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the floors and walls and the darkness； the dust in the little shaded
parlortwo days' dust at least； and Orchardina is very dusty！dust in
the dining…room gathered since yesterdaythe dust in the kitchenshe
would not count time there； and the dusthere she counted it
inexorablythe dust of eight days in her great； light workroom
upstairs。 Eight days since she had found time to go up there。
Lying there； wide…eyed and motionless； she stood outside in thought and
looked at the houseas she used to look at it with him； before they
were married。 Then； it had roused every blessed hope and dream of
wedded joyit seemed a casket of uncounted treasures。 Now； in this
dreary mood； it seemed not only a mere workshop； but one of alien tasks；
continuous； impossible； like those set for the Imprisoned Princess by
bad fairies in the old tales。 In thought she entered the
well…proportioned doorthe Gate of Happinessand a musty smell greeted
hershe had forgotten to throw out those flowers！ She turned to the
parlorno； the piano keys were gritty； one had to clean them twice a
day to keep that room as she liked it。
From room to room she flitted； in her mind； trying to recall the
exquisite things they meant to her when she had planned them； and each
one now opened glaring and blank； as a place to work inand the work
undone。
〃If I were an abler woman！〃 she breathed。 And then her common sense and
common honesty made her reply to herself： 〃I am able enoughin my own
work！ Nobody can do everything。 I don't believe Edgar'd do it any
better than I do。He don't have to！and then such a wave of bitterness
rushed over her that she was afraid； and reached out one hand to touch
the cribthe other to her husband。
He awakened instantly。 〃What is it； Dear？〃 he asked。 〃Too tired to
sleep； you poor darling？ But you do love me a little； don't you？〃
〃O _yes_！〃 she answered。 〃I do。 Of _course_ I do！ I'm just tired； I
guess。 Goodnight； Sweetheart。〃
She was late in getting to sleep and late in waking。
When he finally sat down to the hurriedly spread breakfast…table； Mr。
Porne； long coffeeless； found it a bit difficult to keep his temper。
Isabel was a little stiff； bringing in dishes and cups； and paying no
attention to the sounds of wailing from above。
〃Well if you won't I will！〃 burst forth the father at last； and ran
upstairs； returning presently with a fine boy of some eleven months； who
ceased to bawl in these familiar arms； and contented himself； for the
moment； with a teaspoon。
〃Aren't you going to feed him？〃 asked Mr。 Porne； with forced patience。
〃It isn't time yet；〃 she announced wearily。 〃He has to have his bath
first。〃
〃Well；〃 with a patience evidently forced farther； 〃isn't it time to feed
me？〃
〃I'm very sorry；〃 she said。 〃The oatmeal is burned again。 You'll have
to eat cornflakes。 Andthe cream is sourthe ice didn't comeor at
least； perhaps I was out when it cameand then I forgot it。 。 。 。 。 I
had to go to the employment agency in the morning！ 。 。 。 。 I'm sorry I'm
soso incompetent。〃
〃So am I；〃 he commented drily。 〃Are there any crackers for instance？
And how about coffee？〃
She brought the coffee； such as it was； and a can of condensed milk。
Also crackers； and fruit。 She took the baby and sat silent。
〃Shall I come home to lunch？〃 he asked。
〃Perhaps you'd better not；〃 she replied coldly。
〃Is there to be any dinner？〃
〃Dinner will be ready at six…thirty； if I have to get it myself。〃
〃If you have to get it yourself I'll allow for seven…thirty；〃 said he；
trying to be cheerful； though she seemed little pleased by it。 〃Now
don't take it so hard； Ellie。 You are a first…class architect；
anyhowone can't be everything。 We'll get another girl in time。 This
is just the common lot out here。 All the women have the same trouble。〃
〃Most women seem better able to meet it！〃 she burst forth。 〃It's not my
trade！ I'm willing to work； I like to work； but I can't _bear_
housework！ I can't seem to learn it at all！ And the servants will not
do it properly！〃
〃Perhaps they know your limitations； and take advantage of them！ But
cheer up； dear。 It's no killing matter。 Order by phone； don't forget
the ice； and I'll try to get home early and help。 Don't cry； dear girl；
I love you； even if you aren't a good cook！ And you love me； don't
you？〃
He kissed her till she had to smile back at him and give him a loving
hug； but after he had gone； the gloom settled upon her spirits once
more。 She bathed the baby； fed him； put him to sleep； and came back to
the table。 The screen door had been left ajar and the house was buzzing
with flies； hot； with a week's accumulating disorder。 The bread she
made last night in fear and trembling； was hanging fatly over the pans；
perhaps sour already。 She clapped it into the oven and turned on the
heat。
Then she stood； undetermined； looking about that messy kitchen while the
big flies bumped and buzzed on the windows； settled on every dish； and
swung in giddy circles in the middle of the room。 Turning swiftly she
shut the door on them。 The dining…room was nearly as bad。 She began to
put the cups and plates together for removal； but set her tray down
suddenly and went into the comparative coolness of the parlor； closing
the dining…room door behind her。
She was quite tired enough to cry after several nights of broken rest
and days of constant discomfort and irritation； but a sense of rising
anger kept the tears back。
〃Of course I love him！〃 she said to herself aloud but softly；
remembering the baby； 〃And no doubt he loves me！ I'm glad to be his
wife！ I'm glad to be a mother to his child！ I'm glad I married him！
But_this_ is not what he offered！ And it's not what I undertook！ He
hasn't had to change his business！〃
She marched up and down the scant space； and then stopped short and
laughed drily； continuing her smothered soliloquy。
〃'Do you love me？' they ask； and； 'I will make you happy！' they say； and
you get marriedand after that it's Housework！〃
〃They don't say； 'Will you be my Cook？' 'Will you be my Chamber maid？'
'Will you give up a good clean well…paid business that you lovethat
has big hope and power and beauty in itand come and keep house for
me？'〃
〃Love him？ I'd be in Paris this minute if I didn't！ What has 'love' to
do with dust and grease and flies！〃
Then she did drop on the small sofa and cry tempestuously for a little
while； but soon arose； fiercely ashamed of her weakness； and faced the
day； thinking of the old lady who had so much to do she couldn't think
what to firstso she sat down and made a pincushion。
Thenwhere to begin！
〃Eddie will sleep till half…past tenif I'm lucky。 It's now nearly
half…past nine；〃 she meditated aloud。 〃If I do the upstairs work I
might wake him。 I mustn't forget the bread； the dishes； the parlorO
those flies！ WellI'll clear the table first！〃
Stepping softly； and handling the dishes with slow care； she cleaned the
breakfast table and darkened the dining…room； flapping out some of the
flies with a towel。 Then she essayed the parlor； dusting and arranging
with undecided steps。 〃It _ought_ to be swept；〃 sh