what diantha did-第39章
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It was by no means easy for Diantha； either。 To leave him tugged at her
heart…strings； as it did at his； and if he had to struggle with
inherited feelings and acquired traditions； still more was she beset
with an unexpected uprising of sentiments and desires she had never
dreamed of feeling。
With marriage； love； happiness came an overwhelming instinct of
servicepersonal service。 She wanted to wait on him； loved to do it；
regarded Wang Fu with positive jealousy when he brought in the coffee
and Ross praised it。 She had a sense of treason； of neglected duty； as
she left the flower…crowned cottage； day by day。
But she left it； she plunged into her work； she schooled herself
religiously。
〃Shame on you！〃 she berated herself。 〃Now_now_ that you've got
everything on earthto weaken！ You could stand unhappiness； can't you
stand happiness？〃 And she strove with herself； and kept on with her
work。
After all； the happiness was presently diluted by the pressure of this
blank wall between them。 She came home； eager； loving； delighted to be
with him again。 He received her with no complaint or criticism； but
always an unspoken； perhaps imagined； sense of protest。 She was full of
loving enthusiasm about his work； and he would dilate upon his harassed
guinea…pigs and their development with high satisfaction。
But he never could bring himself to ask about her labors with any
genuine approval； she was keenly sensitive to his dislike for the
subject； and so it was ignored between them； or treated by him in a vein
of humor with which he strove to cover his real feeling。
When； before many months were over； the crowning triumph of her effort
revealed itself； her joy and pride held this bitter drophe did not
sympathizedid not approve。 Still； it was a great glory。
The New York Company announced the completion of their work and the
_Hotel del las Casas_ was opened to public inspection。 〃House of the
Houses！ That's a fine name！〃 said some disparagingly； but； at any rate；
it seemed appropriate。 The big estate was one rich garden； more
picturesque； more dreamily beautiful； than the American commercial mind
was usually able to compass； even when possessed of millions。 The hotel
of itself was a pleasure palacewholly unostentatious； full of gaiety
and charm； offering lovely chambers for guests and residents； and every
opportunity for healthful amusement。 There was the rare luxury of a big
swimming…pool； there were billiard rooms； card rooms； reading rooms；
lounging rooms and dancing rooms of satisfying extent。
Outside there were tennis…courts； badminton； roque； even croquet； and
the wide roof was a garden of Babylon； a Court of the Stars； with views
of purple mountains； fair； wide valley and far…flashing rim of sea。
Around it； each in its own hedged garden； nestled 〃Las Casas〃the
Housestwenty in number； with winding shaded paths； groups of rare
trees； a wilderness of flowers； between and about them。 In one corner
was a playground for childrena wall around this； that they might shout
in freedom； and the nursery thereby gave every provision for the
happiness and safety of the little ones。
The people poured along the winding walls； entered the pretty cottages；
were much impressed by a little flock of well…floored tents in another
corner； but came back with Ohs！ and Ahs！ of delight to the large
building in the Avenue。
Diantha went all over the place； inch by inch； her eyes widening with
admiration； Mr。 and Mrs。 Porne and Mrs。 Weatherstone with her。 She
enjoyed the serene； well…planned beauty of the whole； approved heartily
of the cottages； each one a little different； each charming in its quiet
privacy； admired the plentiful arrangements for pleasure and gay
association； but her professional soul blazed with enthusiasm over the
great kitchens； clean as a hospital； glittering in glass and copper and
cool tiling； with the swift； sure electric stove。
The fuel all went into a small； solidly built power house； and came out
in light and heat and force for the whole square。
Diantha sighed in absolute appreciation。
〃Fine； isn't it？〃 said Mr。 Porne。
〃How do you like the architecture？〃 asked Mrs。 Porne。
〃What do you think of my investment？〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone。 Diantha
stopped in her tracks and looked from one to the other of them。
〃Fact。 I control the stockI'm president of the Hotel del las Casas
Company。 Our friends here have stock in it； too； and more that you
don't know。 We think it's going to be a paying concern。 But if you can
make it go； my dear； as I think you will； you can buy us all out and own
the whole outfit！〃
It took some time to explain all this； but the facts were visible
enough。
〃Nothing remarkable at all；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone。 〃Here's Astor with
three big hotels on his handswhy shouldn't I have one to play with？
And I've got to employ _somebody_ to manage it！〃
*
Within a year of her marriage Diantha was at the head of this pleasing
Centre of Housekeeping。 She kept the hotel itself so that it was a joy
to all its patrons； she kept the little houses homes of pure delight for
those who were so fortunate as to hold them； and she kept up her 〃c。 f。
d。〃 business till it grew so large she had to have quite a fleet of
delivery wagons。
Orchardina basked and prospered； its citizens found their homes happier
and less expensive than ever before； and its citizenesses began to wake
up and to do things worth while。
*
Two years； and there was a small Ross Warden born。
She loved it； nursed it； and ran her business at long range for some six
months。 But then she brought nurse and child to the hotel with her；
placed them in the cool； airy nursery in the garden； and varied her busy
day with still hours by herselfthe baby in her arms。
Back they came together before supper； and found unbroken joy and peace
in the quiet of home； but always in the background was the current of
Ross' unspoken disapproval。
Three years； four years。
There were three babies now； Diantha was a splendid woman of thirty；
handsome and strong； pre…eminently successfuland yet； there were times
when she found it in her heart to envy the most ordinary people who
loved and quarreled and made up in the little outlying ranch houses
along the road； they had nothing between them； at least。
Meantime in the friendly opportunities of Orchardina society； added to
by the unexampled possibilities of Las Casas （and they did not scorn
this hotel nor Diantha's position in it）； the three older Miss Wardens
had married。 Two of them preferred 〃the good old way；〃 but one tried
the 〃d。 s。〃 and the 〃c。 f。 d。〃 and liked them well。
Dora amazed and displeased her family； as soon as she was of age； by
frankly going over to Diantha's side and learning bookkeeping。 She
became an excellent accountant and bade fair to become an expert manager
soon。
Ross had prospered in his work。 It may be that the element of
dissatisfaction in his married life spurred him on； while the unusual
opportunities of his ranch allowed free effort。 He had always held that
the 〃non…transmissability of acquired traits〃 was not established by any
number of curtailed mice or crop…eared rats。 〃A mutilation is not an
acquired trait；〃 he protested。 〃An acquired trait is one gained by
exercise； it modifies the whole organism。 It must have an effect on the
race。 We expect the sons of a line of soldiers to inherit their
fathers' courageperhaps his habit of obediencebut not his wooden
leg。〃
To establish his views he selected from a fine family of guinea…pigs two
pair； set the one； Pair A； in conditions of ordinary guinea…pig bliss；
and subjected the other； Pair B； to a course of discipline。 They were
trained to run。 They； and their descendants after them； pair following
on pair； first with slow…turning wheels as in squirrel cages； the wheel
inexorably going； machine…driven； and the luckless little gluttons
having to move on； for gradually increasing periods of time； at
gradually increasing speeds。 Pair A and their progeny were sheltered
and fed； but the rod was spared； Pair B were as the guests at
〃Muldoon's〃they had to exercise。 With scientif
