what diantha did-第20章
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impressed。 She is evidently a young woman of knowledge and experience；
and put her case well。 It has quite waked me up。〃
〃It has quite upset you！〃 was the reply。 〃You'll be ill after this； I
am sure。 Hadn't you better go and lie down now？ I'll have some dinner
sent to you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Viva； rising and walking to the edge of the broad
terrace。 〃You are very kind。 No。 I do not wish to lie down。 I
haven't felt so thoroughly awake in〃 she drew a pink cluster of
oleander against her cheek and thought a moment〃in several years。〃
There was a new look about her certainly。
〃Nervous excitement；〃 her mother…in…law replied。 〃You're not like
yourself at all to…night。 You'll certainly be ill to…morrow！〃
Viva turned at this and again astonished the old lady by serenely
kissing her。 〃Not at all！〃 she said gaily。 〃I'm going to be well
to…morrow。 You will see！〃
She went to her room； drew a chair to the wide west window with the far
off view and sat herself down to think。 Diantha's assured poise； her
clear reasoning； her courage； her common sense； and something of
tenderness and consecration she discerned also； had touched deep chords
in this woman's nature。 It was like the sound of far doors opening；
windows thrown up； the jingle of bridles and clatter of hoofs； keen
bugle notes。 A sense of hope； of power； of new enthusiasm； rose in her。
Orchardina Society； eagerly observing 〃young Mrs。 Weatherstone〃 from her
first appearance； had always classified her as 〃delicate。〃 Beside the
firm features and high color of the matron…in…office； this pale quiet
slender woman looked like a meek and transient visitor。 But her white
forehead was broad under its soft…hanging eaves of hair； and her chin；
though lacking in prognathous prominence or bull…dog breadth； had a
certain depth which gave hope to the physiognomist。
She was strangely roused and stirred by the afternoon's events。 〃I'm
like that man in 'Phantastes'；〃 she thought contemptuously； 〃who stayed
so long in that dungeon because it didn't occur to him to open the door！
Why don't I？〃 she rose and walked slowly up and down； her hands
behind her。 〃I will！〃 she said at last。
Then she dressed for dinner； revolving in her mind certain suspicions
long suppressed； but now flaming out in clear conviction in the light of
Diantha's words。 〃Sleeping in； indeed！〃 she murmured to herself。 〃And
nobody doing anything！〃
She looked herself in the eye in the long mirror。 Her gown was an
impressive one； her hair coiled high； a gold band ringed it like a
crown。 A clear red lit her checks。
She rang。 Little Ilda； the newest maid； appeared； gazing at her in shy
admiration。 Mrs。 Weatherstone looked at her with new eyes。 〃Have you
been here long？〃 she asked。 〃What is your name？〃
〃No； ma'am；〃 said the childshe was scarce more。 〃Only a week and two
days。 My name is Ilda。〃
〃Who engaged you？〃
〃Mrs。 Halsey； ma'am。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone； musing to herself； 〃and I engaged Mrs。
Halsey！〃 〃Do you like it here？〃 she continued kindly。
〃Oh yes； ma'am！〃 said Ilda。 〃That is〃 she stopped； blushed； and
continued bravely。 〃I like to work for you； ma'am。〃
〃Thank you； Ilda。 Will you ask Mrs。 Halsey to come to meat once；
please。〃
Ilda went； more impressed than ever with the desirability of her new
place； and mistress。
As she was about to pass the door of Mr。 Matthew Weatherstone； that
young gentleman stepped out and intercepted her。 〃Whither away so fast；
my dear？〃 he amiably inquired。
〃Please let one pass； sir！ I'm on an errand。 Please； sir？〃
〃You must give me a kiss first！〃 said heand since there seemed no
escape and she was in haste； she submitted。 He took sixand she ran
away half crying。
Mrs。 Halsey； little accustomed to take orders from her real mistress；
and resting comfortably in her room； had half a mind to send an excuse。
〃I'm not dressed；〃 she said to the maid。
〃Well she is！〃 replied Ilda； 〃dressed splendid。 She said 'at once；
please。'〃
〃A pretty time o' day！〃 said the housekeeper with some asperity； hastily
buttoning her gown； and she presently appeared； somewhat heated； before
Mrs。 Weatherstone。
That lady was sitting； cool and gracious； her long ivory paper…cutter
between the pages of a new magazine。
〃In how short a time could you pack； Mrs。 Halsey？〃 she inquired。
〃Pack； ma'am？ I'm not accustomed to doing packing。 I'll send one of
the maids。 Is it your things； ma'am？〃
〃No；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone。 〃It is yours I refer to。 I wish you to
pack your things and leave the housein an hour。 One of the maids can
help you； if necessary。 Anything you cannot take can be sent after you。
Here is a check for the following month's wages。〃
Mrs。 Halsey was nearly a head taller than her employer； a stout showy
woman； handsome enough； red…lipped； and with a moist and crafty eye。
This was so sudden a misadventure that she forgot her usual caution。
〃You've no right to turn me off in a minute like this！〃 she burst forth。
〃I'll leave it to Madam Weatherstone！〃
〃If you will look at the terms on which I engaged you； Mrs。 Halsey； you
will find that a month's warning； or a month's wages； was specified。
Here are the wagesas to the warning； that has been given for some
months past！〃
〃By whom； Ma'am？〃
〃By yourself； Mrs。 HalseyI think you understand me。 Oscar will take
your things as soon as they are ready。〃
Mrs。 Halsey met her steady eye a momentsaw more than she cared to
faceand left the room。
She took care； however； to carry some letters to Madam Weatherstone； and
meekly announced her discharge； also； by some coincidence； she met Mr。
Matthew in the hall upstairs； and weepingly confided her grievance to
him； meeting immediate consolation； both sentimental and practical。
When hurried servants were sent to find their young mistress they
reported that she must have gone out； and in truth she had； out on her
own roof； where she sat quite still； though shivering a little now and
then from the new excitement； until dinner time。
This meal； in the mind of Madam Weatherstone； was the crowning factor of
daily life； and； on state occasions； of social life。 In her cosmogony
the central sun was a round mahogany table； all other details of
housekeeping revolved about it in varying orbits。 To serve an endless
series of dignified delicious meals； notably dinners； was； in her eyes；
the chief end of woman； the most high purpose of the home。
Therefore； though angry and astounded； she appeared promptly when the
meal was announced； and when her daughter…in…law； serene and royally
attired； took her place as usual； no emotion was allowed to appear
before the purple footman who attended。
〃I understood you were out； Viva；〃 she said politely。
〃I was；〃 replied Viva； with equal decorum。 〃It is charming outside at
this time in the eveningdon't you think so？〃
Young Matthew was gloomy and irritable throughout the length and breadth
of the meal； and when they were left with their coffee in the drawing
room； he broke out； 〃What's this I hear about Mrs。 Halsey being fired
without notice？〃
〃That is what I wish to know； Viva；〃 said the grandmother。 〃The poor
woman is greatly distressed。 Is there not some mistake？〃
〃It's a damn shame；〃 said Matthew。
The younger lady glanced from one to the other； and wondered to see how
little she minded it。 〃The door was there all the time！〃 she thought to
herself； as she looked her stepson in the eye and said； 〃Hardly
drawing…room language； Matthew。 Your grandmother is present！〃
He stared at her in dumb amazement； so she went on； 〃No； there is no
mistake at all。 I discharged Mrs。 Halsey about an hour before dinner。
The terms of the engagement were a month's warning or a month's wages。
I gave her the wages。〃
〃But！ but！〃 Madam Weatherstone was genuinely confused by this sudden
inexplicable； yet perfectly polite piece of what she still felt to be in
the nature of 'interference' and 'presumption。' 〃I have had no fault to
find with her。〃
〃I have； you see；〃 said her daughter…in…law smiling。 〃I found her
unsatisfactory and shall replace her with something better presently。
Ho
