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departed to New Yorkto Europe； and was gone some months。 In the
spring she returned； in Aprilwhich is late June in Orchardina。 She
called upon Diantha and her mother at once； and opened her attack。
〃I do hope； Mrs。 Bell； that you'll back me up；〃 she said。 〃You have the
better business head I think； in the financial line。〃
〃She has；〃 Diantha admitted。 〃She's ten times as good as I am at that；
but she's no more willing to carry obligation than I am； Mrs。
Weatherstone。〃
〃Obligation is one thinginvestment is another；〃 said her guest。 〃I
live on my moneythat is； on other people's work。 I am a base
capitalist； and you seem to me good material to invest in。 Sotake it
or leave itI've brought you an offer。〃
She then produced from her hand bag some papers； and； from her car
outside； a large object carefully boxed； about the size and shape of a
plate warmer。 This being placed on the table before them； was
uncovered； and proved to be a food container of a new model。
〃I had one made in Paris；〃 she explained； 〃and the rest copied here to
save paying duty。 Lift it！〃
They lifted it in amazementit was so light。
〃Aluminum；〃 she said； proudly； 〃Silver platednew process！ And bamboo
at the corners you see。 All lined and interlined with asbestos； rubber
fittings for silver ware； plate racks； food compartmentssee？〃
She pulled out drawers； opened little doors； and rapidly laid out a
table service for five。
〃It will hold food for fivethe average family； you know。 For larger
orders you'll have to send more。 I had to make _some_ estimate。〃
〃What lovely dishes！〃 said Diantha。
〃Aren't they！ Aluminum； silvered！ If your washers are careful they
won't get dented； and you can't break 'em。〃
Mrs。 Bell examined the case and all its fittings with eager attention。
〃It's the prettiest thing I ever saw；〃 she said。 〃Look； Diantha； here's
for soup； here's for wateror wine if you want； all your knives and
forks at the side； Japanese napkins up here。 Its lovely； butI should
thinkexpensive！〃
Mrs。 Weatherstone smiled。 〃I've had twenty…five of them made。 They
cost； with the fittings； 100 apiece； 2；500。 I will rent them to you；
Miss Bell； at a rate of 10 per cent。 interest； only 250 a year！〃
〃It ought to take more；〃 said Mrs。 Bell； 〃there'll be breakage and
waste。〃
〃You can't break them； I tell you；〃 said the cheerful visitor； 〃and
dents can be smoothed out in any tin shopyou'll have to pay for
it；will that satisfy you？〃
Diantha was looking at her； her eyes deep with gratitude。 〃Iyou know
what I think of you！〃 she said。
Mrs。 Weatherstone laughed。 〃I'm not through yet；〃 she said。 〃Look at
my next piece of impudence！〃 This was only on paper； but the pictures
were amply illuminating。
〃I went to several factories；〃 she gleefully explained； 〃here and
abroad。 A Yankee firm built it。 It's in my garage now！〃
It was a light gasolene motor wagon； the body built like those
old…fashioned moving wagons which were also used for excursions； wherein
the floor of the vehicle was rather narrow； and set low； and the seats
ran lengthwise； widening out over the wheels； only here the wheels were
lower； and in the space under the seats ran a row of lockers opening
outside。 Mrs。 Weatherstone smiled triumphantly。
〃Now； Diantha Bell；〃 she said； 〃here's something you haven't thought of；
I do believe！ This estimable vehicle will carry thirty people inside
easily；〃 and she showed them how each side held twelve； and turn…up
seats accommodated six more； 〃and outside；〃she showed the lengthwise
picture〃it carries twenty…four containers。 If you want to send all
your twenty…five at once； one can go here by the driver。
〃Now then。 This is not an obligation； Miss Bell； it is another valuable
investment。 I'm having more made。 I expect to have use for them in a
good many places。 This cost pretty near 3；000； and you get it at the
same good interest； for 300 a year。 What's more； if you are smart
enoughand I don't doubt you are；you can buy the whole thing on
installments； same as you mean to with your furniture。〃
Diantha was dumb； but her mother wasn't。 She thanked Mrs。 Weatherstone
with a hearty appreciation of her opportune help； but no less of her
excellent investment。
〃Don't be a goose； Diantha；〃 she said。 〃You will set up your food
business in first class style； and I think you can carry it
successfully。 But Mrs。 Weatherstone's right； she's got a new investment
here that'll pay her better than most othersand be a growing thing I
do believe。〃
And still Diantha found it difficult to express her feelings。 She had
lived under a good deal of strain for many months now； and this sudden
opening out of her plans was a heavenly help indeed。
Mrs。 Weatherstone went around the table and sat by her。 〃Child；〃 said
she； 〃you don't begin to realize what you've done for meand for
Isobeland for ever so many in this town； and all over the world。 And
besides； don't you think anybody else can see your dream？ We can't _do_
it as you can； but we can see what it's going to mean；and we'll help
if we can。 You wouldn't grudge us that； would you？〃
As a result of all this the cooked food delivery service was opened at
once。
〃It is true that the tourists are gone； mostly；〃 said Mrs。 Weatherstone；
as she urged it； 〃but you see there are ever so many residents who have
more trouble with servants in summer than they do in winter； and hate to
have a fire in the house； too。〃
So Diantha's circulars had an addition； forthwith。
These were distributed among the Orchardinians； setting their tongues
wagging anew； as a fresh breeze stirs the eaves of the forest。
The stealthy inroads of lunches and evening refreshments had been
deprecated already； this new kind of servant who wasn't a servant； but
held her head up like anyone else （〃They are as independent
asas'salesladies；'〃 said one critic）； was also viewed with alarm；
but when even this domestic assistant was to be removed； and a square
case of food and dishes substituted； all Archaic Orchardina was
horrified。
There were plenty of new minds in the place； however； enough to start
Diantha with seven full orders and five partial ones。
Her work at the club was now much easier； thanks to her mother's
assistance； to the smoother running of all the machinery with the
passing of time； and further to the fact that most of her girls were now
working at summer resorts； for shorter hours and higher wages。 They
paid for their rooms at the club still； but the work of the house was so
much lightened that each of the employees was given two weeks of
vacationon full pay。
The lunch department kept on a pretty regular basis from the patronage
of resident business men； and the young managerin her ambitious
momentsplanned for enlarging it in the winter。 But during the summer
her whole energies went to perfecting the _menus_ and the service of her
food delivery。
Mrs。 Porne was the very first to order。 She had been waiting
impatiently for a chance to try the plan； and； with her husband； had the
firmest faith in Diantha's capacity to carry it through。
〃We don't save much in money；〃 she explain