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flies with a towel。 Then she essayed the parlor； dusting and arranging
with undecided steps。 〃It _ought_ to be swept；〃 she admitted to
herself； 〃I can't do itthere isn't time。 I'll make it dark〃
〃I'd rather plan a dozen houses！〃 she fiercely muttered； as she fussed
about。 〃YesI'd rather build 'emthan to keep one clean！〃
Then were her hopes dashed by a rising wail from above。 She sat quite
still awhile； hoping against hope that he would sleep again； but he
wouldn't。 So she brought him down in full cry。
In her low chair by the window she held him and produced bright and
jingling objects from the tall workbasket that stood near by； sighing
again as she glanced at its accumulated mending。
Master Eddy grew calm and happy in her arms； but showed a growing
interest in the pleasing materials produced for his amusement； and a
desire for closer acquaintance。 Then a penetrating odor filled the air；
and with a sudden 〃O dear！〃 she rose； put the baby on the sofa； and
started toward the kitchen。
At this moment the doorbell rang。
Mrs。 Porne stopped in her tracks and looked at the door。 It remained
opaque and immovable。 She looked at the babywho jiggled his spools
and crowed。 Then she flew to the oven and dragged forth the bread； not
much burned after all。 Then she opened the door。
A nice looking young woman stood before her； in a plain travelling suit；
holding a cheap dress…suit case in one hand and a denim 〃roll…bag〃 in
the other； who met her with a cheerful inquiring smile。
〃Are you Mrs。 Edgar Porne？〃 she asked。
〃I am；〃 answered that lady； somewhat shortly； her hand on the doorknob；
her ear on the baby； her nose still remorsefully in the kitchen； her
eyes fixed sternly on her visitor the while； as she wondered whether it
was literature； cosmetics； or medicine。
She was about to add that she didn't want anything； when the young lady
produced a card from the Rev。 Benjamin A。 Miner； Mrs。 Porne's
particularly revered minister； and stated that she had heard there was a
vacancy in her kitchen and she would like the place。
〃Introducing Mrs。 D。 Bell； well known to friends of mine。〃
〃I don't know〃 said Mrs。 Porne； reading the card without in the least
grasping what it said。 〃I〃
Just then there was a dull falling sound followed by a sharp rising one；
and she rushed into the parlor without more words。
When she could hear and be heard again； she found Mrs。 Bell seated in
the shadowy little hall； serene and cool。 〃I called on Mr。 Miner
yesterday when I arrived；〃 said she； 〃with letters of introduction from
my former minister； told him what I wanted to do； and asked him if he
could suggest anyone in immediate need of help in this line。 He said he
had called here recently； and believed you were looking for someone。
Here is the letter I showed him；〃 and she handed Mrs。 Porne a most
friendly and appreciative recommendation of Miss D。 Bell by a minister
in Jopalez； Inca Co。； stating that the bearer was fully qualified to do
all kinds of housework； experienced； honest； kind； had worked seven
years in one place； and only left it hoping to do better in Southern
California。
Backed by her own pastor's approval this seemed to Mrs。 Porne fully
sufficient。 The look of the girl pleased her； though suspiciously above
her station in manner； service of any sort was scarce and high in
Orchardina； and she had been an agelong week without any。 〃When can you
come？〃 she asked。
〃I can stop now if you like；〃 said the stranger。 〃This is my baggage。
But we must arrange terms first。 If you like to try me I will come this
week from noon to…day to noon next Friday； for seven dollars； and then
if you are satisfied with my work we can make further arrangements。 I
do not do laundry work； of course； and don't undertake to have any care
of the baby。〃
〃I take care of my baby myself！〃 said Mrs。 Porne； thinking the new girl
was presuming； though her manner was most gently respectful。 But a week
was not long； she was well recommended； and the immediate pressure in
that kitchen where the harvest was so ripe and the laborers so
few〃Wellyou may try the week；〃 she said。 〃I'll show you your room。
And what is your name？〃
〃Miss Bell。〃
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER V。
When the fig growns on the thistle；
And the silk purse on the sow；
When one swallow brings the summer；
And blue moons on her brow
Then we may look for strength and skill；
Experience； good health； good will；
Art and science well combined；
Honest soul and able mind；
Servants built upon this plan；
One to wait on every man；
Patiently from youth to age；
For less than a street cleaner's wage！
When the parson's gay on Mondays；
When we meet a month of Sundays；
We may look for them and find them
But Not Now！
When young Mrs。 Weatherstone swept her trailing crepe from the
automobile to her friend's door； it was opened by a quick； soft…footed
maid with a pleasant face； who showed her into a parlor； not only cool
and flower…lit； but having that fresh smell that tells of new…washed
floors。
Mrs。 Porne came flying down to meet her； with such a look of rest and
comfort as roused instant notice。
〃Why； Belle！ I haven't seen you look so bright in ever so long。 It
must be the new maid！〃
〃That's itshe's 'Bell' too'Miss Bell' if you please！〃
The visitor looked puzzled。 〃Is she aa friend？〃 she ventured； not
sure of her ground。
〃I should say she was！ A friend in need！ Sit here by the window；
Vivaand I'll tell you all about itas far as it goes。〃
She gaily recounted her climax of confusion and weariness； and the
sudden appearance of this ministering angel。 〃She arrived at about
quarter of ten。 I engaged her inside of five minutes。 She was into a
gingham gown and at work by ten o'clock！〃
〃What promptness！ And I suppose there was plenty to do！〃
Mrs。 Porne laughed unblushingly。 〃There was enough for ten women it
seemed to me！ Let's seeit's about five nowseven hours。 We have
nine rooms； besides the halls and stairs； and my shop。 She hasn't
touched that yet。 But the house is clean_clean_！ Smell it！〃
She took her guest out into the hall； through the library and
dining…room； upstairs where the pleasant bedrooms stretched open and
orderly。
〃She said that if I didn't mind she'd give it a superficial general
cleaning today and be more thorough later！〃
Mrs。 Weatherstone looked about her with a rather languid interest。 〃I'm
very glad for you； Belle； dearbutwhat an endless nuisance it all
isdon't you think so？〃
〃Nuisance！ It's slow death！ to me at least；〃 Mrs。 Porne answered。 〃But
I don't see why you should mind。 I thought Madam Weatherstone ran
thatpalace； of yours； and you didn't have any trouble at all。〃
〃Oh yes； she runs it。 I couldn't get along with her at all if she
didn't。 That's her life。 It was my mother's too。 Always fussing and
fussing。 Their houses on their backslike snails！〃
〃Don't see why； with ten （or is it fifteen？） servants。〃
〃Its twenty； I think。 But my dear Belle； if you imagine that when you
have twenty servants you have neither work nor carecome and try it
awhile； that's all！〃
〃Not for a millionaire