what diantha did-第24章
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knew their own power！Well； there's plenty of time。〃
As her acquaintance increased； and as Mrs。 Weatherstone's interest in
her plans increased also； she started the small summer experiment she
had planned； for furnishing labor by the day。 Mrs。 James was an
excellent cook； though most unpleasant to work with。 She was quite able
to see that getting up frequent lunches at three dollars； and dinners at
five dollars； made a better income than ten dollars a week even with
several days unoccupied。
A group of younger women； under Diantha's sympathetic encouragement；
agreed to take a small cottage together； with Mrs。 James as a species of
chaperone； and to go out in twos and threes as chambermaids and
waitresses at 25 cents an hour。 Two of them could set in perfect order
one of the small beach cottage in an hour's time； and the occupants；
already crowded for room； were quite willing to pay a little more in
cash 〃not to have a servant around。〃 Most of them took their meals out
in any case。
It was a modest attempt； elastic and easily alterable and based on the
special conditions of a shore resort： Mrs。 Weatherstone's known interest
gave it social backing； and many ladies who heartily disapproved of
Diantha's theories found themselves quite willing to profit by this very
practical local solution of the 〃servant question。〃
The 〃club girls〃 became very popular。 Across the deep hot sand they
ploughed； and clattered along the warping boardwalks； in merry pairs and
groups； finding the work far more varied and amusing than the endless
repetition in one household。 They had pleasant evenings too； with
plenty of callers； albeit somewhat checked and chilled by rigorous Mrs。
James。
〃It is both foolish and wicked！〃 said Madam Weatherstone to her
daughter…in…law； 〃Exposing a group of silly girls to such danger and
temptations！ I understand there is singing and laughing going on at
that house until half…past ten at night。〃
〃Yes； there is；〃 Viva admitted。 〃Mrs。 James insists that they shall all
be in bed at elevenwhich is very wise。 I'm glad they have good
timesthere's safety in numbers； you know。〃
〃There will be a scandal in this community before long！〃 said the old
lady solemnly。 〃And it grieves me to think that this household will be
responsible for it！〃
Diantha heard all this from the linen room while Madam Weatherstone
buttonholed her daughter…in…law in the hall； and in truth the old lady
meant that she should hear what she said。
〃She's right； I'm afraid！〃 said Diantha to herself〃there will be a
scandal if I'm not mighty careful and this household will be responsible
for it！〃
Even as she spoke she caught Ilda's childish giggle in the lower hall；
and looking over the railing saw her airily dusting the big Chinese
vases and coquetting with young Mr。 Mathew。
Later on； Diantha tried seriously to rouse her conscience and her common
sense。 〃Don't you see； child； that it can't do you anything but harm？
You can't carry on with a man like that as you can with one of your own
friends。 He is not to be trusted。 One nice girl I had here simply left
the placehe annoyed her so。〃
Ilda was a little sulky。 She had been quite a queen in the small
Norwegian village she was born in。 Young men were young menand they
might evenperhaps！ This severe young housekeeper didn't know
everything。 Maybe she was jealous！
So Ilda was rather unconvinced； though apparently submissive； and
Diantha kept a careful eye upon her。 She saw to it that Ilda's room had
a bolt as well as key in the door； and kept the room next to it empty；
frequently using it herself； unknown to anyone。 〃I hate to turn the
child off；〃 she said to herself； conscientiously revolving the matter。
〃She isn't doing a thing more than most girls doshe's only a little
fool。 And he's not doing anything I can complain ofyet。〃
But she worried over it a good deal； and Mrs。 Weatherstone noticed it。
〃Doesn't your pet club house go well； 'Miss Bell？' You seem troubled
about something。〃
〃I am；〃 Diantha admitted。 〃I believe I'll have to tell you about
itbut I hate to。 Perhaps if you'll come and look I shan't have to say
much。〃
She led her to a window that looked on the garden； the rich； vivid；
flower…crowded garden of Southern California by the sea。 Little Ilda；
in a fresh black frock and snowy； frilly cap and apron； ran out to get a
rose； and while she sniffed and dallied they saw Mr。 Mathew saunter out
and join her。
The girl was not as severe with him as she ought to have beenthat was
evident； but it was also evident that she was frightened and furious
when he suddenly held her fast and kissed her with much satisfaction。
As soon as her arms were free she gave him a slap that sounded smartly
even at that distance； and ran crying into the house。
〃She's foolish； I admit；〃 said Diantha；〃but she doesn't realize her
danger at all。 I've tried to make her。 And now I'm more worried than
ever。 It seems rather hard to discharge hershe needs care。〃
〃I'll speak to that young man myself；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone。 〃I'll
speak to his grandmother too！〃
〃Owould you？〃 urged Diantha。 〃She wouldn't believe anything except
that the girl 'led him on'you know that。 But I have an idea that we
could convince herif you're willing to do something rather
melodramaticand I think we'd better do it to…night！〃
〃What's that？〃 asked her employer； and Diantha explained。 It was
melodramatic； but promised to be extremely convincing。
〃Do you think he'd dare！ under my roof？〃 hotly demanded Madam
Weatherstone。
〃I'm very much afraid it wouldn't be the first time；〃 Diantha
reluctantly assured her。 〃It's no use being horrified。 But if we could
only make _sure_〃
〃If we could only make his grandmother sure！〃 cried Madam Weatherstone。
〃That would save me a deal of trouble and misunderstanding。 See hereI
think I can manage itwhat makes you think it's to…night？〃
〃I can't be absolutely certain〃 Diantha explained； and told her the
reasons she had。
〃It does look so；〃 her employer admitted。 〃We'll try it at any rate。〃
Urging her mother…in…law's presence on the ground of needing her
experienced advice； Mrs。 Weatherstone brought the august lady to the
room next to Ilda's late that evening； the housekeeper in attendance。
〃We mustn't wake the servants；〃 she said in an elaborate whisper。 〃They
need sleep； poor things！ But I want to consult you about these
communicating doors and the locksmith is coming in the morning。you see
this opens from this side。〃 She turned the oiled key softly in the
lock。 〃Now Miss Bell thinks they ought to be left soso that the girls
can visit one another if they likewhat do you think？〃
〃I think you are absurd to bring me to the top floor； at this time of
night； for a thing like this！〃 said the old lady。 〃They should be
permanently locked； to my mind！ There's no question about it。〃
Viva； still in low tones； discussed this point further； introduced the
subject of wall…paper or hard finish； pointed out from the window a tall
eucalyptus which she thought needed heading； did what she could to keep
her mother…in…law on the spot； and presently her efforts were rewarded。
A sound of muffled speech came from the next rooma man's voice dimly
heard。 Madam Weatherstone raised her head like a warhorse。
〃What's this！ What's this！〃 she said in a fierce whisper。
Viva laid a hand on her arm。 〃Sh！〃 said she。 〃Let us make sure！〃 and
she softly unlatched the door。
A brilliant moon flooded the small chamber。 They could see little Ilda；
huddled in the bedclothes； staring at her door from which the key had
fallen。 Another key was being insertedturnedbut the bolt held。
〃Come and open it； young lady！〃 said a careful voice outside。
〃Go away！ Go away！〃 begged the girl； low and breathlessly。 〃Oh how
_can_ you！ Go away quick！〃
〃Indeed； I won't！〃 said the voice。 〃You come and open it。〃
〃Go away；〃 she cried； in a soft but frantic voice。 〃II'll scream！〃
〃Scream away！〃 he answered。 〃I'll just say I came up to see what the
screaming's about； that's all。 You open the doorif you don't want
anybody to know I'm here！ I won't hurt you anyI j
