne　was　a　cautious　woman；　and　made　no　acclaim　over　her　new
acquisition　until　its　value　was　proven。　　Her　husband　also　bided　his
time；　and　when　congratulated　on　his　improved　appearance　and　air　of
contentment；　merely　vouchsafed　that　his　wife　had　a　new　girl　who　could
cook。

To　himself　he　boasted　that　he　had　a　new　wife　who　could　loveso　cheerful
and　gay　grew　Mrs。　Porne　in　the　changed　atmosphere　of　her　home。

〃It　is　remarkable；　Edgar；〃　she　said；　dilating　repeatedly　on　the　peculiar
quality　of　their　good　fortune。　　〃It's　not　only　good　cooking；　and　good
waiting；　and　a　clean　housecleaner　than　I　ever　saw　one　before；　and　it's
not　only　the　quietness；　and　regularity　and　economywhy　the　bills　have
gone　down　more　than　a　third！〃

〃Yeseven　I　noticed　that；〃　he　agreed。

〃But　what　I　enjoy　the　most　is　the　_atmosphere；_〃　she　continued。　　〃When　I
have　to　do　the　work；　the　house　is　a　perfect　nightmare　to　me！〃　　She
leaned　forward　from　her　low　stool；　her　elbows　on　her　knees；　her　chin　in
her　hands；　and　regarded　him　intently。

〃Edgar！　　You　know　I　love　you。　　And　I　love　my　babyI'm　no　unfeeling
monster！　　But　I　can　tell　you　frankly　that　if　I'd　had　any　idea　of　what
housework　was　like　I'd　never　have　given　up　architecture　to　try　it。〃

〃Lucky　for　me　you　hadn't！〃　said　he　fondly。　　〃I　know　it's　been　hard　for
you；　little　girl。　　I　never　meant　that　you　should　give　up
architecturethat's　a　business　a　woman　could　carry　on　at　home　I
thought；　the　designing　part　anyway。　　There's　your　'drawing…room'　and　all
your　things〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　with　reminiscent　bitterness；　〃there　they　areand　there
they　might　have　stayed；　untouchedif　Miss　Bell　hadn't　come！〃

〃Makes　you　call　her　〃Miss　Bell〃　all　the　time；　does　she？〃

Mrs。　Porne　laughed。　　〃Yes。　　I　hated　it　at　first；　but　she　asked　if　I
could　give　her　any　real　reason　why　the　cook　should　be　called　by　her
first　name　more　than　the　seamstress　or　governess。　　I　tried　to　say　that
it　was　shorter；　but　she　smiled　and　said　that　in　this　case　it　was
longer！Her　name　is　DianthaI've　seen　it　on　letters。　　And　it　is　one
syllable　longer。　　Anyhow　I've　got　used　to　Miss　Bell　now。〃

〃She　gets　letters　often？〃

〃Yesvery　oftenfrom　Topolaya　where　she　came　from。　　I'm　afraid　she's
engaged。〃　　Mrs。　Porne　sighed　ruefully。

〃I　don't　doubt　it！〃　said　Mr。　Porne。　　〃That　would　account　for　her　six
months'　arrangement！　　Well；　my　dearmake　hay　while　the　sun　shines！〃

〃I　do！〃　she　boasted。　　〃Whole　stacks！　　I've　had　a　seamstress　in；　and　got
all　my　clothes　in　order　and　the　baby's。　　We've　had　lot　of　dinner…parties
and　teas　as　you　knowall　my　〃social　obligations〃　are　cleared　off！　
We've　had　your　mother　for　a　visit；　and　mine's　coming　nowand　I　wasn't
afraid　to　have　either　of　them！　　There's　no　fault　to　be　found　with　my
housekeeping　now！　　And　there　are　two　things　better　than　thatyes；
three。〃

〃The　best　thing　is　to　see　you　look　so　young　and　handsome　and　happy
again；〃　said　her　husband；　with　a　kiss。

〃Yesthat's　one。　　Another　is　that　now　I　feel　so　easy　and　lighthearted　I
can　love　you　and　babyasas　I　_do！_　　Only　when　I'm　tired　and
discouraged　I　can't　put　my　hand　on　it　somehow。

He　nodded　sympathetically。　　〃I　know；　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　that　way
myselfsometimes。　　What's　the　other？〃

〃Why　that's　best　of　aIl！〃　she　cried　triumphantly。　　〃I　can　Work　again！　
When　Baby's　asleep　I　get　hours　at　a　time；　and　even　when　he's　awake　I've
fixed　a　place　where　he　can　playand　I　can　draw　and　planjust　as　I　used
to_better_　than　I　used　to！〃

〃And　that　is　even　more　to　you　than　loving？〃　he　asked　in　a　quiet
inquiring　voice。

〃It's　more　because　it　means　_both！_〃　　She　leaned　to　him；　glowing；　〃Don't
you　see？　　First　I　had　the　work　and　loved　it。　　Then　you　cameand　I　loved
youbetter！　　Then　Baby　came　and　I　loved　himbest？　　I　don't　knowyou
and　baby　are　all　one　somehow。〃

There　was　a　brief　interim　and　then　she　drew　back；　blushing　richly。　　〃Now
stopI　want　to　explain。　　When　the　housework　got　to　be　such　a
nightmareand　I　looked　forward　to　a　whole　lifetime　of　it　and　_no_
improvement；　then　I　just　_ached_　for　my　workand　couldn't　do　it！　　And
thenwhy　sometimes　dear；　I　just　wanted　to　run　away！　　Actually！　　From
_both_　of　you！you　see；　I　spent　five　years　studyingI　was　a　_real_
architectand　it　did　hurt　to　see　it　go。　　And　nowO　now　I've　got　It　and
You　too；　darling！　　_And_　the　Baby！O　I'm　so　happy！〃

〃Thanks　to　the　Providential　Miss　Bell；〃　said　he。　　〃If　she'll　stay　I'll
pay　her　anything！〃

The　months　went　by。

Peace；　order；　comfort；　cleanliness　and　economy　reigned　in　the　Porne
household；　and　the　lady　of　the　house　blossomed　into　richer　beauty　and
happiness；　her　contentment　marred　only　by　a　sense　of　flying　time。

Miss　Bell　fulfilled　her　carefully　specified　engagement　to　the　letter；
rested　her　peaceful　hour　in　the　morning；　walked　and　rode　in　the
afternoon；　familiarized　herself　with　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　town；
and　visited　continuously　among　the　servants　of　the　neighborhood；
establishing　a　large　and　friendly　acquaintance。　　If　she　wore　rubber
gloves　about　the　rough　work；　she　paid　for　them　herself；　and　she　washed
and　ironed　her　simple　and　pretty　costumes　herselfwith　the　result　that
they　stayed　pretty　for　surprising　periods。

She　wrote　letters　long　and　loving；　to　Ross　daily；　to　her　mother　twice　a
week；　and　by　the　help　of　her　sister's　authority　succeeded　in　maintaining
a　fairly　competent　servant　in　her　deserted　place。

〃Father　was　bound　he　wouldn't；〃　her　sister　wrote　her；　〃but　I　stood　right
up　to　him；　I　can　now　I'm　married！and　Gerald　toothat　he'd　no　right　to
take　it　out　of　mother　even　if　he　was　mad　with　you。　　He　made　a　fuss　about
your　paying　for　the　girlbut　that　was　only　showing　off_he_　couldn't
pay　for　her　just　nowthat's　certain。　　And　she　does　very　wella　good
strong　girl；　and　quite　devoted　to　mother。〃　　And　then　she　scolded
furiously　about　her　sister's　〃working　out。〃

Diantha　knew　just　how　hard　it　was　for　her　mother。　　She　had　faced　all
sides　of　the　question　b