what diantha did-第2章
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embroidering a large； intricate designfor Roscoe。 She was an
ambitious child； but apt to tire in the execution of her large projects。
〃I guess it'll be done；〃 she said； a little wearily。 〃What are you going
to give him； mother？〃
〃Another bath…robe； his old one is so worn。 And nothing is too good for
my boy。〃
〃He's coming；〃 said Adeline； who was still looking down the road； and
they all concealed their birthday work in haste。
A tall； straight young fellow； with an air of suddenly…faced maturity
upon him； opened the gate under the pepper trees and came toward them。
He had the finely molded features we see in portraits of handsome
ancestors； seeming to call for curling hair a little longish； and a rich
profusion of ruffled shirt。 But his hair was sternly short； his shirt
severely plain； his proudly carried head spoke of effort rather than of
ease in its attitude。
Dora skipped to meet him； Cora descended a decorous step or two。
Madeline and Adeline； arm in arm； met him at the piazza edge； his mother
lifted her face。
〃Well； mother； dear！〃 Affectionately he stooped and kissed her； and she
held his hand and stroked it lovingly。 The sisters gathered about with
teasing affection； Dora poking in his coat…pocket for the stick candy
her father always used to bring her； and her brother still remembered。
〃Aren't you home early； dear？〃 asked Mrs。 Warden。
〃Yes； I had a little headache〃he passed his hand over his
forehead〃and Joe can run the store till after supper； anyhow。〃 They
flew to get him camphor； cologne； a menthol…pencil。 Dora dragged forth
the wicker lounge。 He was laid out carefully and fanned and fussed over
till his mother drove them all away。
〃Now； just rest；〃 she said。 〃It's an hour to supper time yet！〃 And she
covered him with her latest completed afghan； gathering up and carrying
away the incomplete one and its tumultuous constituents。
He was glad of the quiet； the fresh； sweet air； the smell of flowers
instead of the smell of molasses and cheese； soap and sulphur matches。
But the headache did not stop； nor the worry that caused it。 He loved
his mother； he loved his sisters； he loved their home； but he did not
love the grocery business which had fallen so unexpectedly upon him at
his father's death； nor the load of debt which fell with it。
That they need never have had so large a 〃place〃 to 〃keep up〃 did not
occur to him。 He had lived there most of his life； and it was home。
That the expenses of running the household were three times what they
needed to be； he did not know。 His father had not questioned their
style of living； nor did he。 That a family of five women might； between
them； do the work of the house； he did not even consider。
Mrs。 Warden's health was never good； and since her husband's death she
had made daily use of many afghans on the many lounges of the house。
Madeline was 〃delicate；〃 and Adeline was 〃frail〃； Cora was 〃nervous；〃
Dora was 〃only a child。〃 So black Sukey and her husband Jonah did the
work of the place； so far as it was done； and Mrs。 Warden held it a
miracle of management that she could 〃do with one servant；〃 and the
height of womanly devotion on her daughters' part that they dusted the
parlor and arranged the flowers。
Roscoe shut his eyes and tried to rest； but his problem beset him
ruthlessly。 There was the storetheir one and only source of income。
There was the house； a steady； large expense。 There were five women to
clothe and keep contented； beside himself。 There was the unappeasable
demand of the mortgageand there was Diantha。
When Mr。 Warden died； some four years previously； Roscoe was a lad of
about twenty； just home from college； full of dreams of great service to
the world in science； expecting to go back for his doctor's degree next
year。 Instead of which the older man had suddenly dropped beneath the
burden he had carried with such visible happiness and pride； such
unknown anxiety and straining effort； and the younger one had to step
into the harness on the spot。
He was brave； capable； wholly loyal to his mother and sisters； reared in
the traditions of older days as to a man's duty toward women。 In his
first grief for his father； and the ready pride with which he undertook
to fill his place； he had not in the least estimated the weight of care
he was to carry； nor the time that he must carry it。 A year； a year or
two； a few years； he told himself； as they passed； and he would make
more money； the girls； of course； would marry； he could 〃retire〃 in time
and take up his scientific work again。 Thenthere was Diantha。
When he found he loved this young neighbor of theirs； and that she loved
him； the first flush of happiness made all life look easier。 They had
been engaged six monthsand it was beginning to dawn upon the young man
that it might be six yearsor sixteen yearsbefore he could marry。
He could not sell the businessand if he could； he knew of no better
way to take care of his family。 The girls did not marry； and even when
they did； he had figured this out to a dreary certainty； he would still
not be free。 To pay the mortgages off； and keep up the house； even
without his sisters； would require all the money the store would bring
in for some six years ahead。 The young man set his teeth hard and
turned his head sharply toward the road。
And there was Diantha。
She stood at the gate and smiled at him。 He sprang to his feet；
headacheless for the moment； and joined her。 Mrs。 Warden； from the
lounge by her bedroom window； saw them move off together； and sighed。
〃Poor Roscoe！〃 she said to herself。 〃It is very hard for him。 But he
carries his difficulties nobly。 He is a son to be proud of。〃 And she
wept a little。
Diantha slipped her hand in his offered armhe clasped it warmly with
his； and they walked along together。
〃You won't come in and see mother and the girls？〃
〃No； thank you； not this time。 I must get home and get supper。
Besides； I'd rather see just you。〃
He felt it a pity that there were so many houses along the road here；
but squeezed her hand； anyhow。
She looked at him keenly。 〃Headache？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； it's nothing； it's gone already。〃
〃Worry？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； I suppose it is；〃 he answered。 〃But I ought not to worry。 I've
got a good home； a good mother； good sisters； andyou！〃 And he took
advantage of a high hedge and an empty lot on either side of them。
Diantha returned his kiss affectionately enough； but seemed preoccupied；
and walked in silence till he asked her what she was thinking about。
〃About you； of course；〃 she answered； brightly。 〃There are things I want
to say； and yetI ought not to。〃
〃You can say anything on earth to me；〃 he answered。
〃You are twenty…four；〃 she began； musingly。
〃Admitted at once。〃
〃And I'm twenty…one and a half。〃
〃That's no such awful revelation； surely！〃
〃And we've been engaged ever since my birthday；〃 the girl pursued。
〃All these are facts； dearest。〃
〃Now； Ross； will you be perfectly frank with me？ May I ask you anan
impertinent question？〃
〃You may ask me any question you like； it couldn't be impertinent。〃
〃You'll be scandalised； I knowbutwell； here goes。 What would you
think if Madelineor any of the girlsshould go away to work？〃
He looked at her lovingly； but with a little smile on his firm mouth。
〃I shouldn't allow it；〃 he said。
〃Oallow it？ I asked you what you'd think。〃
〃I should think it was a disgrace to the family； and a direct reproach
to me；〃 be answered。 〃But it's no use talking about that。 None of the
girls have any such foolish notion。 And I wouldn't permit it if they
had。〃
Diantha smiled。 〃I suppose you never would permit your wife to work？〃
〃My widow might have tonot my wife。〃 He held his fine head a trifle
higher； and her hand ached for a moment。
〃Wouldn't you let me workto help you； Ross？〃
〃My dearest girl； you've got something far harder than that to do for
me； and that's wait。〃
His face darkened again； and he passed his hand over his forehead。
〃Sometimes I feel as if I ought not to hold you at all！〃 he burst out；
bitterly。 〃You ought to be free to marry a better man。
