what diantha did-第32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！


Writer　as　visitors；　and　gave　entertainments　of　almost　Roman
magnificence。

Her　husband　grew　more　and　more　restive　under　the　rising　tide　of　social
exactions　in　dress　and　deportment；　and　spent　more　and　more　time　behind
his　fast　horses；　or　on　the　stock…ranch　where　he　raised　them。　　As　a
neighbor　and　fellow　ranchman；　he　scraped　acquaintance　with　Ross　Warden；
and　was　able　to　render　him　many　small　services　in　the　process　of
settling。

Mrs。　Warden　remembered　his　visit　to　Jopalez；　and　it　took　her　some　time
to　rearrange　him　in　her　mind　as　a　person　of　wealth　and　standing。　　Having
so　rearranged　him；　on　sufficient　evidence；　she　and　her　daughters　became
most　friendly；　and　had　hopes　of　establishing　valuable　acquaintance　in
the　town。　　〃It's　not　for　myself　I　care；〃　she　would　explain　to　Ross；
every　day　in　the　week　and　more　on　Sundays；　〃but　for　the　girls。　　In　that
dreadful　Jopalez　there　was　absolutely　_no_　opportunity　for　them；　but
here；　with　horses；　there　is　no　reason　we　should　not　have　friends。　　You
must　consider　your　sisters；　Ross！　　Do　be　more　cordial　to　Mr。　Thaddler。〃

But　Ross　could　not　at　present　be　cordial　to　anybody。　　His　unexpected
good　fortune；　the　freedom　from　hated　cares；　and　chance　to　work　out　his
mighty　theories　on　the　faithful　guinea…pig；　ought　to　have　filled　his
soul　with　joy；　but　Diantha's　cruel　obstinacy　had　embittered　his　cup　of
joy。　　He　could　not　break　with　her；　she　had　not　refused　him；　and　it　was
difficult　in　cold　blood　to　refuse　her。

He　had　stayed　away　for　two　whole　weeks；　in　which　time　the　guinea…pigs
nibbled　at　ease　and　Diantha's　work　would　have　suffered　except　for　her
mother's　extra　efforts。　　Then　he　went　to　see　her　again；　miserable　but
stubborn；　finding　her　also　miserable　and　also　stubborn。　　They　argued
till　there　was　grave　danger　of　an　absolute　break　between　them；　then
dropped　the　subject　by　mutual　agreement；　and　spent　evenings　of
unsatisfying　effort　to　talk　about　other　things。

Diantha　and　her　mother　called　on　Mrs。　Warden；　of　course；　admiring　the
glorious　view；　the　sweet　high　air；　and　the　embowered　loveliness　of　the
two　ranch　houses。　　Ross　drew　Diantha　aside　and　showed　her　〃theirs〃a
lovely　little　wide…porched　concrete　cottage；　with　a　red…tiled　roof；　and
heavy　masses　of　Gold　of　Ophir　and　Banksia　roses。

He　held　her　hand　and　drew　her　close　to　him。

He　kissed　her　when　they　were　safe　inside；　and　murmured：　〃Come；
darlingwon't　you　come　and　be　my　wife？〃

〃I　will；　Rosswhenever　you　saybut！〃　　She　would　not　agree　to　give　up
her　work；　and　he　flung　away　from　her　in　reckless　despair。　　Mrs。　Warden
and　the　girls　returned　the　call　as　a　matter　of　duty；　but　came　no　more；
the　mother　saying　that　she　could　not　take　her　daughters　to　a　Servant
Girls'　Club。

And　though　the　Servant　Girls'　Club　was　soon　removed　to　its　new　quarters
and　Union　House　became　a　quiet；　well…conducted　hotel；　still　the　two
families　saw　but　little　of　each　other。

Mrs。　Warden　naturally　took　her　son's　side；　and　considered　Diantha　an
unnatural　monster　of　hard…heartedness。

The　matter　sifted　through　to　the　ears　of　Mrs。　Thaddler；　who　rejoiced　in
it；　and　called　upon　Mrs。　Warden　in　her　largest　automobile。　　As　a　mother
with　four　marriageable　daughters；　Mrs。　Warden　was　delighted　to　accept
and　improve　the　acquaintance；　but　her　aristocratic　Southern　soul　was
inwardly　rebellious　at　the　ancestorlessness　and　uncultured　moneyed　pride
of　her　new　friend。

〃If　only　Madam　Weatherstone　had　stayed！〃　she　would　complain　to　her
daughters。　　〃She　had　Family　as　well　as　Wealth。〃

〃There's　young　Mrs。　Weatherstone；　mother〃　suggested　Dora。

〃A　nobody！〃　her　mother　replied。　　〃She　has　the　Weatherstone　money；　of
course；　but　no　Position；　and　what　little　she　has　she　is　losing　by　her
low　tastes。　　She　goes　about　freely　with　Diantha　Bellher　own
housekeeper！〃

〃She's　not　her　housekeeper　now；　mother〃

〃Well；　it's　all　the　same！　　She　_was！_　　And　a　mere　general　servant　before
that！　　And　now　to　think　that　when　Ross　is　willing　to　overlook　it　all　and
marry　her；　she　won't　give　it　up！〃

They　were　all　agreed　on　this　point；　unless　perhaps　that　the　youngest　had
her　inward　reservations。　　Dora　had　always　liked　Diantha　better　than　had
the　others。

Young　Mrs。　Weatherstone　stayed　in　her　big　empty　house　for　a　while；　and
as　Mrs。　Warden　said；　went　about　frequently　with　Diantha　Bell。　　She　liked
Mrs。　Bell；　tootook　her　for　long　stimulating　rides　in　her　comfortable
car；　and　insisted　that　first　one　and　then　the　other　of　them　should　have
a　bit　of　vacation　at　her　seashore　home　before　the　winter's　work　grew　too
heavy。

With　Mrs。　Bell　she　talked　much　of　how　Diantha　had　helped　the　town。

〃She　has　no　idea　of　the　psychic　effects；　Mrs。　Bell；〃　said　she。　　〃She
sees　the　business；　and　she　has　a　great　view　of　all　it　is　going　to　do　for
women　to　come；　but　I　don't　think　she　realizes　how　much　she　is　doing
right　now　for　women　hereand　men；　too。　　There　were　my　friends　the
Pornes；　they　were　'drifting　apart；'　as　the　novels　have　itand　no
wonder。　　Isabel　was　absolutely　no　good　as　a　housekeeper；　he　naturally
didn't　like　itand　the　baby　made　it　all　the　worse；　she　pined　for　her
work；　you　see；　and　couldn't　get　any　time　for　it。　　Now　they　are　as　happy
as　can　beand　it's　just　Diantha　Bell's　doings。　　The　housework　is　off
Isabel's　shoulders。

〃Then　there　are　the　Wagrams；　and　the　Sheldons；　and　the　Brinksand　ever
so　many　morewho　have　told　me　themselves　that　they　are　far　happier　than
they　ever　were　beforeand　can　live　more　cheaply。　　She　ought　to　be　the
happiest　girl　alive！〃

Mrs。　Bell　would　agree　to　this；　and　quite　swelled　with　happiness　and
pride；　but　Mrs。　Weatherstone；　watching　narrowly；　was　not　satisfied。

When　she　had　Diantha　with　her　she　opened　fire　direct。　　〃You　ought　to　be
the　happiest；　proudest；　most　triumphant　woman　in　the　world！〃　she　said。　
〃You're　making　oodles　of　money；　your　whole　thing's　going　well；　and　look
at　your　mothershe's　made　over！〃

Diantha　smiled　and　said　she　was　happy；　but　her　eyes　would　stray　off　to
the　very　rim　of　the　ocean；　her　mouth　set　in　patient　lines　that　were　not
in　the　least　triumphant。

〃Tell　me　about　it；　my　friend；〃　said　her　hostess。　　〃Is　it　that　he　won't
let　you　keep　on　with　the　business？〃

Diantha　nodded。

〃And　you　won't　give　it　up　to　marry　him？〃

〃No；〃　said　Diantha。　　〃No。　　Why　should　I？　　I'd　marry　himto…morrow！〃　
She　held　one　hand　with　the　other；　tight；　but　they　both　shook　a　little。　
〃I'd　be　glad　to。　　But　I　will　not　give　up　my　work！〃

〃You　look　thin；〃　said　Mrs。　Weatherstone。

〃Yes〃

〃Do　you　sleep　well？〃

〃Nonot　very。〃

〃And　I　can　see　that　you　don't　eat　as　you　ought　to。　　Hm！　　Are　you　going
to　break　down？〃

〃No；〃　said　Diantha；　〃I　am　not　going　to　break　down。　　I　am　doing　what　is
right；　and　I　shall　go　on。　　It's　a　little　hard　at　firsthaving　him　so
near。　　But　I　am　young　and　strong　and　have　a　great　deal　to　doI　shall　do
it。〃

And　then　Mrs。　Weatherstone　would　tell　her　all　she　knew　of　the　intense
satisfaction　of　the　people　she　served；　and　pleasant　stories　about　the
girls。　　She　bought　her　books　to　read　and　such　gleanings　as　she　found　in
foreign　magazines　on　the　subject　of　organized　house…service。

Not　only　so；　but　she　supplied　the　Orchardina　library　with　a　special
bibliography　on　the　subject；　and　induced　the　new　Woman's　Club　to　take　up
a　course　of　reading　in　it；　so　that　there　gradually　filtered　into　the
Orchardina　mind　a　faint　perception　that　this　was　not　the　freak　of　an
eccentric　individual；　but　part　of　an　inevitable　business　development；
going　on　in　various　ways　in　many　nations。

As　the　winter　drew　on；　Mrs。　Weatherstone　whisked　away　again；　but　kept　a
warm　current　of　interest　in　Diantha's　life　by　many　letters。

Mr。　Bell　came　down　from　Jopalez　with　outer　reluctance　but　inner
satisfaction。　　He　had　rented　his　place；　and　Susie　had　three　babies　now。　
Henderson；　Jr。；　had　no　place　for　him；　and　to　do　housework　for　himself
was　no　part　of　Mr。　Bell's　plan。

In　Diantha's　hotel　he　had　a　comfortable　room　next　his　wife's；　and　a
capacious　chair　in　the　firelit　hall　in　wet　weather；　or　on　the　shaded
piazza　in　dry。　　The　excellent　library　was　a　resource　to　him；　he　found
some　congenial　souls　to　talk　with；　and　under　the　new　stimulus　succeeded
at　last　in　patenting　a　small　device　that　really　worked。　　With　this；　and
his　rent；　he　felt　inclined　to　establish　a　〃home　of　his　own；〃　and　the
soul　of　Mrs。　Bell　sank　within　her。　　Without　allowing　it　to　come　to　an
issue　between　them；　she　kept　the　question　open　for　endless　discussion；
and　Mr。　Bell　lived　on　in　great　contentment　under　the　impression　that　he
was　about　to　move　at　almost　any　time。　　To　his　friends　and　cronies　he
dilated　with　pride　on　his　daughter's　wonderful　achievements。

〃She's　as　good　as　a　boy！〃　he　would　declare。　　〃Women　nowadays　seem　to　do
anything　they　want　to！〃　　And　he　rigidly　paid　his　board　bill　with　a
flourish。

Meanwhile　the　impressive　gatherings　at　Mrs。　Thaddler's；　and　the　humbler
tea　and　card　parties　of　Diantha's　friends；　had　a　new　topic　as　a
shuttlecock。

A　New　York　company　had　bought　one　of　the　largest　and　finest　blocks　in
townthe　old　Para　placeand　was　developing　it　in　a　manner　hitherto
unseen。　　The　big；　shabby；　neglected　estate　began　to　turn　into　such　a
fairyland　as　only　southern　lands　can　know。　　The　old　live…oaks　were
untouched；　th