what diantha did-第13章
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Diantha found it hard to write her home letters； especially to Ross。
She could not tell them of all she meant to do； and she must tell them
of this part of it； at once； before they heard of it through others。
To leave hometo leave school…teaching； to leave loveand 〃go out to
service〃 did not seem a step up； that was certain。 But she set her red
lips tighter and wrote the letters； wrote them and mailed them that
evening； tired though she was。
Three letters came back quickly。
Her mother's answer was affectionate； patient； and trustful； though not
understanding。
Her sister's was as unpleasant as she had expected。
〃The _idea！_〃 wrote Mrs。 Susie。 〃A girl with a good home to live in and
another to look forward toand able to earn money _respectably！_ to go
out and work like a common Irish girl！ Why Gerald is so mortified he
can't face his friendsand I'm as ashamed as I can be！ My own sister！
You must be _crazy_simply _crazy！_〃
It was hard on them。 Diantha had faced her own difficulties bravely
enough； and sympathized keenly with her mother； and with Ross； but she
had not quite visualized the mortification of her relatives。 She found
tears in her eyes over her mother's letter。 Her sister's made her both
sorry and angrya most disagreeable feelingas when you step on the
cat on the stairs。 Ross's letter she held some time without opening。
She was in her little upstairs room in the evening。 She had swept；
scoured； scalded and carbolized it； and the hospitally smell was now
giving way to the soft richness of the outer air。 The 〃hoo！ hoo！〃 of
the little mourning owl came to her ears through the whispering night；
and large moths beat noiselessly against the window screen。 She kissed
the letter again； held it tightly to her heart for a moment； and opened
it。
〃Dearest： I have your letter with itssomewhat surprisingnews。 It is
a comfort to know where you are； that you are settled and in no danger。
〃I can readily imagine that this is but the preliminary to something
else； as you say so repeatedly； and I can understand also that you are
too wise to tell me all you mean to be beforehand。
〃I will be perfectly frank with you； Dear。
〃In the first place I love you。 I shall love you always； whatever you
do。 But I will not disguise from you that this whole business seems to
me unutterably foolish and wrong。
〃I suppose you expect by some mysterious process to 〃develope〃 and
〃elevate〃 this housework business； and to make money。 I should not love
you any better if you made a millionand I would not take money from
youyou know that； I hope。 If in the years we must wait before we can
marry； you are happier away from meworking in strange kitchensor
officesthat is your affair。
〃I shall not argue nor plead with you； Dear Girl； I know you think you
are doing right； and I have no right； nor power； to prevent you。 But if
my wish were right and power； you would be here to…night； under the
shadow of the acacia boughsin my arms！
〃Any time you feel like coming back you will be welcome； Dear。
〃Yours； Ross。〃
Any time she felt like coming back？
Diantha slipped down in a little heap by the bed； her face on the
letterher arms spread wide。 The letter grew wetter and wetter； and
her shoulders shook from time to time。
But the hands were tight…clenched； and if you had been near enough you
might have heard a dogged repetition； monotonous as a Tibetan prayer
mill： 〃It is right。 It is right。 It is right。〃 And then。 〃Help
meplease！ I need it。〃 Diantha was not 〃gifted in prayer。〃
When Mr。 Porne came home that night he found the wifely smile which is
supposed to greet all returning husbands quite genuinely in evidence。
〃O Edgar！〃 cried she in a triumphant whisper； 〃I've got such a nice
girl！ She's just as neat and quick； you've no idea the work she's done
todayit looks like another place already。 But if things look queer at
dinner don't notice itfor I've just given her her head。 I was so
tired； and baby bothered so； and she said that perhaps she could manage
all by herself if I was willing to risk it； so I took baby for a
car…ride and have only just got back。 And I _think_ the dinner's going
to be lovely！〃
It was lovely。 The dining…room was cool and flyless。 The table was set
with an assured touch。 A few of Orchardina's ever ready roses in a
glass bowl gave an air of intended beauty Mrs。 Porne had had no time
for。
The food was well…cooked and well…served； and the attendance showed an
intelligent appreciation of when people want things and how they want
them。
Mrs。 Porne quite glowed with exultation； but her husband gently
suggested that the newness of the broom was visibly uppermost； and that
such palpable perfections were probably accompanied by some drawbacks。
But he liked her looks； he admitted； and the cooking would cover a
multitude of sins。
On this they rested； while the week went by。 It was a full week； and a
short one。 Mrs。 Porne； making hay while the sun shone； caught up a
little in her sewing and made some conscience…tormenting calls。
When Thursday night came around she was simply running over with
information to give her husband。
〃Such a talk as I have had with Miss Bell！ She is so queer！ But she's
nice too； and it's all reasonable enough； what she says。 You know she's
studied this thing all out； and she knows about itstatistics and
things。 I was astonished till I found she used to teach school。 Just
think of it！ And to be willing to work out！ She certainly does her
work beautiful； butit doesn't seem like having a servant at all。 I
feel as if Iboarded with her！〃
〃Why she seemed to me very modest and unpresuming；〃 put in Mr。 Porne。
〃O yes； she never presumes。 But I mean the capable way she managesI
don't have to tell her one thing； nor to oversee； nor criticize。 I
spoke of it and she said； 'If I didn't understand the business I should
have no right to undertake it。〃
〃That's a new point of view； isn't it？〃 asked her husband。 〃Don't they
usually make you teach them their trade and charge for the privilege？〃
〃Yes； of course they do。 But then she does have her disadvantagesas
you said。〃
〃Does she？ What are they？〃
〃Why she's sorigid。 I'll read you herI don't know what to call it。
She's written out a definite proposition as to her staying with us； and
I want you to study it； it's the queerest thing I ever saw。〃
The document was somewhat novel。 A clear statement of the hours of
labor required in the position； the quality and amount of the different
kinds of work； the terms on which she was willing to undertake it； and
all prefaced by a few remarks on the status of household labor which
made Mr。 Porne open his eyes。
Thus Miss Bell； 〃The ordinary rate for labor in this state； unskilled
labor of the ordinary sort； is 2。00 a day。 This is in return for the
simplest exertion of brute force； under constant supervision and
direction； and involving no serious risk to the employer。〃
〃Household labor calls for the practice of several distinct crafts； and；
to be properly done； requires thorough training and experience。 Its
performer is not only in a position of confidence； as necessarily
entrusted with the care of the employer's goods and with knowledge of
the most intimate family relations； but the work itself； in maintaining
the life and health of the members of the household； is of most vital
importance。
〃In consideration of existing economic conditions； however； I am willing
to undertake these intricate and responsible duties for a seven day week
at less wages than are given the street…digger； for 1。50 a day。〃
〃Good gracious； my dear！〃 said Mr。 Porne； laying down the paper； 〃This
young woman does appreciate her business！ And we're to be let off easy
at 45。00 a month； are we〃
〃And feel under obligations at that！〃 answered his wife。 〃But you read
ahead。 It is most instructive。 We shall have to ask her to read a
paper for the Club！〃
〃'In further consideration of the conditions of the time； I am willing
to accept part payment in board and lodging instead of cash。 Such
accommodations as are usually offered with this position ma
