what diantha did-第31章
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thinkexpensive！〃
Mrs。 Weatherstone smiled。 〃I've had twenty…five of them made。 They
cost； with the fittings； 100 apiece； 2；500。 I will rent them to you；
Miss Bell； at a rate of 10 per cent。 interest； only 250 a year！〃
〃It ought to take more；〃 said Mrs。 Bell； 〃there'll be breakage and
waste。〃
〃You can't break them； I tell you；〃 said the cheerful visitor； 〃and
dents can be smoothed out in any tin shopyou'll have to pay for
it；will that satisfy you？〃
Diantha was looking at her； her eyes deep with gratitude。 〃Iyou know
what I think of you！〃 she said。
Mrs。 Weatherstone laughed。 〃I'm not through yet；〃 she said。 〃Look at
my next piece of impudence！〃 This was only on paper； but the pictures
were amply illuminating。
〃I went to several factories；〃 she gleefully explained； 〃here and
abroad。 A Yankee firm built it。 It's in my garage now！〃
It was a light gasolene motor wagon； the body built like those
old…fashioned moving wagons which were also used for excursions； wherein
the floor of the vehicle was rather narrow； and set low； and the seats
ran lengthwise； widening out over the wheels； only here the wheels were
lower； and in the space under the seats ran a row of lockers opening
outside。 Mrs。 Weatherstone smiled triumphantly。
〃Now； Diantha Bell；〃 she said； 〃here's something you haven't thought of；
I do believe！ This estimable vehicle will carry thirty people inside
easily；〃 and she showed them how each side held twelve； and turn…up
seats accommodated six more； 〃and outside；〃she showed the lengthwise
picture〃it carries twenty…four containers。 If you want to send all
your twenty…five at once； one can go here by the driver。
〃Now then。 This is not an obligation； Miss Bell； it is another valuable
investment。 I'm having more made。 I expect to have use for them in a
good many places。 This cost pretty near 3；000； and you get it at the
same good interest； for 300 a year。 What's more； if you are smart
enoughand I don't doubt you are；you can buy the whole thing on
installments； same as you mean to with your furniture。〃
Diantha was dumb； but her mother wasn't。 She thanked Mrs。 Weatherstone
with a hearty appreciation of her opportune help； but no less of her
excellent investment。
〃Don't be a goose； Diantha；〃 she said。 〃You will set up your food
business in first class style； and I think you can carry it
successfully。 But Mrs。 Weatherstone's right； she's got a new investment
here that'll pay her better than most othersand be a growing thing I
do believe。〃
And still Diantha found it difficult to express her feelings。 She had
lived under a good deal of strain for many months now； and this sudden
opening out of her plans was a heavenly help indeed。
Mrs。 Weatherstone went around the table and sat by her。 〃Child；〃 said
she； 〃you don't begin to realize what you've done for meand for
Isobeland for ever so many in this town； and all over the world。 And
besides； don't you think anybody else can see your dream？ We can't _do_
it as you can； but we can see what it's going to mean；and we'll help
if we can。 You wouldn't grudge us that； would you？〃
As a result of all this the cooked food delivery service was opened at
once。
〃It is true that the tourists are gone； mostly；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone；
as she urged it； 〃but you see there are ever so many residents who have
more trouble with servants in summer than they do in winter； and hate to
have a fire in the house； too。〃
So Diantha's circulars had an addition； forthwith。
These were distributed among the Orchardinians； setting their tongues
wagging anew； as a fresh breeze stirs the eaves of the forest。
The stealthy inroads of lunches and evening refreshments had been
deprecated already； this new kind of servant who wasn't a servant； but
held her head up like anyone else （〃They are as independent
asas'salesladies；'〃 said one critic）； was also viewed with alarm；
but when even this domestic assistant was to be removed； and a square
case of food and dishes substituted； all Archaic Orchardina was
horrified。
There were plenty of new minds in the place； however； enough to start
Diantha with seven full orders and five partial ones。
Her work at the club was now much easier； thanks to her mother's
assistance； to the smoother running of all the machinery with the
passing of time； and further to the fact that most of her girls were now
working at summer resorts； for shorter hours and higher wages。 They
paid for their rooms at the club still； but the work of the house was so
much lightened that each of the employees was given two weeks of
vacationon full pay。
The lunch department kept on a pretty regular basis from the patronage
of resident business men； and the young managerin her ambitious
momentsplanned for enlarging it in the winter。 But during the summer
her whole energies went to perfecting the _menus_ and the service of her
food delivery。
Mrs。 Porne was the very first to order。 She had been waiting
impatiently for a chance to try the plan； and； with her husband； had the
firmest faith in Diantha's capacity to carry it through。
〃We don't save much in money；〃 she explained to the eager Mrs。 Ree； who
hovered； fascinated； over the dangerous topic； 〃but we do in comfort； I
can tell you。 You see I had two girls； paid them 12 a week； now I keep
just the one； for 6。 My food and fuel for the four of us （I don't
count the babies either timethey remain as before）； was all of 16；
often more。 That made 28 a week。 Now I pay for three meals a day；
delivered； for three of us； 15 a weekwith the nurse's wages； 21。
Then I pay a laundress one day； 2； and her two meals； 。50； making
23。50。 Then I have two maids； for an hour a day； to clean； 。50 a day
for six days； 3； and one maid Sunday； 。25。 26。75 in all。 So we only
make 1。25。
_But！_ there's another room！ We have the cook's room for an extra
guest； I use it most for a sewing room； though and the kitchen is a sort
of day nursery now。 The house seems as big again！〃
〃But the food？〃 eagerly inquired Mrs。 Ree。 〃Is it as good as your own？
Is it hot and tempting？〃
Mrs。 Ree was fascinated by the new heresy。 As a staunch adherent of the
old Home and Culture Club； and its older ideals； she disapproved of the
undertaking； but her curiosity was keen about it。
Mrs。 Porne smiled patiently。 〃You remember Diantha Bell's cooking I am
sure； Mrs。 Ree；〃 she said。 〃And Julianna used to cook for dinner
partieswhen one could get her。 My Swede was a very ordinary cook； as
most of these untrained girls are。 Do take off your hat and have dinner
with us；I'll show you；〃 urged Mrs。 Porne。
〃IO I mustn't；〃 fluttered the little woman。 〃They'll expect me at
homeandsurely yoursupplydoesn't allow for guests？〃
〃We'll arrange all that by 'phone；〃 her hostess explained； and she
promptly sent word to the Ree household； then called up Union House and
ordered one extra dinner。
〃Is itI'm dreadfully rude I know； but I'm _so_ interested！ Is
itexpensive？〃
Mrs。 Porne smiled。 〃Haven't you seen the little circular？ Here's one；
'Extra meals to regular patrons 25 cents。' And no more trouble to order
than to tell a maid。〃
Mrs。 Ree had a lively sense of paltering with Satan as she sat down to
the Porne's dinner table。 She had seen the delivery wagon drive to the
door； had heard the man deposit something heavy on the back porch； and
was now confronted by a butler's tray at Mrs。 Porne's left； whereon
stood a neat square shining object with silvery panels and bamboo
trimmings。
〃It's not at all bad looking； is it？〃 she ventured。
〃Not bad enough to spoil one's appetite；〃 Mr。 Porne cheerily agreed。
〃Open； Sesame！ Now you know the worst。〃
Mrs。 Porne opened it； and an inner front was shown； with various small
doors and drawers。
〃Do you know what is in it？〃 asked the guest。
〃No； thank goodness； I don't；〃 replied her hostess。 〃If there's
anything tiresome it is to order meals and always know what's coming！
That's what men get so tired of at restaurants； what they hate so when
their wives ask them what they want for dinner。 Now I can enjoy my
dinner at my own table； just as if I was a gu
