what diantha did-第21章
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unsatisfactory and shall replace her with something better presently。
How about a little music； Matthew？ Won't you start the victrolla？〃
Matthew wouldn't。 He was going out； went out with the word。 Madam
Weatherstone didn't wish to hear ithad a headachemust go to her
roomwent to her room forthwith。 There was a tension in the
athmosphere that would have wrung tears from Viva Weatherstone a week
ago； yes； twenty…four hours ago。
As it was she rose to her feet； stretching herself to her full height；
and walked the length of the great empty room。 She even laughed a
little。 〃It's open！〃 said she； and ordered the car。 While waiting for
it she chatted with Mrs。 Porne awhile over the all…convenient telephone。
*
Diantha sat at her window； watching the big soft； brilliant moon behind
the eucalyptus trees。 After the close of the strenuous meeting； she had
withdrawn from the crowd of excited women anxious to shake her hand and
engage her on the spot； had asked time to consider a number of good
opportunities offered； and had survived the cold and angry glances of
the now smaller but far more united Home and Culture Club。 She declined
to talk to the reporters； and took refuge first in an open car。 This
proved very unsatisfactory； owing to her sudden prominence。 Two
persistent newspaper men swung themselves upon the car also and insisted
on addressing her。
〃Excuse me； gentlemen；〃 she said； 〃I am not acquainted with you。〃
They eagerly produced their cardsand said they were 〃newspaper men。〃
〃I see；〃 said Diantha； 〃But you are still men？ And gentlemen； I
suppose？ I am a woman； and I do not wish to talk with you。〃
〃Miss Bell Declines to Be Interviewed；〃 wrote the reporters； and spent
themselves on her personal appearance； being favorably impressed
thereby。
But Miss Bell got off at the next corner and took a short cut to the
house where she had rented a room。 Reporters were waiting there； two
being women。
Diantha politely but firmly declined to see them and started for the
stairs； but they merely stood in front of her and asked questions。 The
girl's blood surged to her cheeks； she smiled grimly； kept absolute
silence； brushed through them and went swiftly to her room； locking the
door after her。
The reporters described her appearanceunfavorably this time； and they
described the housealso unfavorably。 They said that 〃A group of
adoring…eyed young men stood about the doorway as the flushed heroine of
the afternoon made her brusque entrance。〃 These adorers consisted of
the landlady's Johnny； aged thirteen； and two satellites of his； still
younger。 They _did_ look at Diantha admiringly； and she _was_ a little
hurried in her entrancetruth must be maintained。
Too irritated and tired to go out for dinner； she ate an orange or two；
lay down awhile； and then eased her mind by writing a long letter to
Ross and telling him all about it。 That is； she told him most of it；
all the pleasant things； all the funny things； leaving out about the
reporters； because she was too angry to be just； she told herself。 She
wrote and wrote； becoming peaceful as the quiet moments passed； and a
sense grew upon her of the strong； lasting love that was waiting so
patiently。
〃Dearest；〃 her swift pen flew along； 〃I really feel much encouraged。 An
impression has been made。 One or two men spoke to me afterward； the
young minister； who said such nice things； and one older man； who looked
prosperous and reliable。 'When you begin any such business as you have
outlined； you may count on me； Miss Bell；' he said； and gave me his
card。 He's a lawyerP。 L。 Wiscomb； nice man； I should think。 Another
big； sheepish…looking man said； 'And me； Miss Bell。' His name is
Thaddler； his wife is very disagreeable。 Some of the women are
favorably impressed； but the old…fashioned kindmy！ 'If hate killed
men； Brother Lawrence！'but it don't。〃
She wrote herself into a good humor； and dwelt at considerable length on
the pleasant episode of the minister and young Mrs。 Weatherstone's
remarks。 〃I liked her；〃 she wrote。 〃She's a nice womaneven if she is
rich。〃
There was a knock at her door。 〃Lady to see you； Miss。〃
〃I cannot see anyone；〃 said Diantha； 〃you must excuse me。〃
〃Beg pardon； Miss； but it's not a reporter； it's。〃 The landlady
stretched her lean neck around the door edge and whispered hoarsely；
〃It's young Mrs。 Weatherstone！〃
Diantha rose to her feet； a little bewildered。 〃I'll be right down；〃
she said。 But a voice broke in from the hall； 〃I beg your pardon； Miss
Bell； but I took the liberty of coming up； may I come in？〃
She came in； and the landlady perforce went out。 Mrs。 Weatherstone held
Diantha's hand warmly； and looked into her eyes。 〃I was a schoolmate of
Ellen Porne；〃 she told the girl。 〃We are dear friends still； and so I
feel that I know you better than you think。 You have done beautiful
work for Mrs。 Porne； now I want you to do to it for me。 I need you。〃
〃Won't you sit down？〃 said Diantha。
〃You； too；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone。 〃Now I want you to come to
meright away。 You have done me so much good already。 I was just a
New England bred school teacher myself at first； so we're even that far。
Then you took a step upand I took a step down。〃
Diantha was a little slow in understanding the quick fervor of this new
friend； a trifle suspicious； even； being a cautious soul； and somewhat
overstrung； perhaps。 Her visitor； bright…eyed and eager； went on。 〃I
gave up school teaching and married a fortune。 You have given it up to
do a more needed work。 I think you are wonderful。 Now； I know this
seems queer to you； but I want to tell you about it。 I feel sure you'll
understand。 At home； Madam Weatherstone has had everything in charge
for years and years； and I've been too lazy or too weak； or too
indifferent； to do anything。 I didn't care； somehow。 All the machinery
of living； and no _living_no good of it all！ Yet there didn't seem to
be anything else to do。 Now you have waked me all upyour paper this
afternoonwhat Mr。 Eltwood saidthe way those poor； dull； blind women
took it。 And yet I was just as dull and blind myself！ Well； I begin to
see things now。 I can't tell you all at once what a difference it has
made； but I have a very definite proposition to make to you。 Will you
come and be my housekeeper； nowright awayat a hundred dollars a
month？〃
Diantha opened her eyes wide and looked at the eager lady as if she
suspected her nervous balance。
〃The other one got a thousand a yearyou are worth more。 Now； don't
decline； please。 Let me tell you about it。 I can see that you have
plans ahead； for this business； but it can't hurt you much to put them
off six months； say。 Meantime； you could be practicing。 Our place at
Santa Ulrica is almost as big as this one； there are lots of servants
and a great； weary maze of accounts to be kept； and it wouldn't be bad
practice for younow； would it？〃
Diantha's troubled eyes lit up。 〃Noyou are right there；〃 she said。
〃If I could do it！〃
〃You'll have to do just that sort of thing when you are running your
business； won't you？〃 her visitor went on。 〃And the summer's not a good
time to start a thing like that； is it？〃
Diantha meditated。 〃No； I wasn't going to。 I was going to start
somewheretake a cottage； a dozen girls or soand furnish labor by the
day to the other cottages。〃
〃Well； you might be able to run that on the side；〃 said Mrs。
Weatherstone。 〃And you could train my girls； get in new ones if you
like； it doesn't seem to me it would conflict。 But to speak to you
quite frankly； Miss Bell； I want you in the house for my own sake。 You
do me good。〃
They discussed the matter for some time； Diantha objecting mainly to the
suddenness of it all。 〃I'm a slow thinker；〃 she said； 〃and this is
soso attractive that I'm suspicious of it。 I had the other thing all
plannedthe girls practically engaged。〃
〃Where were you thinking of going？〃 asked Mrs。 Weatherstone。
〃To Santa Ulrica。〃
〃Exactly！ Well； you shall have your cottage and our girls and give them
part time。 Orhow many have you arranged with？〃
〃Only six have made definite engageme
