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but squeezed her hand； anyhow。
She looked at him keenly。 〃Headache？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； it's nothing； it's gone already。〃
〃Worry？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； I suppose it is；〃 he answered。 〃But I ought not to worry。 I've
got a good home； a good mother； good sisters； andyou！〃 And he took
advantage of a high hedge and an empty lot on either side of them。
Diantha returned his kiss affectionately enough； but seemed preoccupied；
and walked in silence till he asked her what she was thinking about。
〃About you； of course；〃 she answered； brightly。 〃There are things I want
to say； and yetI ought not to。〃
〃You can say anything on earth to me；〃 he answered。
〃You are twenty…four；〃 she began； musingly。
〃Admitted at once。〃
〃And I'm twenty…one and a half。〃
〃That's no such awful revelation； surely！〃
〃And we've been engaged ever since my birthday；〃 the girl pursued。
〃All these are facts； dearest。〃
〃Now； Ross； will you be perfectly frank with me？ May I ask you anan
impertinent question？〃
〃You may ask me any question you like； it couldn't be impertinent。〃
〃You'll be scandalised； I knowbutwell； here goes。 What would you
think if Madelineor any of the girlsshould go away to work？〃
He looked at her lovingly； but with a little smile on his firm mouth。
〃I shouldn't allow it；〃 he said。
〃Oallow it？ I asked you what you'd think。〃
〃I should think it was a disgrace to the family； and a direct reproach
to me；〃 be answered。 〃But it's no use talking about that。 None of the
girls have any such foolish notion。 And I wouldn't permit it if they
had。〃
Diantha smiled。 〃I suppose you never would permit your wife to work？〃
〃My widow might have tonot my wife。〃 He held his fine head a trifle
higher； and her hand ached for a moment。
〃Wouldn't you let me workto help you； Ross？〃
〃My dearest girl； you've got something far harder than that to do for
me； and that's wait。〃
His face darkened again； and he passed his hand over his forehead。
〃Sometimes I feel as if I ought not to hold you at all！〃 he burst out；
bitterly。 〃You ought to be free to marry a better man。〃
〃There aren't any！〃 said Diantha； shaking her head slowly from side to
side。 〃And if there weremillionsI wouldn't marry any of 'em。 I
love _you；〃_ she firmly concluded。
〃Then we'll just _wait；〃_ said he； setting his teeth on the word； as if
he would crush it。 〃It won't be hard with you to help。 You're better
worth it than Rachael and Leah together。〃 They walked a few steps
silently。
〃But how about science？〃 she asked him。
〃I don't let myself think of it。 I'll take that up later。 We're young
enough； both of us； to wait for our happiness。〃
〃And have you any ideawe might as well face the worsthow many years
do you think that will be； dearest？〃
He was a little annoyed at her persistence。 Also； though he would not
admit the thought； it did not seem quite the thing for her to ask。 A
woman should not seek too definite a period of waiting。 She ought to
trustto just wait on general principles。
〃I can face a thing better if I know just what I'm facing；〃 said the
girl； quietly； 〃and I'd wait for you； if I had to； all my life。 Will it
be twenty years； do you think？〃
He looked relieved。 〃Why； no； indeed； darling。 It oughtn't to be at
the outside more than five。 Or six；〃 he added； honest though reluctant。
〃You see； father had no time to settle anything； there were outstanding
accounts； and the funeral expenses； and the mortgages。 But the business
is good； and I can carry it； I can build it up。〃 He shook his broad
shoulders determinedly。 〃I should think it might be within five；
perhaps even less。 Good things happen sometimessuch as you； my heart's
delight。〃
They were at her gate now； and she stood a little while to say
good…night。 A step inside there was a seat； walled in by evergreen；
roofed over by the wide acacia boughs。 Many a long good…night had they
exchanged there； under the large； brilliant California moon。 They sat
there； silent； now。
Diantha's heart was full of love for him； and pride and confidence in
him； but it was full of other feelings； too； which he could not fathom。
His trouble was clearer to her than to him； as heavy to bear。 To her
mind； trained in all the minutiae of domestic economy； the Warden family
lived in careless wastefulness。 That five womenfor Dora was older
than she had been when she began to do houseworkshould require
servants； seemed to this New England…born girl mere laziness and pride。
That two voting women over twenty should prefer being supported by their
brother to supporting themselves； she condemned even more sharply。
Moreover； she felt well assured that with a different family to
〃support；〃 Mr。 Warden would never have broken down so suddenly and
irrecoverably。 Even that funeralher face hardened as she thought of
the conspicuous 〃lot；〃 the continual flowers； the monument （not wholly
paid for yet； that monument； though this she did not know）all that
expenditure to do honor to the man they had worked to death （thus
brutally Diantha put it） was probably enough to put off their happiness
for a whole year。
She rose at last； her hand still held in his。 〃I'm sorry； but I've got
to get supper； dear；〃 she said； 〃and you must go。 Good…night for the
present； you'll be round by and by？〃
〃Yes； for a little while； after we close up；〃 said he； and took himself
off； not too suddenly； walking straight and proud while her eves were on
him； throwing her a kiss from the corner； but his step lagging and his
headache settling down upon him again as he neared the large house with
the cupola。
Diantha watched him out of sight； turned and marched up the path to her
own door； her lips set tight； her well…shaped head as straightly held as
his。 〃It's a shame； a cruel； burning shame！〃 she told herself
rebelliously。 〃A man of his ability。 Why； he could do anything； in his
own work！ And he loved it so！
〃To keep a grocery store
〃〃And nothing to show for all that splendid effort！
〃They don't do a thing？ They just _live_and 'keep house！' All those
women！
〃Six years？ Likely to be sixty！ But I'm not going to wait！〃
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER II。
AN UNNATURAL DAUGHTER
The brooding bird fulfills her task；
Or she…bear lean and brown；
All parent beasts see duty true；
All parent beasts their duty do；
We are the only kind that asks
For duty upside down。
The stiff…rayed windmill stood like a tall mechanical flower； turning
slowly in the light afternoon wind； its faint regular metallic squeak
pricked the dry silence wearingly。 Rampant fuchsias； red…jewelled；
heavy； ran up its framework； with crowding heliotrope and nasturtiums。
Thick straggling roses hung over the kitchen windows； and a row of dusty
eucalyptus trees rustled their stiff leaves； and gave an ineffectual
shade to the house。
It was one of those small frame houses common to the northeastern
states； which must be dear to the hearts of their dwellers。 For no
other reason； surely； would the cold grey steep…roofed little boxes be
repeated so faithfully in the broad glow of a semi…tropical landscape。
There was an a