what diantha did-第19章
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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。〃
