what diantha did-第7章
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〃This is the most shameful piece of calculation I ever saw in my life；〃
said he。 〃I never heard of such a thing！ You go and count up in cold
dollars the work that every decent girl does for her family and is glad
to！ I wonder you haven't charged your mother for nursing her？〃
〃You notice I haven't；〃 said Diantha coldly。
〃And to think；〃 said he； gripping the back of a chair and looking down
at her fiercely； 〃to think that a girl who can earn nine hundred dollars
a year teaching school； and stay at home and do her duty by her family
besides； should plan to desert her mother outrightnow she's old and
sick！ Of course I can't stop you！ You're of age； and children nowadays
have no sense of natural obligation after they're grown up。 You can go；
of course； and disgrace the family as you proposebut you needn't
expect to have me consent to it or approve of itor of you。 It's a
shameful thingand you are an unnatural daughterthat's all I've got
to say！〃
Mr。 Bell took his hat and went outa conclusive form of punctuation
much used by men in discussions of this sort。
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER III。
BREAKERS
Duck！ Dive！ Here comes another one！
Wait till the crest…ruffles show！
Beyond is smooth water in beauty and wonder
Shut your mouth！ Hold your breath！ Dip your head under！
Dive through the weight and the wash； and the thunder
Look out for the undertow！
If Diantha imagined that her arithmetical victory over a too…sordid
presentation of the parental claim was a final one； she soon found
herself mistaken。
It is easy to sayputting an epic in an epigram〃She seen her duty and
she done it！〃 but the space and time covered are generally as far beyond
our plans as the estimates of an amateur mountain climber exceed his
achievements。
Her determination was not concealed by her outraged family。 Possibly
they thought that if the matter was well aired； and generally discussed；
the daring offender might reconsider。 Well…aired it certainly was； and
widely discussed by the parents of the little town before young people
who sat in dumbness； or made faint defense。 It was also discussed by
the young people； but not before their parents。
She had told Ross； first of all； meaning to have a quiet talk with him
to clear the ground before arousing her own family； but he was suddenly
away just as she opened the subject； by a man on a wheelsome wretched
business about the store of courseand sent word that night that he
could not come up again。 Couldn't come up the next night either。 Two
long daystwo long evenings without seeing him。 Wellif she went away
she'd have to get used to that。
But she had so many things to explain； so much to say to make it right
with him； she knew well what a blow it was。 Now it was all over
townand she had had no chance to defend her position。
The neighbors called。 Tall bony Mrs。 Delafield who lived nearest to
them and had known Diantha for some years； felt it her duty to make a
special appealor attack rather； and brought with her stout Mrs。
Schlosster； whose ancestors and traditions were evidently of German
extraction。
Diantha retired to her room when she saw these two bearing down upon the
house； but her mother called her to make a pitcher of lemonade for
themand having entered there was no escape。 They harried her with
questions； were increasingly offended by her reticence； and expressed
disapproval with a fullness that overmastered the girl's self…control。
〃I have as much right to go into business as any other citizen； Mrs。
Delafield；〃 she said with repressed intensity。 〃I am of age and live in
a free country。 What you say of children no longer applies to me。〃
〃And what is this mysterious business you're goin' intoif one may
inquire？ Nothin you're ashamed to mention； I hope？〃 asked Mrs。
Delafield。
〃If a woman refuses to mention her age is it because she's ashamed of
it？〃 the girl retorted； and Mrs。 Delafield flushed darkly。
〃Never have I heard such talk from a maiden to her elders；〃 said Mrs。
Schlosster。 〃In my country the young have more respect； as is right。〃
Mrs。 Bell objected inwardly to any reprimand of her child by others； but
she agreed to the principle advanced and made no comment。
Diantha listened to quite a volume of detailed criticism； inquiry and
condemnation； and finally rose to her feet with the stiff courtesy of
the young。
〃You must excuse me now；〃 she said with set lips。 〃I have some
necessary work to do。〃
She marched upstairs； shut her bedroom door and locked it； raging
inwardly。 〃Its none of their business！ Not a shadow！ Why should
Mother sit there and let them talk to me like that！ One would think
childhood had no limitunless it's matrimony！〃
This reminded her of her younger sister's airs of superior wisdom； and
did not conduce to a pleasanter frame of mind。 〃With all their
miserable little conventions and idiocies！ And what 'they'll say；' and
'they'll think'！ As if I cared！ Minnie'll be just such another！〃
She heard the ladies going out； still talking continuously； a faint
response from her mother now and then； a growing quiet as their steps
receded toward the gate； and then another deeper voice took up the theme
and heavily approached。
It was the minister！ Diantha dropped into her rocker and held the arms
tight。 〃Now I'll have to take it again I suppose。 But he ought to know
me well enough to understand。〃
〃Diantha！〃 called her mother； 〃Here's Dr。 Major；〃 and the girl washed
her face and came down again。
Dr。 Major was a heavy elderly man with a strong mouth and a warm hand
clasp。 〃What's all this I hear about you； young lady？〃 he demanded；
holding her hand and looking her straight in the eye。 〃Is this a new
kind of Prodigal Daughter we're encountering？〃
He did not look nor sound condemnatory； and as she faced him she caught
a twinkle in the wise old eyes。
〃You can call it that if you want to；〃 she said； 〃Only I thought the
Prodigal Son just spent his moneyI'm going to earn some。〃
〃I want you to talk to Diantha； Doctor Major；〃 Mrs。 Bell struck in。
〃I'm going to ask you to excuse me； and go and lie down for a little。 I
do believe she'll listen to you more than to anybody。〃
The mother retired； feeling sure that the good man who had known her
daughter for over fifteen years would have a restraining influence now；
and Diantha braced herself for the attack。
It came； heavy and solid； based on reason； religion； tradition； the
custom of ages； the pastoral habit of control and protection； the
father's instinct； the man's objection to a girl's adventure。 But it
was courteous； kind； and rationally put； and she met it point by point
with the whole…souled arguments of a new position； the passionate
enthusiasm of her years。
They called a truce。
〃I can see that you _think_ its your duty； young； womanthat's the main
thing。 I think you're wrong。 But what you believe to be right you have
to do。 That's the way we learn my dear； that's the way we learn！
Wellyou've been a good child ever since I've known you。 A remarkably
good child。 If you have to sow this kind of wild oats〃 they both
smiled at this； 〃I guess we can't stop you。 I'll keep your secret〃
〃Its not a secret really；〃 the girl explained； 〃I'll tell them as soon
as I'm settled。 Then they can tellif they want to。〃 And they both
smiled again。
〃WellI won't tell till I hear of it then。 Andyes； I guess I can
furnish that document with a clean conscience。〃
She gave him paper and pen and he wrote； with a grin； handing her the
result。
She read it； a girlish giggle lightening the atmosphere。 〃Thank you！〃
she said earnestly。 〃Thank you ever so much。 I knew you would help
me。〃
〃If you get stuck anywhere just let me know；〃 he said rising。 〃This
Proddy Gal may want a return ticket yet！〃
〃I'll walk first！〃 said Diantha。
〃O Dr。 Major；〃 cried her mother from the window； 〃Don't go！ We want you
to stay to supper of course！〃
But he had other calls to make； he said； and went away； his big hands
clasped behind him； his head bent； smiling one minute and shaking his
head the next。
Diantha leaned against a pearly eucalyptus trunk an
