what diantha did-第11章
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soso incompetent。〃
〃So am I；〃 he commented drily。 〃Are there any crackers for instance？
And how about coffee？〃
She brought the coffee； such as it was； and a can of condensed milk。
Also crackers； and fruit。 She took the baby and sat silent。
〃Shall I come home to lunch？〃 he asked。
〃Perhaps you'd better not；〃 she replied coldly。
〃Is there to be any dinner？〃
〃Dinner will be ready at six…thirty； if I have to get it myself。〃
〃If you have to get it yourself I'll allow for seven…thirty；〃 said he；
trying to be cheerful； though she seemed little pleased by it。 〃Now
don't take it so hard； Ellie。 You are a first…class architect；
anyhowone can't be everything。 We'll get another girl in time。 This
is just the common lot out here。 All the women have the same trouble。〃
〃Most women seem better able to meet it！〃 she burst forth。 〃It's not my
trade！ I'm willing to work； I like to work； but I can't _bear_
housework！ I can't seem to learn it at all！ And the servants will not
do it properly！〃
〃Perhaps they know your limitations； and take advantage of them！ But
cheer up； dear。 It's no killing matter。 Order by phone； don't forget
the ice； and I'll try to get home early and help。 Don't cry； dear girl；
I love you； even if you aren't a good cook！ And you love me； don't
you？〃
He kissed her till she had to smile back at him and give him a loving
hug； but after he had gone； the gloom settled upon her spirits once
more。 She bathed the baby； fed him； put him to sleep； and came back to
the table。 The screen door had been left ajar and the house was buzzing
with flies； hot； with a week's accumulating disorder。 The bread she
made last night in fear and trembling； was hanging fatly over the pans；
perhaps sour already。 She clapped it into the oven and turned on the
heat。
Then she stood； undetermined； looking about that messy kitchen while the
big flies bumped and buzzed on the windows； settled on every dish； and
swung in giddy circles in the middle of the room。 Turning swiftly she
shut the door on them。 The dining…room was nearly as bad。 She began to
put the cups and plates together for removal； but set her tray down
suddenly and went into the comparative coolness of the parlor； closing
the dining…room door behind her。
She was quite tired enough to cry after several nights of broken rest
and days of constant discomfort and irritation； but a sense of rising
anger kept the tears back。
〃Of course I love him！〃 she said to herself aloud but softly；
remembering the baby； 〃And no doubt he loves me！ I'm glad to be his
wife！ I'm glad to be a mother to his child！ I'm glad I married him！
But_this_ is not what he offered！ And it's not what I undertook！ He
hasn't had to change his business！〃
She marched up and down the scant space； and then stopped short and
laughed drily； continuing her smothered soliloquy。
〃'Do you love me？' they ask； and； 'I will make you happy！' they say； and
you get marriedand after that it's Housework！〃
〃They don't say； 'Will you be my Cook？' 'Will you be my Chamber maid？'
'Will you give up a good clean well…paid business that you lovethat
has big hope and power and beauty in itand come and keep house for
me？'〃
〃Love him？ I'd be in Paris this minute if I didn't！ What has 'love' to
do with dust and grease and flies！〃
Then she did drop on the small sofa and cry tempestuously for a little
while； but soon arose； fiercely ashamed of her weakness； and faced the
day； thinking of the old lady who had so much to do she couldn't think
what to firstso she sat down and made a pincushion。
Thenwhere to begin！
〃Eddie will sleep till half…past tenif I'm lucky。 It's now nearly
half…past nine；〃 she meditated aloud。 〃If I do the upstairs work I
might wake him。 I mustn't forget the bread； the dishes； the parlorO
those flies！ WellI'll clear the table first！〃
Stepping softly； and handling the dishes with slow care； she cleaned the
breakfast table and darkened the dining…room； flapping out some of the
flies with a towel。 Then she essayed the parlor； dusting and arranging
with undecided steps。 〃It _ought_ to be swept；〃 she admitted to
herself； 〃I can't do itthere isn't time。 I'll make it dark〃
〃I'd rather plan a dozen houses！〃 she fiercely muttered； as she fussed
about。 〃YesI'd rather build 'emthan to keep one clean！〃
Then were her hopes dashed by a rising wail from above。 She sat quite
still awhile； hoping against hope that he would sleep again； but he
wouldn't。 So she brought him down in full cry。
In her low chair by the window she held him and produced bright and
jingling objects from the tall workbasket that stood near by； sighing
again as she glanced at its accumulated mending。
Master Eddy grew calm and happy in her arms； but showed a growing
interest in the pleasing materials produced for his amusement； and a
desire for closer acquaintance。 Then a penetrating odor filled the air；
and with a sudden 〃O dear！〃 she rose； put the baby on the sofa； and
started toward the kitchen。
At this moment the doorbell rang。
Mrs。 Porne stopped in her tracks and looked at the door。 It remained
opaque and immovable。 She looked at the babywho jiggled his spools
and crowed。 Then she flew to the oven and dragged forth the bread； not
much burned after all。 Then she opened the door。
A nice looking young woman stood before her； in a plain travelling suit；
holding a cheap dress…suit case in one hand and a denim 〃roll…bag〃 in
the other； who met her with a cheerful inquiring smile。
〃Are you Mrs。 Edgar Porne？〃 she asked。
〃I am；〃 answered that lady； somewhat shortly； her hand on the doorknob；
her ear on the baby； her nose still remorsefully in the kitchen； her
eyes fixed sternly on her visitor the while； as she wondered whether it
was literature； cosmetics； or medicine。
She was about to add that she didn't want anything； when the young lady
produced a card from the Rev。 Benjamin A。 Miner； Mrs。 Porne's
particularly revered minister； and stated that she had heard there was a
vacancy in her kitchen and she would like the place。
〃Introducing Mrs。 D。 Bell； well known to friends of mine。〃
〃I don't know〃 said Mrs。 Porne； reading the card without in the least
grasping what it said。 〃I〃
Just then there was a dull falling sound followed by a sharp rising one；
and she rushed into the parlor without more words。
When she could hear and be heard again； she found Mrs。 Bell seated in
the shadowy little hall； serene and cool。 〃I called on Mr。 Miner
yesterday when I arrived；〃 said she； 〃with letters of introduction from
my former minister； told him what I wanted to do； and asked him if he
could suggest anyone in immediate need of help in this line。 He said he
had called here recently； and believed you were looking for someone。
Here is the letter I showed him；〃 and she handed Mrs。 Porne a most
friendly and appreciative recommendation of Miss D。 Bell by a minister
in Jopalez； Inca Co。； stating that the bearer was fully qualified to do
all kinds of housework； experienced； honest； kind； had worked seven
years in one place； and only left it hoping to do better in Southern
California。
Backed by her own pastor's approval this seemed to Mrs。 Porne fully
sufficient。 The look of the girl pleased her； though suspiciously above
her station in manner； service of any sort was scarce and high in
Orchardina； and she had been an agelong week without any。 〃When can you
come？〃 she asked。
〃I can stop now if you like；〃 said the stranger。 〃This is my baggage。
But we must arrange terms first。 If you like to try me I will come this
week from noon to…day to noon next Friday； for seven dollars； and then
if you are satisfied with my work we can make further arrangements。 I
do not do laundry work； of course； and don't undertake to have any care
of the baby。〃
〃I take care of my baby myself！〃 said Mrs。 Porne； thinking the new girl
was presuming； though her manner was most gently respectful。 But a week
was not long； she was well recommended； and the immediate pressure in
that kitchen where the harvest was so ripe and the laborers so
few〃Wellyou may try the week；〃 she said。 〃I'll show you yo
