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or the delivery of meals； the number of wealthy residents gave
opportunity for catering on a large scale； the crowding tourists and
health seekers made a market for all manner of transient service and
cooked food； and the constant lack of sufficient or capable servants
forced the people into an unwilling consideration of any plan of
domestic assistance。
In a year's deliberate effort Diantha had acquainted herself with the
rank and file of the town's housemaids and day workers； and picked her
assistants carefully。 She had studied the local conditions thoroughly；
and knew her ground。 A big faded building that used to be 〃the Hotel'
in Orchardina's infant days； standing； awkward and dingy on a site too
valuable for a house lot and not yet saleable as a business block； was
the working base。
A half year with Mrs。 Weatherstone gave her 500 in cash； besides the
100 she had saved at Mrs。 Porne's； and Mrs。 Weatherstone's cheerfully
offered backing gave her credit。
〃I hate to let you；〃 said Diantha； 〃I want to do it all myself。〃
〃You are a painfully perfect person； Miss Bell；〃 said her last employer；
pleasantly； 〃but you have ceased to be my housekeeper and I hope you
will continue to be my friend。 As a friend I claim the privilege of
being disagreeable。 If you have a fault it is conceit。 Immovable
Colossal Conceit！ And Obstinacy！〃
〃Is that all？〃 asked Diantha。
〃It's all I've foundso far；〃 gaily retorted Mrs。 Weatherstone。 〃Don't
you see； child； that you can't afford to wait？ You have reasons for
hastening； you know。 I don't doubt you could； in a series of years；
work up this business all stark alone。 I have every confidence in those
qualities I have mentioned！ But what's the use？ You'll need credit for
groceries and furniture。 I am profoundly interested in this business。
I am more than willing to advance a little capital； or to ensure your
credit。 A man would have sense enough to take me up at once。〃
〃I believe you are right；〃 Diantha reluctantly agreed。 〃And you shan't
lose by it！〃
Her friends were acutely interested in her progress； and showed it in
practical ways。 The New Woman's Club furnished five families of patrons
for the regular service of cooked food； which soon grew； with
satisfaction； to a dozen or so； varying from time to time。 The many
families with invalids； and lonely invalids without families； were glad
to avail themselves of the special delicacies furnished at Union House。
Picnickers found it easier to buy Diantha's marvelous sandwiches than to
spend golden morning hours in putting up inferior ones at home； and many
who cooked for themselves； or kept servants； were glad to profit by this
outside source on Sunday evenings and 〃days out。〃
There was opposition too； both the natural resistance of inertia and
prejudice； and the active malignity of Mrs。 Thaddler。
The Pornes were sympathetic and anxious。
〃That place'll cost her all of 10；000 a year； with those twenty…five to
feed； and they only pay 4。50 a weekI know that！〃 said Mr。 Porne。
〃It does look impossible；〃 his wife agreed； 〃but such is my faith in
Diantha Bell I'd back her against Rockefeller！〃
Mrs。 Weatherstone was not alarmed at all。 〃If she _should_ failwhich
I don't for a moment expectit wont ruin me；〃 she told Isabel。 〃And if
she succeeds； as I firmly believe she will； why； I'd be willing to risk
almost anything to prove Mrs。 Thaddler in the wrong。〃
Mrs。 Thaddler was making herself rather disagreeable。 She used what
power she had to cry down the undertaking； and was so actively
malevolent that her husband was moved to covert opposition。 He never
argued with his wifeshe was easily ahead of him in that art； and； if
it came to recriminations； had certain controvertible charges to make
against him； which mode him angrily silent。 He was convinced in a dim
way that her ruthless domineering spirit； and the sheer malice she often
showed； were more evil things than his own bad habits； and that even in
their domestic relation her behavior really caused him more pain and
discomfort than he caused her； but he could not convince her of it；
naturally。
〃That Diantha Bell is a fine girl；〃 he said to himself。 〃A damn fine
girl； and as straight as a string！〃
There had crept out； through the quenchless leak of servants talk； a
varicolored version of the incident of Mathew and the transom； and the
town had grown so warm for that young gentleman that he had gone to
Alaska suddenly； to cool off； as it were。 His Grandmother； finding Mrs。
Thaddler invincible with this new weapon； and what she had so long
regarded as her home now visibly Mrs。 Weatherstone's； had retired in
regal dignity to her old Philadelphia establishment； where she upheld
the standard of decorum against the weakening habits of a deteriorated
world； for many years。
As Mr。 Thaddler thought of this sweeping victory； he chuckled for the
hundredth time。 〃She ought to make good； and she will。 Something's got
to be done about it；〃 said he。
Diantha had never liked Mr。 Thaddler； she did not like that kind of man
in general； nor his manner toward her in particular。 Moreover he was
the husband of Mrs。 Thaddler。 She did not know that he was still the
largest owner in the town's best grocery store； and when that store
offered her special terms for her exclusive trade； she accepted the
proposition thankfully。
She told Ross about it； as a matter well within his knowledge； if not
his liking； and he was mildly interested。 〃I am much alarmed at this
new venture；〃 he wrote； 〃but you must get your experience。 I wish I
could save you。 As to the groceries； those are wholesale rates； nearly；
they'll make enough on it。 Yours is a large order you see； and steady。〃
When she opened her 〃Business Men's Lunch〃 Mr。 Thaddler had a still
better opportunity。 He had a reputation as a high flyer； and had really
intended to sacrifice himself on the altar of friendship by patronizing
and praising this 〃undertaking〃 at any cost to his palate； but no
sacrifice was needed。
Diantha's group of day workers had their early breakfast and departed；
taking each her neat lunch…pail；they ate nothing of their
employers；and both kitchen and dining room would have stood idle till
supper time。 But the young manager knew she must work her plant for all
it was worth； and speedily opened the dining room with the side entrance
as a 〃Caffeteria；〃 with the larger one as a sort of meeting place；
papers and magazines on the tables。
From the counter you took what you liked； and seated yourself； and your
friends； at one of the many small tables or in the flat…armed chairs in
the big room； or on the broad piazza； and as this gave good food；
cheapness； a chance for a comfortable seat and talk and a smoke； if one
had time； it was largely patronized。
Mr。 Thaddler； as an experienced _bon vivant；_ despised sandwiches。
〃Picnicky makeshifts〃 he called them；〃railroad rations〃〃bread and
leavings；〃 and when he saw these piles on piles of sandwiches； listed
only as 〃No。 1；〃 〃No。 2〃 〃No。 3；〃 and so on； his benevolent intention
wavered。 But he pulled himself together and took a plateful； assorted。