what diantha did-第3章
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〃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。〃
〃There aren't any！〃 said Diantha； shaking her head slowly from side to
side。 〃And if there weremillionsI wouldn't marry any of 'em。 I
love _you；〃_ she firmly concluded。
〃Then we'll just _wait；〃_ said he； setting his teeth on the word； as if
he would crush it。 〃It won't be hard with you to help。 You're better
worth it than Rachael and Leah together。〃 They walked a few steps
silently。
〃But how about science？〃 she asked him。
〃I don't let myself think of it。 I'll take that up later。 We're young
enough； both of us； to wait for our happiness。〃
〃And have you any ideawe might as well face the worsthow many years
do you think that will be； dearest？〃
He was a little annoyed at her persistence。 Also； though he would not
admit the thought； it did not seem quite the thing for her to ask。 A
woman should not seek too definite a period of waiting。 She ought to
trustto just wait on general principles。
〃I can face a thing better if I know just what I'm facing；〃 said the
girl； quietly； 〃and I'd wait for you； if I had to； all my life。 Will it
be twenty years； do you think？〃
He looked relieved。 〃Why； no； indeed； darling。 It oughtn't to be at
the outside more than five。 Or six；〃 he added； honest though reluctant。
〃You see； father had no time to settle anything； there were outstanding
accounts； and the funeral expenses； and the mortgages。 But the business
is good； and I can carry it； I can build it up。〃 He shook his broad
shoulders determinedly。 〃I should think it might be within five；
perhaps even less。 Good things happen sometimessuch as you； my heart's
delight。〃
They were at her gate now； and she stood a little while to say
good…night。 A step inside there was a seat； walled in by evergreen；
roofed over by the wide acacia boughs。 Many a long good…night had they
exchanged there； under the large； brilliant California moon。 They sat
there； silent； now。
Diantha's heart was full of love for him； and pride and confidence in
him； but it was full of other feelings； too； which he could not fathom。
His trouble was clearer to her than to him； as heavy to bear。 To her
mind； trained in all the minutiae of domestic economy； the Warden family
lived in careless wastefulness。 That five womenfor Dora was older
than she had been when she began to do houseworkshould require
servants； seemed to this New England…born girl mere laziness and pride。
That two voting women over twenty should prefer being supported by their
brother to supporting themselves； she condemned even more sharply。
Moreover； she felt well assured that with a different family to
〃support；〃 Mr。 Warden would never have broken down so suddenly and
irrecoverably。 Even that funeralher face hardened as she thought of
the conspicuous 〃lot；〃 the continual flowers； the monument （not wholly
paid for yet； that monument； though this she did not know）all that
expenditure to do honor to the man they had worked to death （thus
brutally Diantha put it） was probably enough to put off their happiness
for a whole year。
She rose at last； her hand still held in his。 〃I'm sorry； but I've got
to get supper； dear；〃 she said； 〃and you must go。 Good…night for the
present； you'll be round by and by？〃
〃Yes； for a little while； after we close up；〃 said he； and took himself
off； not too suddenly； walking straight and proud while her eves were on
him； throwing her a kiss from the corner； but his step lagging and his
headache settling down upon him again as he neared the large house with
the cupola。
Diantha watched him out of sight； turned and marched up the path to her
own door； her lips set tight； her well…shaped head as straightly held as
his。 〃It's a shame； a cruel； burning shame！〃 she told herself
rebelliously。 〃A man of his ability。 Why； he could do anything； in his
own work！ And he loved it so！
〃To keep a grocery store
〃〃And nothing to show for all that splendid effort！
〃They don't do a thing？ They just _live_and 'keep house！' All those
women！
〃Six years？ Likely to be sixty！ But I'm not going to wait！〃
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER II。
AN UNNATURAL DAUGHTER
The brooding bird fulfills her task；
Or she…bear lean and brown；
All parent beasts see duty true；
All parent beasts their duty do；
We are the only kind that asks
For duty upside down。
The stiff…rayed windmill stood like a tall mechanical flower； turning
slowly in the light afternoon wind； its faint regular metallic squeak
pricked the dry silence wearingly。 Rampant fuchsias； red…jewelled；
heavy； ran up its framework； with crowding heliotrope and nasturtiums。
Thick straggling roses hung over the kitchen windows； and a row of dusty
eucalyptus trees rustled their stiff leaves； and gave an ineffectual
shade to the house。
It was one of those small frame houses common to the northeastern
states； which must be dear to the hearts of their dwellers。 For no
other reason； surely； would the cold grey steep…roofed little boxes be
repeated so faithfully in the broad glow of a semi…tropical landscape。
There was an attempt at a 〃lawn；〃 the pet ambition of the transplanted
easterner； and a further attempt at 〃flower…beds；〃 which merely served
as a sort of springboard to their far…reaching products。
The parlor； behind the closed blinds； was as New England parlors are；
minus the hint of cosiness given by even a fireless stove； the little
bedrooms baked under the roof； only the kitchen spoke of human living；
and the living it portrayed was not； to say the least； joyous。 It was
clean； clean with a cleanness that spoke of conscientious labor and
unremitting care。 The zinc mat under the big cook…stove was scoured to
a dull glimmer； while that swart altar itself shone darkly from its
daily rubbing。
There was no dust nor smell of dust； no grease spots； no litter
anywhere。 But the place bore no atmosphere of contented pride； as does
a Dutch； German or French kitchen； it spoke of Labor； Economy and
Dutyunder restriction。
In the dead quiet of the afternoon Diantha and her mother sat there
sewing。 The sun poured down through the dangling eucalyptus leaves。
The dry air； rich with flower odors； flowed softly in； pushing the white
sash curtains a steady inch or two。 Ee…errr！Ee…errr！came the faint
whine of the windmill。
To the older woman rocking in her small splint chair by the rose…draped
window； her thoughts dwelling on long dark green grass； the shade of
elms； and cows knee…deep in river…shallows； this was Californiahot；
arid； tedious in endless sunlighta place of exile。
To the younger； the long seam of the turned sheet pinned tightly to her
knee； her needle flying firmly and steadily； and her thoughts full of
pouring moonlight through acacia boughs and Ross's murmured words； it
was Californiarich； warm； full of sweet bloom and fruit； of boundless
vitality； promise； and powerhome！
Mrs。 Bell drew a long weary sigh； and laid down her work for a moment。
〃Why don't you stop it Mother dear？ There's surely no hurry about these
things。〃
〃Nonot particularly；〃 her mother answered； 〃but there's plenty else to
do。〃 And she went on with the long neat hemming。 Diantha did the 〃over
and over seam〃 up the middle。
〃What _do_ you do it for anyway； MotherI always hated this joband
you don't seem to like it。〃
〃They wear almost twice as long； child； you know。 The middle gets worn
and the edges don't。 Now they're reversed。 As to liking it〃 She
gave a little smile； a smile that was too tired to be sarcastic； but
which certainly did not indicate pleasure。
〃What kind of work do you like bestreally？〃 her daughter inquired
suddenly； after a silent moment or two。
〃WhyI don't know；〃 said her mother。 〃I never thought of it。 I never
tried any but teaching。 I didn't like that。 Neither did your Aunt
Esther； but she's still teaching。〃
〃Didn't you like any of it？〃 pursued Diantha。
〃I liked arithmetic best。 I always loved arithmetic； when I went to
schoolused to stand highest in that。〃
〃And what part of housework do you like best？〃 the girl per
