what diantha did-第6部分

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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　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！