what diantha did-第28章
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Special service for entertainments； maids and waitresses； by the hour 。
。 。 。25
Catering for entertainments。
Delicacies for invalids。
Lunches packed and delivered。
Caffeteria 。 。 。 12 to 2
What annoyed the young manager most was the uncertainty and irregularity
involved in her work； the facts varying considerably from her
calculations。
In the house all ran smoothly。 Solemn Mrs。 Thorvald did the laundry
work for thirty…fiveby the aid of her husband and a big mangle for the
〃flat work。〃 The girls' washing was limited。 〃You have to be
reasonable about it；〃 Diantha had explained to them。 〃Your fifty cents
covers a dozen piecesno more。 If you want more you have to pay more；
just as your employers do for your extra time。〃
This last often happened。 No one on the face of it could ask more than
ten hours of the swift； steady work given by the girls at but a fraction
over 14 cents an hour。 Yet many times the housekeeper was anxious for
more labor on special days； and the girls； unaccustomed to the three
free hours in the afternoon； were quite willing to furnish it； thus
adding somewhat to their cash returns。
They had a dressmaking class at the club afternoons； and as Union House
boasted a good sewing machine； many of them spent the free hours in
enlarging their wardrobes。 Some amused themselves with light reading； a
few studied； others met and walked outside。 The sense of honest leisure
grew upon them； with its broadening influence； and among her thirty
Diantha found four or five who were able and ambitious； and willing to
work heartily for the further development of the business。
Her two housemaids were specially selected。 When the girls were out of
the house these two maids washed the breakfast dishes with marvelous
speed； and then helped Diantha prepare for the lunch。 This was a large
undertaking； and all three of them； as well as Julianna and Hector
worked at it until some six or eight hundred sandwiches were ready； and
two or three hundred little cakes。
Diantha had her own lunch； and then sat at the receipt of custom during
the lunch hour； making change and ordering fresh supplies as fast as
needed。
The two housemaids had a long day； but so arranged that it made but ten
hours work； and they had much available time of their own。 They had to
be at work at 5：30 to set the table for six o'clock breakfast； and then
they were at it steadily； with the dining rooms to 〃do；〃 and the lunch
to get ready； until 11：30； when they had an hour to eat and rest。 From
12：30 to 4 o'clock they were busy with the lunch cups； the bed…rooms；
and setting the table for dinner； but after that they had four hours to
themselves； until the nine o'clock supper was over； and once more they
washed dishes for half an hour。 The caffeteria used only cups and
spoons； the sandwiches and cakes were served on paper plates。
In the hand…cart methods of small housekeeping it is impossible to exact
the swift precision of such work； but not in the standardized tasks and
regular hours of such an establishment as this。
Diantha religiously kept her hour at noon； and tried to keep the three
in the afternoon； but the employer and manager cannot take irresponsible
rest as can the employee。 She felt like a most inexperienced captain on
a totally new species of ship； and her paper plans looked very weak
sometimes； as bills turned out to be larger than she had allowed for； or
her patronage unaccountably dwindled。 But if the difficulties were
great； the girl's courage was greater。 〃It is simply a big piece of
work；〃 she assured herself； 〃and may be a long one； but there never was
anything better worth doing。 Every new business has difficulties； I
mustn't think of them。 I must just push and push and pusha little
more every day。〃
And then she would draw on all her powers to reason with； laugh at； and
persuade some dissatisfied girl； or； hardest of all； to bring in a new
one to fill a vacancy。
She enjoyed the details of her lunch business； and studied it carefully；
planning for a restaurant a little later。 Her bread was baked in long
cylindrical closed pans； and cut by machinery into thin even slices； not
a crust wasted； for they were ground into crumbs and used in the
cooking。
The filling for her sandwiches was made from fish； flesh； and fowl； from
cheese and jelly and fruit and vegetables； and so named or numbered that
the general favorites were gradually determined。
Mr。 Thaddler chatted with her over the counter； as far as she would
allow it； and discoursed more fully with his friends on the verandah。
〃Porne；〃 he said； 〃where'd that girl come from anyway？ She's a genius；
that's what she is； a regular genius。〃
〃She's all that；〃 said Mr。 Porne； 〃and a benefactor to humanity thrown
in。 I wish she'd start her food delivery； though。 I'm tired of those
two Swedes already。 Ocome from？ Up in Jopalez； Inca County； I
believe。〃
〃New England stock I bet；〃 said Mr。 Thaddler。 〃Its a damn shame the way
the women go on about her。〃
〃Not all of them； surely；〃 protested Mr。 Porne。
〃No； not all of 'em；but enough of 'em to make mischief； you may be
sure。 Women are the devil； sometimes。〃
Mr。 Porne smiled without answer； and Mr。 Thaddler went sulking awaya
bag of cakes bulging in his pocket。
The little wooden hotel in Jopalez boasted an extra visitor a few days
later。 A big red faced man； who strolled about among the tradesmen；
tried the barber's shop； loafed in the post office； hired a rig and
traversed the length and breadth of the town； and who called on Mrs。
Warden； talking real estate with her most politely in spite of her
protestation and the scornful looks of the four daughters； who bought
tobacco and matches in the grocery store； and sat on the piazza thereof
to smoke； as did other gentlemen of leisure。
Ross Warden occasionally leaned at the door jamb； with folded arms。 He
never could learn to be easily sociable with ranchmen and teamsters。
Serve them he must； but chat with them he need not。 The stout gentleman
essayed some conversation； but did not get far。 Ross was polite； but
far from encouraging； and presently went home to supper； leaving a
carrot…haired boy to wait upon his lingering customers。
〃Nice young feller enough；〃 said the stout gentleman to himself； 〃but
raised on ramrods。 Never got 'em from those women folks of his； either。
He _has_ a row to hoe！〃 And he departed as he had come。
Mr。 Eltwood turned out an unexpectedly useful friend to Diantha。 He
steered club meetings and 〃sociables〃 into her large rooms； and as
people found how cheap and easy it was to give parties that way； they
continued the habit。 He brought his doctor friends to sample the lunch；
and they tested the value of Diantha's invalid cookery； and were more
than pleased。
Hungry tourists were wholly without prejudice； and prized her lunches
for their own sake。 They descended upon the caffeteria in chattering
swarms； some days； robbing the regular patrons of their food； and sent
sudden orders for picnic lunches that broke in upon the routine hours of
the place unmercifully。
But of all her patrons； the families of invalids appreciated Diantha's
work the most。 Where a little shack or tent was all they could afford
to live in； or where the tiny cottage was more than filled with the
patient； attending relative； and nurse； this depot of supplies was a
relief indeed。
A girl could be had for an hour or two； or two girls； together； with
amazing speed； could put a small house in dainty order while the sick
man lay in his hammock under the pepper trees； and be gone before he was
fretting for his bed again。 They lived upon her lunches； and from them；
and other quarters； rose an increasing demand for regular cooked food。
〃Why don't you go into it at once？〃 urged Mrs。 Weatherstone。
〃I want to establish the day service first；〃 said Diantha。 〃It is a
pretty big business I find； and I do get tired sometimes。 I can't
afford to slip up； you know。 I mean to take it up next fall； though。〃
〃All right。 And look here； see that you begin in first rate shape。
I've got some ideas of my own about those food containers。〃
T
