what diantha did-第17节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


once。　　Madam　WeatherstoneMrs。　Thaddlerno！　yesthey　really　were　both
on　their　feet。　　Applause　was　going　onirregularlysoon　dropped。　　Only；
from　the　group　in　the　gallery　it　was　whole…hearted　and　consistent。

Mrs。　Dankshire；　who　had　been　growing　red　and　redder　as　the　paper
advanced；　who　had　conferred　in　alarmed　whispers　with　Mrs。　Ree；　and　Miss
Massing；　who　had　even　been　seen　to　extend　her　hand　to　the　gavel　and
finger　it　threateningly；　now　rose；　somewhat　precipitately；　and　came
forward。

〃Order；　please！　　You　will　please　keep　order。　　You　have　heard　thewe
will　nowthe　meeting　is　now　open　for　discussion；　Mrs。　Thaddler！〃　　And
she　sat　down。　　She　meant　to　have　said　Madam　Weatherstone；　by　Mrs。
Thaddler　was　more　aggressive。

〃I　wish　to　say；〃　said　that　much　beaded　lady　in　a　loud　voice；　〃that　I　was
against　thisunfortunate　experimentfrom　the　first。　　And　I　trust　it
will　never　be　repeated！〃　　She　sat　down。

Two　tight　little　dimples　flickered　for　an　instant　about　the　corners　of
Diantha's　mouth。

〃Madam　Weatherstone？〃　said　the　President；　placatingly。

Madam　Weatherstone　arose；　rather　sulkily；　and　looked　about　her。　　An
agitated　assembly　met　her　eye；　buzzing　universally　each　to　each。

〃Order！〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire；　〃ORDER；　please！〃　and　rapped　three　times
with　the　gavel。

〃I　have　attended　many　meetings；　in　many　clubs；　in　many　states；〃　said
Madam　Weatherstone；　〃and　have　heard　much　that　was　foolish；　and　some
things　that　were　dangerous。　　But　I　will　say　that　never　in　the　course　of
all　my　experience　have　I　heard　anything　so　foolish　and　so　dangerous；　as
this。　　I　trust　that　thedoubtless　well　meantattempt　to　throw　light　on
this　subjectfrom　the　wrong　quarterhas　been　a　lesson　to　us　all。　　No
club　could　survive　more　than　one　such　lamentable　mistake！〃　　And　she　sat
down；　gathering　her　large　satin　wrap　about　her　like　a　retiring　Caesar。

〃Madam　President！〃　broke　forth　Miss　Eagerson。　　〃I　was　up　firstand　have
been　standing　ever　since〃

〃One　moment；　Miss　Eagerson；〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire　superbly；　〃The　Rev。　Dr。
Eltwood。〃

If　Mrs。　Dankshire　supposed　she　was　still　further　supporting　the　cause　of
condemnation　she　made　a　painful　mistake。　　The　cloth　and　the　fine　bearing
of　the　young　clergyman　deceived　her；　and　she　forgot　that　he　was　said　to
be　〃advanced〃　and　was　new　to　the　place。

〃Will　you　come　to　the　platform；　Dr。　Eltwood？〃

Dr。　Eltwood　came　to　the　platform　with　the　easy　air　of　one　to　whom
platforms　belonged　by　right。

〃Ladies；〃　he　began　in　tones　of　cordial　good　will；　〃both　employer　and
employed！and　gentlemenwhom　I　am　delighted　to　see　here　to…day！　　I　am
grateful　for　the　opportunity　so　graciously　extended　to　me〃he　bowed　six
feet　of　black　broadcloth　toward　Mrs。　Dankshire〃by　your　honored
President。

〃And　I　am　grateful　for　the　opportunity　previously　enjoyed；　of　listening
to　the　most　rational；　practical；　wise；　true　and　hopeful　words　I　have
ever　heard　on　this　subject。　　I　trust　there　will　be　enough　open…minded
womenand　menin　Orchardina　to　make　possible　among　us　that　higher
business　development　of　a　great　art　which　has　been　so　convincingly　laid
before　us。　　This　club　is　deserving　of　all　thanks　from　the　community　for
extending　to　so　many　the　privilege　of　listening　to　our　valued
fellow…citizenMiss　Bell。〃

He　bowed　againto　Miss　Belland　to　Mrs。　Dankshire；　and　resumed　his
seat；　Miss　Eagerson　taking　advantage　of　the　dazed　pause　to　occupy　the
platform　herself。

〃Mr。　Eltwood　is　right！〃　she　said。　　〃Miss　Bell　is　right！　　This　is　the
true　presentation　of　the　subject；　'by　one　who　knows。'　　Miss　Bell　has
pricked　our　pretty　bubble　so　thoroughly　that　we　don't　know　where　we're
standingbut　she　knows！　　Housework　is　a　businesslike　any　other
businessI've　always　said　so；　and　it's　got　to　be　done　in　a　business
way。　　Now　I　for　one〃　but　Miss　Eagerson　was　rapped　down　by　the
Presidential　gavel；　as　Mrs。　Thaddler；　portentous　and　severe；　stalked
forward。

〃It　is　not　my　habit　to　make　public　speeches；〃　she　began；　〃nor　my　desire；
but　this　is　a　time　when　prompt　and　decisive　action　needs　to　be　taken。　
This　Club　cannot　afford　to　countenance　any　such　farrago　of　mischievous
nonsense　as　we　have　heard　to…day。　　I　move　you；　Madam　President；　that　a
resolution　of　condemnation　be　passed　at　once；　and　the　meeting　then
dismissed！〃

She　stalked　back　again；　while　Mrs。　Marrow　of　Boston；　in　clear；　cold
tones　seconded　the　motion。

But　another　voice　was　heardfor　the　first　time　in　that　assemblyMrs。
Weatherstone；　the　pretty；　delicate　widower　daughter…in…law　of　Madam
Weatherstone；　was　on　her　feet　with　〃Madam　President！　　I　wish　to　speak　to
this　motion。〃

〃Won't　you　come　to　the　platform；　Mrs。　Weatherstone？〃　asked　Mrs。
Dankshire　graciously；　and　the　little　lady　came；　visibly　trembling；　but
holding　her　head　high。

All　sat　silent；　all　expectedwhat　was　not　forthcoming。

〃I　wish　to　protest；　as　a　member　of　the　Club；　and　as　a　woman；　against　the
gross　discourtesy　which　has　been　offered　to　the　guest　and　speaker　of　the
day。　　In　answer　to　our　invitation　Miss　Bell　has　given　us　a　scholarly　and
interesting　paper；　and　I　move　that　we　extend　her　a　vote　of　thanks。〃

〃I　second　the　motion；〃　came　from　all　quarters。

〃There　is　another　motion　before　the　house；〃　from　others。

Cries　of　〃Madam　President〃　arose　everywhere；　many　speakers　were　on　their
feet。　　Mrs。　Dankshire　tapped　frantically　with　the　little　gavel；　but　Miss
Eagerson；　by　sheer　vocal　power；　took　and　held　the　floor。

〃I　move　that　we　take　a　vote　on　this　question；〃　she　cried　in　piercing
tones。　　〃Let　every　woman　who　knows　enough　to　appreciate　Miss　Bell's
paperand　has　any　sense　of　decencystand　up！〃

Quite　a　large　proportion　of　the　audience　stood　upvery　informally。　
Those　who　did　not；　did　not　mean　to　acknowledge　lack　of　intelligence　and
sense　of　decency；　but　to　express　emphatic　disapproval　of　Miss　Eagerson；
Miss　Bell　and　their　views。

〃I　move　you；　Madam　President；〃　cried　Mrs。　Thaddler；　at　the　top　of　her
voice；　〃that　every　member　who　is　guilty　of　such　grossly　unparlimentary
conduct　be　hereby　dropped　from　this　Club！〃

〃We　hereby　resign！〃　cried　Miss　Eagerson。　　〃_We_　drop　_you！_　　We'll　have
a　New　Woman's　Club　in　Orchardina　with　some　warmth　in　its　heart　and　some
brains　in　its　headeven　if　it　hasn't　as　much　money　in　its　pocket！〃

Amid　stern　rappings；　hissings；　cries　of　〃Orderorder；〃　and　frantic
〃Motions　to　adjourn〃　the　meeting　broke　up；　the　club　elements　dissolving
and　reforming　into　two　bodies　as　by　some　swift　chemical　reaction。

Great　was　the　rejoicing　of　the　daily　press；　some　amusement　was　felt；
though　courteously　suppressed　by　the　men　present；　and　by　many　not
present；　when　they　heard　of　it。

Some　ladies　were　so　shocked　and　grieved　as　to　withdraw　from　club…life
altogether。　　Others；　in　stern　dignity；　upheld　the　shaken　standards　of
Home　and　Culture；　while　the　most　conspicuous　outcome　of　it　all　was　the
immediate　formation　of　the　New　Woman's　Club　of　Orchardina。



WHAT　DIANTHA　DID


CHAPTER　VIII。


Behind　the　straight　purple　backs　and　smooth　purple　legs　on　the　box
before　them；　Madam　Weatherstone　and　Mrs。　Weatherstone　rolled　home
silently；　a　silence　of　thunderous　portent。　　Another　purple　person　opened
the　door　for　them；　and　when　Madam　Weatherstone　said；　〃We　will　have　tea
on　the　terrace；〃　it　was　brought　them　by　a　fourth。

〃I　was　astonished　at　your　attitude；　Viva；〃　began　the　old　lady；　at
length。　　〃Of　course　it　was　Mrs。　Dankshire's　fault　in　the　first　place；
but　to　encourage　that；outrageous　person！　　How　could　you　do　it！〃

Young　Mrs。　Weatherstone　emptied　her　exquisite　cup　and　set　it　down。

〃A　sudden　access　of　courage；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　astonished　at
myself。〃

〃I　wholly　disagree　with　you！〃　replied　her　mother…in…law。　　〃Never　in　my
life　have　I　heard　such　nonsense。　　Talk　like　that　would　be　dangerous；　if
it　were　not　absurd！　　It　would　destroy　the　home！　　It　would　strike　at　the
roots　of　the　family。〃

Viva　eyed　her　quietly；　trying　to　bear　in　mind　the　weight　of　a　tradition；
the　habits　of　a　lifetime；　the　effect　of　long　years　of　uninterrupted
worship　of　household　gods。

〃It　doesn't　seem　so　to　me；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃I　was　much　interested　and
impressed。　　She　is　evidently　a　young　woman　of　knowledge　and　experience；
and　put　her　case　well。　　It　has　quite　waked　me　up。〃

〃It　has　quite　upset　you！〃　was　the　reply。　　〃You'll　be　ill　after　this；　I
am　sure。　　Hadn't　you　better　go　and　lie　down　now？　　I'll　have　some　dinner
sent　to　you。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Viva；　rising　and　walking　to　the　edge　of　the　broad
terrace。　　〃You　are　very　kind。　　No。　　I　do　not　wish　to　lie　down。　　I
haven't　felt　so　thoroughly　awake　in〃　she　drew　a　pink　cluster　of
oleander　against　her　cheek　and　thought　a　moment〃in　several　years。〃　
There　was　a　new　look　about　her　certainly。

〃Nervous　excitement；〃　her　mother…in…law　replied。　　〃You're　not　like
yourself　at　all　to…night。　　You'll　certainly　be　ill　to…morrow！〃

Viva　turned　at　this　and　again　astonished　the　old　lady　by　serenely
kissing　her。　　〃Not　at　all！〃　she　said　gaily。　　〃I'm　going　to　be　well
to…morrow。　　You　will　see！〃

She　went　to　her　room；　drew　a　chair　to　the　wide　west　window　with　the　far
off　view　and　sat　herself　down　to　think。　　Diantha's　assured　poise；　her
clear　reasoning；　her　courage；　her　common　sense；　and　something　of
tenderness　and　consecration　she　di