what diantha did-第4章
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schoolused to stand highest in that。〃
〃And what part of housework do you like best？〃 the girl persisted。
Mrs。 Bell smiled again； wanly。 〃Seems to me sometimes as if I couldn't
tell sometimes what part I like least！〃 she answered。 Then with sudden
heat〃O my Child！ Don't you marry till Ross can afford at least one
girl for you！〃
Diantha put her small； strong hands behind her head and leaned back in
her chair。 〃We'll have to wait some time for that I fancy；〃 she said。
〃But； Mother； there is one part you likekeeping accounts！ I never saw
anything like the way you manage the money； and I believe you've got
every bill since yon were married。〃
〃YesI do love accounts；〃 Mrs。 Bell admitted。 〃And I can keep run of
things。 I've often thought your Father'd have done better if he'd let
me run that end of his business。〃
Diantha gave a fierce little laugh。 She admired her father in some
ways； enjoyed him in some ways； loved him as a child does if not
ill…treated； but she loved her mother with a sort of passionate pity
mixed with pride； feeling always nobler power in her than had ever had a
fair chance to grow。 It seemed to her an interminable dull tragedy；
this graceful； eager； black…eyed woman； spending what to the girl was
literally a lifetime； in the conscientious performance of duties she did
not love。
She knew her mother's idea of duty； knew the clear head； the steady
will； the active intelligence holding her relentlessly to the task； the
chafe and fret of seeing her husband constantly attempting against her
judgment； and failing for lack of the help he scorned。 Young as she
was； she realized that the nervous breakdown of these later years was
wholly due to that common misery of 〃the square man in the round hole。〃
She folded her finished sheet in accurate lines and laid it awaytaking
her mother's also。 〃Now you sit still for once； Mother dear； read or
lie down。 Don't you stir till supper's ready。〃
And from pantry to table she stepped； swiftly and lightly； setting out
what was needed； greased her pans and set them before her； and proceeded
to make biscuit。
Her mother watched her admiringly。 〃How easy you do it！〃 she said。 〃I
never could make bread without getting flour all over me。 You don't
spill a speck！〃
Diantha smiled。 〃I ought to do it easily by this time。 Father's got to
have hot bread for supperor thinks he has！and I've made 'emevery
night when I was at home for this ten years back！〃
〃I guess you have；〃 said Mrs。 Bell proudly。 〃You were only eleven when
you made your first batch。 I can remember just as well！ I had one of
my bad headaches that nightand it did seem as if I couldn't sit up！
But your Father's got to have his biscuit whether or no。 And you said；
'Now Mother you lie right still on that sofa and let me do it！ I can！'
And you could！you did！ They were bettern' mine that first timeand
your Father praised 'emand you've been at it ever since。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Diantha； with a deeper note of feeling than her mother
caught； 〃I've been at it ever since！〃
〃Except when you were teaching school；〃 pursued her mother。
〃Except when I taught school at Medville；〃 Diantha corrected。 〃When I
taught here I made 'em just the same。〃
〃So you did；〃 agreed her mother。 〃So you did！ No matter how tired you
wereyou wouldn't admit it。 You always were the best child！〃
〃If I was tired it was not of making biscuits anyhow。 I was tired
enough of teaching school though。 I've got something to tell you；
presently； Mother。〃
She covered the biscuits with a light cloth and set them on the shelf
over the stove； then poked among the greasewood roots to find what she
wanted and started a fire。 〃Why _don't_ you get an oil stove？ Or a
gasoline？ It would be a lot easier。〃
〃Yes；〃 her mother agreed。 〃I've wanted one for twenty years； but you
know your Father won't have one in the house。 He says they're
dangerous。 What are you going to tell me； dear？ I do hope you and Ross
haven't quarrelled。〃
〃No indeed we haven't； Mother。 Ross is splendid。 Only〃
〃Only what； Dinah？〃
〃Only he's so tied up！〃 said the girl； brushing every chip from the
hearth。 〃He's perfectly helpless there； with that mother of hisand
those four sisters。〃
〃Ross is a good son；〃 said Mrs。 Bell； 〃and a good brother。 I never saw
a better。 He's certainly doing his duty。 Now if his father'd lived you
two could have got married by this time maybe； though you're too young
yet。〃
Diantha washed and put away the dishes she had used； saw that the pantry
was in its usual delicate order； and proceeded to set the table； with
light steps and no clatter of dishes。
〃I'm twenty…one；〃 she said。
〃Yes； you're twenty…one；〃 her mother allowed。 〃It don't seem possible；
but you are。 My first baby！〃 she looked at her proudly
〃If Ross has to wait for all those girls to marryand to pay his
father's debtsI'll be old enough；〃 said Diantha grimly。
Her mother watched her quick assured movements with admiration； and
listened with keen sympathy。 〃I know it's hard； dear child。 You've
only been engaged six monthsand it looks as if it might be some years
before Ross'll be able to marry。 He's got an awful load for a boy to
carry alone。〃
〃I should say he had！〃 Diantha burst forth。 〃Five helpless women！or
three women； and two girls。 Though Cora's as old as I was when I began
to teach。 And not one of 'em will lift a finger to earn her own
living。〃
〃They weren't brought up that way；〃 said Mrs。 Bell。 〃Their mother don't
approve of it。 She thinks the home is the place for a womanand so
does Rossand so do I；〃 she added rather faintly。
Diantha put her pan of white puff…balls into the oven； sliced a quantity
of smoked beef in thin shavings； and made white sauce for it； talking
the while as if these acts were automatic。 〃I don't agree with Mrs。
Warden on that point； nor with Ross； nor with you； Mother；〃 she said；
〃What I've got to tell you is thisI'm going away from home。 To work。〃
Mrs。 Bell stopped rocking； stopped fanning； and regarded her daughter
with wide frightened eyes。
〃Why Diantha！〃 she said。 〃Why Diantha！ You wouldn't go and leave your
Mother！〃
Diantha drew a deep breath and stood for a moment looking at the feeble
little woman in the chair。 Then she went to her； knelt down and hugged
her closeclose。
〃It's not because I don't love you； Mother。 It's because I do。 And
it's not because I don't love Ross either：it's because I _do。_ I want
to take care of you； Mother； and make life easier for you as long as you
live。 I want to help himto help carry that awful loadand I'm
goingtodoit！〃
She stood up hastily； for a step sounded on the back porch。 It was only
her sister； who hurried in； put a dish on the table； kissed her mother
and took another rocking…chair。
〃I just ran in；〃 said she； 〃to bring those berries。 Aren't they
beauties？ The baby's asleep。 Gerald hasn't got in yet。 Supper's all
ready； and I can see him coming time enough to run back。 Why； Mother！
What's the matter？ You're crying！〃
〃Am I？〃 asked Mrs。 Bell weakly； wiping her eyes in a dazed way。
〃What are you doing to Mother； Diantha？〃 demanded young Mrs。 Peters。
〃Bless me！ I thought you and she never had any differences！ I was always
the black sheep； when I was at home。 Maybe that's why I left so early！〃
She looked very pretty and complacent； this young matron and mother of
nineteen； and patted the older woman's hand affectionately； demanding；
〃Comewhat's the trouble？〃
〃You might as well know now as later；〃 said her sister。 〃I have decided
to leave home； that's all。〃
〃To leave home！〃 Mrs。 Peters sat up straight and stared at her。 〃To
leave home！And Mother！〃
〃Well？〃 said Diantha； while the tears rose and ran over from her
mother's eyes。 〃Well； why not？ You left homeand Motherbefore you
were eighteen。〃
〃That's different！〃 said her sister sharply。 〃I left to be married；to
have a home of my own。 And besides I haven't gone far！ I can see
Mother every day。〃
〃That's one reason I can go now better than later on；〃 Diantha said。
〃You are close by in case of any trouble。〃
〃What on earth are you going for？ Ro
