按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mean to undertake any more trades； if that is what you mean。 You know
what I'm afterto get 'housework' on a business basis； that's all； and
prove； prove； PROVE what a good business it is。 There's the cleaning
branchthat's all started and going well in the day service。 There's
the washingthat's simple and easy。 Laundry work's no mystery。 But
the food part is a big thing。 It's an art； a science； a business； and a
handicraft。 I had the handicraft to start with； I'm learning the
business； but I've got a lot to learn yet in the science and art of it。〃
〃Don't do too much at once；〃 her mother urged。 〃You've got to cater to
people as they are。〃
〃I know it；〃 the girl agreed。 〃They must be led； step by stepthe
natural method。 It's a big job； but not too big。 Out of all the women
who have done housework for so many ages； surely it's not too much to
expect one to have a special genius for it！〃
Her mother gazed at her with loving admiration。
〃That's just what you have； Dinaa special genius for housework。 I
wish there were more of you！〃
〃There are plenty of me； mother dear； only they haven't come out。 As
soon as I show 'em how to make the thing pay； you'll find that we have a
big percentage of this kind of ability。 It's all buried now in the
occasional 'perfect housekeeper。'
〃But they won't leave their husbands； Dina。〃
〃They don't need to；〃 the girl answered cheerfully。 〃Some of them
aren't married yet； some of them have lost their husbands； and _some_ of
them〃she said this a little bitterly〃have husbands who will be
willing to let their wives grow。〃
〃Not many； I'm afraid；〃 said Mrs。 Bell； also with some gloom。
Diantha lightened up again。 〃Anyhow； here you are； mother dear！ And
for this year I propose that you assume the financial management of the
whole business at a salary of 1；000 'and found。' How does that suit
you？〃
Mrs。 Bell looked at her unbelievingly。
〃You can't afford it； Dina！〃
〃Oh； yes； I canyou know I can； because you've got the accounts。 I'm
going to make big money this year。〃
〃But you'll need it。 This hotel and restaurant business may not do
well。〃
〃Now； mother； you _know_ we're doing well。 Look here！〃 And Diantha
produced her note…book。
〃Here's the little laundry place； its fittings come to so much； wages so
much； collection and delivery so much； supplies so muchand already
enough patronage engaged to cover。 It will be bigger in winter； a lot；
with transients； and this hotel to fall back on； ought to clear at least
a thousand a year。 The service club don't pay me anything； of course；
that is for the girls' benefit； but the food delivery is doing better
than I dared hope。〃
Mrs。 Bell knew the figures better than Diantha； even； and they went over
them carefully again。 If the winter's patronage held on to equal the
summer'sand the many transient residents ought to increase itthey
would have an average of twenty families a week to provide forone
hundred persons。
The expenses were：
Food for 100 at 250 a week。 Per capita。 600
…
per year 13；000
Labordelivery man。 600
Head cook。 600
Two assistant cooks。 1；040
Three washers and packers。 1；560
Office girl。 520
…
Per year 4；320
Rent； kitchen； office； etc。 500
Rent of motor。 300
Rent of cases。 250
Gasolene and repairs。 630
…
Per year 1；680
Total。 19；000
〃How do you make the gasolene and repairs as much as that？〃 asked Mrs。
Bell。
〃It's margin； mothermakes it even money。 It won't be so much；
probably。〃
The income was simple and sufficient。 They charged 5。00 a week per
capita for three meals； table d'hote； delivered thrice daily。 Frequent
orders for extra meals really gave them more than they set down； but the
hundred…person estimate amounted to 26；000 a year。
〃Now； see；〃 said Diantha triumphantly； 〃subtract all that expense list
（and it is a liberal one）； and we have 7；000 left。 I can buy the car
and the cases this year and have 1；600 over！ More； because if I do buy
them I can leave off some of the interest； and the rent of kitchen and
office comes to Union House！ Then there's all of the extra orders。
It's going to pay splendidly； mother！ It clears 70 a year per person。
Next year it will clear a lot more。〃
It did not take long to make Mrs。 Bell admit that if the business went
on as it had been going Diantha would be able to pay her a salary of a
thousand dollars； and have five hundred leftfrom the food business
alone。
There remained the hotel； with large possibilities。 The present simple
furnishings were to be moved over to New Union House； and paid for by
the girls in due time。 With new paint； paper； and furniture； the old
house would make a very comfortable place。
〃Of course； it's the restaurant mainlythese big kitchens and the
central location are the main thing。 The guests will be mostly
tourists； I suppose。〃
Diantha dwelt upon the prospect at some length； and even her cautious
mother had to admit that unless there was some setback the year had a
prospect of large success。
〃How about all this new furnishing？〃 Mrs。 Bell said suddenly。 〃How do
you cover that？ Take what you've got ahead now？〃
〃Yes； there's plenty；〃 said Diantha。 〃You see； there is all Union House
has made； and this summer's profit on the cooked foodit's plenty。〃
〃Then you can't pay for the motor and cases as you planned；〃 her mother
insisted。
〃No； not unless the hotel and restaurant pays enough to make good。 But
I don't _have_ to buy them the first year。 If I don't； there is 5；500
leeway。〃
〃Yes； you are safe enough； there's over 4；000 in the bank now；〃 Mrs。
Bell admitted。 〃But； child；〃 she said suddenly； 〃your father！〃
〃Yes； I've thought of father；〃 said the girl； 〃and I mean to ask him to
come and live at the hotel。 I think he'd like it。 He could meet people
and talk about his ideas； and I'm sure I'd like to have him。〃
〃They talked much and long about this； till the evening settled about
them； till they had their quiet supper； and the girls came home to their
noisy one； and late that evening； when all was still again； Diantha came
to the dim piazza corner once more and sat there quite alone。
Full of hope； full of courage； sure of her progressand aching with
loneliness。
She sat with her head in her hands； and to her ears came suddenly the
sound of a familiar stepa well…known voicethe hands and the lips of
her lover。
〃Diantha！〃 He held her close。
〃Oh； Ross！ Ross！ Darling！ Is it true？ When did you come？ Oh； I'm so
glad！ So _glad_ to see you！〃
She was so glad that she had to cry a little on his shoulder； which he
seemed to thoroughly enjoy。
〃I've good news for you； little girl；〃 he said。 〃Good news at last！
Listen； dear； don't cry。 There's an end in sight。 A man has bought out
my shop。 The incubus is offI can _live_ now！〃
He held his head up in a fine triumph； and she watched him adoringly。
〃Did youwas it profitable？〃 she asked。
〃It's all exchange； and some cash to boot。 Just think！ You know what
I've wanted so longa ranch。 A big one that would keep us all； and let
me go on with my work。 And； dearI've got it！