what diantha did-第8章
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head the next。
Diantha leaned against a pearly eucalyptus trunk and watched him。 She
would miss Dr。 Major。 But who was this approaching？ Her heart sank
miserably。 Mrs。 Wardenand _all_ the girls。
She went to meet themperforce。 Mrs。 Warden had always been kind and
courteous to her； the girls she had not seen very much of； but they had
the sweet Southern manner； were always polite。 Ross's mother she must
love。 Ross's sisters tooif she could。 Why did the bottom drop out of
her courage at sight of them？
〃You dear child！〃 said Mrs。 Warden； kissing her。 〃I know just how you
feel！ You want to help my boy！ That's your secret！ But this won't do
it； my dear！〃
〃You've no idea how badly Ross feels！〃 said Madeline。 〃Mrs。 Delafield
dropped in just now and told us。 You ought to have seen him！〃
〃He didn't believe it of course；〃 Adeline put in。 〃And he wouldn't say
a thingnot a thing to blame you。〃
〃We said we'd come over right offand tried to bring himbut he said
he'd got to go back to the store；〃 Coraline explained。
〃He was mad though！〃 said Dora〃_I_ know。〃
Diantha looked from one to the other helplessly。
〃Come in！ Come in！〃 said Mrs。 Bell hospitably。 〃Have this rocker； Mrs。
Wardenwouldn't you like some cool drink？ Diantha？〃
〃No indeed！〃 Mrs。 Warden protested。 〃Don't get a thing。 We're going
right back； it's near supper time。 No； we can't think of staying； of
course not； no indeed！But we had to come over and hear about this dear
child's idea！Now tell us all about it； Diantha！〃
There they satfive pairs of curious eyesand her mother's sad
onesall kindall utterly incapable of understanding。
She moistened her lips and plunged desperately。 〃It is nothing
dreadful； Mrs。 Warden。 Plenty of girls go away to earn their livings
nowadays。 That is all I'm doing。〃
〃But why go away？〃
〃I thought you were earning your living before！〃
〃Isn't teaching earning your living？〃
〃What _are_ you going to do？〃 the girls protested variously； and Mrs。
Warden； with a motherly smile； suggested
〃That doesn't explain your wanting to leave Ross； my dearand your
mother！〃
〃I don't want to leave them；〃 protested Diantha； trying to keep her
voice steady。 〃It is simply that I have made up my mind I can do better
elsewhere。〃
〃Do what better？〃 asked Mrs。 Warden with sweet patience； which reduced
Diantha to the bald statement； 〃Earn more money in less time。〃
〃And is that better than staying with your mother and your lover？〃
pursued the gentle inquisitor； while the girls tried； 〃What do you want
to earn more money for？〃 and 〃I thought you earned a lot before。〃
Now Diantha did not wish to state in so many words that she wanted more
money in order to marry soonershe had hardly put it to herself that
way。 She could not make them see in a few moments that her plan was to
do far more for her mother than she would otherwise ever be able to。
And as to making them understand the larger principles at stakethe
range and depth of her full purposethat would be physically
impossible。
〃I am sorry！〃 she said with trembling lips。 〃I am extremely sorry。
ButI cannot explain！〃
Mrs。 Warden drew herself up a little。 〃Cannot explain to me？Your
mother； of course； knows？〃
〃Diantha is naturally more frank with me than withanyone；〃 said Mrs。
Bell proudly； 〃But she does not wish herbusinessplansmade public
at present！〃
Her daughter looked at her with vivid gratitude； but the words 〃made
public〃 were a little unfortunate perhaps。
〃Of course；〃 Mrs。 Warden agreed； with her charming smile； 〃that we can
quite understand。 I'm sure I should always wish my girls to feel so。
Madelinejust show Mrs。 Bell that necktie you're makingshe was asking
about the stitch； you remember。〃
The necktie was produced and admired； while the other girls asked
Diantha if she had her fall dressmaking done yetand whether she found
wash ribbon satisfactory。 And presently the whole graceful family
withdrew； only Dora holding her head with visible stiffness。
Diantha sat on the floor by her mother； put her head in her lap and
cried。 〃How splendid of you； Mother！〃 she sobbed。 〃How simply
splendid！ I will tell you nowififyou won't tell even
Fatheryet。〃
〃Dear child〃 said her Mother； 〃I'd rather not know in that case。 It
iseasier。〃
〃That's what I kept still for！〃 said the girl。 〃It's hard enough；
goodness knowsas it is！ Its nothing wicked； or even risky； Mother
dearand as far as I can see it is right！〃
Her mother smiled through her tears。 〃If you say that； my dear child； I
know there's no stopping you。 And I hate to argue with youeven for
your own sake； because it is so much to my advantage to have you here。
Ishall miss youDiantha！〃
〃Don't； Mother！〃 sobbed the girl。
〃Its natural for the young to go。 We expect itin time。 But you are
so young yetandwell； I had hoped the teaching would satisfy you till
Ross was ready。〃
Diantha sat up straight。
〃Mother！ can't you see Ross'll never be ready！ Look at that family！
And the way they live！ And those mortgages！ I could wait and teach and
save a little even with Father always losing money； but I can't see Ross
wearing himself out for years and yearsI just _can't_ bear it！〃
Her mother stroked her fair hair softly； not surprised that her own plea
was so lost in thought of the brave young lover。
〃And besides；〃 the girl went on 〃If I waitedand savedand married
Rosswhat becomes of _you；_ I'd like to know？ What I can't stand is to
have you grow older and sickerand never have any good time in all your
life！〃
Mrs。 Bell smiled tenderly。 〃You dear child！〃 she said； as if an
affectionate five…year old had offered to get her a rainbow； 〃I know you
mean it all for the best。 But； O my _dearest_！ I'd rather have
youhereat home with me…than any other 'good time' you can
imagine！〃
She could not see the suffering in her daughter's face； but she felt she
had made an impression； and followed it up with heart…breaking
sincerity。 She caught the girl to her breast and held her like a little
child。 〃O my baby！ my baby！ Don't leave your mother。 I can't bear
it！〃
A familiar step outside； heavy； yet uncertain； and they both looked at
each other with frightened eyes。
They had forgotten the biscuit。
〃Supper ready？〃 asked Mr。 Bell； with grim humor。
〃It will be in a moment； Father；〃 cried Diantha springing to her feet。
〃At leastin a few moments。〃
〃Don't fret the child； Father；〃 said Mrs。 Henderson softly。 〃She's
feeling bad enough。〃
〃Sh'd think she would；〃 replied her husband。 〃Moreoverto my mindshe
ought to。〃
He got out the small damp local paper and his pipe； and composed himself
in obvious patience： yet somehow this patience seemed to fill the
kitchen； and to act like a ball and chain to Diantha's feet。
She got supper ready； at last； making griddle…cakes instead of biscuit；
and no comment was made of the change： but the tension in the atmosphere
was sharply felt by the two women； and possibly by the tall old man； who
ate less than usual； and said absolutely nothing。
〃I'm going over to see Edwards about that new incubator；〃 he said when
the meal was over； and departed； and Mrs。 Bell； after trying in vain to
do her mending； wiped her clouded glasses and went to bed。
Diantha made all neat and tidy； washed her own wet eyes again； and went
out under the moon。 In that broad tender mellow light she drew a deep
breath and stretched her strong young arms toward the sky in dumb
appeal。
〃I knew it would be hard；〃 she murmured to herself； 〃That is I knew the
factsbut I didn't know the feeling！〃
She stood at the gate between the cypresses； sat waiting under the
acacia boughs； walked restlessly up and down the path outside； the dry
pepper berries crush softly under foot； bracing herself for one more
struggleand the hardest of all。
〃He will understand！〃 he told herself； over and over； but at the bottom
of her heart she knew he wouldn't。
He came at last； a slower； wearier step than usual； came and took both
her hands in his and stood holding them； looking at her questioningly。
Then he held her face between his palms and made her look at him。 Her
eyes were
