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tradesmanship。 Continually his thoughts went back to the hope of
selling out the business and buying a ranch。
〃I could make it keep us； anyhow；〃 he would plan to himself； 〃and I
could get at that guinea pig idea。 Or maybe hens would do。〃 He had a
theory of his own； or a personal test of his own； rather； which he
wished to apply to a well known theory。 It would take some years to
work it out； and a great many fine pigs； and be of no possible value
financially。 〃I'll do it sometime；〃 he always concluded； which was cold
comfort。
His real grief at losing the companionship of the girl he loved； was
made more bitter by a total lack of sympathy with her aims； even if she
achieved themin which he had no confidence。 He had no power to change
his course； and tried not to be unpleasant about it； but he had to
express his feelings now and then。
〃Are you coming back to me？〃 he wrote。 〃How con you bear to give so
much pain to everyone who loves you？ Is your wonderful salary worth
more to you than being here with your motherwith me？ How can you say
you love meand ruin both our lives like this？ I cannot come to see
youI _would_ not come to see youcalling at the back door！ Finding
the girl I love in a cap and apron！ Can you not see it is wrong；
utterly wrong； all this mad escapade of yours？ Suppose you do make a
thousand dollars a yearI shall never touch your moneyyou know that。
I cannot even offer you a home； except with my family； and I know how
you feel about that； I do not blame you。
〃But I am as stubborn as you are； dear girl； I will not live on my
wife's moneyyou will not live in my mother's houseand we are
drifting apart。 It is not that I care less for you dear； or at all for
anyone else； but this is slow deaththat's all。〃
Mrs。 Warden wrote now and then and expatiated on the sufferings of her
son； and his failing strength under the unnatural strain； till Diantha
grew to dread her letters more than any pain she knew。 Fortunately they
came seldom。
Her own family was much impressed by the thousand dollars； and found the
occupation of housekeeper a long way more tolerable than that of
house…maid； a distinction which made Diantha smile rather bitterly。
Even her father wrote to her once； suggesting that if she chose to
invest her salary according to his advice he could double it for her in
a year； maybe treble it； in Belgian hares。
_〃They'd_ double and treble fast enough！〃 she admitted to herself； but
she wrote as pleasant a letter as she could； declining his proposition。
Her mother seemed stronger； and became more sympathetic as the months
passed。 Large affairs always appealed to her more than small ones； and
she offered valuable suggestions as to the account keeping of the big
house。 They all assumed that she was permanently settled in this well
paid position； and she made no confidences。 But all summer long she
planned and read and studied out her progressive schemes； and
strengthened her hold among the working women。
Laundress after laundress she studied personally and tested
professionally； finding a general level of mediocrity； till finally she
hit upon a melancholy Danea big rawboned red…faced womanwhose
husband had been a miller； but was hurt about the head so that he was no
longer able to earn his living。 The huge fellow was docile； quiet； and
endlessly strong； but needed constant supervision。
〃He'll do anything you tell him； Miss； and do it well； but then he'll
sit and dream about itI can't leave him at all。 But he'll take the
clothes if I give him a paper with directions； and come right back。〃
Poor Mrs。 Thorald wiped her eyes； and went on with her swift ironing。
Diantha offered her the position of laundress at Union House； with two
rooms for their own； over the laundry。 〃There'll be work for him； too；〃
she said。 〃We need a man there。 He can do a deal of the heavier
workbe porter you know。 I can't offer him very much； but it will help
some。〃
Mrs。 Thorald accepted for both； and considered Diantha as a special
providence。
There was to be cook； and two capable second maids。 The work of the
house must be done thoroughly well； Diantha determined； 〃and the food's
got to be goodor the girls wont stay。〃 After much consideration she
selected one Julianna； a 〃person of color；〃 for her kitchen： not the
jovial and sloppy personage usually figuring in this character； but a
tall； angular； and somewhat cynical woman； a misanthrope in fact； with a
small son。 For men she had no respect whatever； but conceded a grudging
admiration to Mr。 Thorald as 〃the usefullest biddablest male person〃 she
had ever seen。 She also extended special sympathy to Mrs。 Thorald on
account of her peculiar burden； and the Swedish woman had no antipathy
to her color； and seemed to take a melancholy pleasure in Julianna's
caustic speeches。
Diantha offered her the place； boy and all。 〃He can be 'bell boy' and
help you in the kitchen； too。 Can't you； Hector？〃 Hector rolled large
adoring eyes at her； but said nothing。 His mother accepted the
proposition； but without enthusiasm。 〃I can't keep no eye on him； Miss；
if I'm cookin' an less'n you keep your eye on him they's no work to be
got out'n any kind o' boy。〃
〃What is your last name； Julianna？〃 Diantha asked her。
〃I suppose； as a matter o' fac' its de name of de last nigger I
married；〃 she replied。 〃Dere was several of 'em； all havin' different
names； and to tell you de truf Mis' Bell； I got clean mixed amongst 'em。
But Julianna's my nameworld without end amen。〃
So Diantha had to waive her theories about the surnames of servants in
this case。
〃Did they all die？〃 she asked with polite sympathy。
〃No'm； dey didn't none of 'em dieworse luck。〃
〃I'm afraid you have seen much trouble； Julianna；〃 she continued
sympathetically； 〃They deserted you； I suppose？〃
Julianna laid her long spoon upon the table and stood up with great
gravity。 〃No'm；〃 she said again； 〃dey didn't none of 'em desert me on
no occasion。 I divorced 'em。〃
Marital difficulties in bulk were beyond Diantha's comprehension； and
she dropped the subject。
Union House opened in the autumn。 The vanished pepper trees were dim
with dust in Orchardina streets as the long rainless summer drew to a
close； but the social atmosphere fairly sparkled with new interest。
Those who had not been away chattered eagerly with those who had； and
both with the incoming tide of winter visitors。
〃That girl of Mrs。 Porne's has started her housekeeping shop！〃
〃That 'Miss Bell' has got Mrs。 Weatherstone fairly infatuated with her
crazy schemes。〃
〃Do you know that Bell girl has actually taken Union House？ Going to
make a Girl's Club of it！〃
〃Did you ever _hear_ of such a thing！ Diantha Bell's really going to
try to run her absurd undertaking right here in Orchardina！〃
They did not know that the young captain of industry had deliberately
chosen Orchardina as her starting point on account of the special
conditions。 The even climate was favorable to 〃going out by the day；〃
or the delivery of meals； the number of wealthy residents gave
opportunity for catering on a large scale； the crowding tourist