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repeated so faithfully in the broad glow of a semi…tropical landscape。
There was an attempt at a 〃lawn；〃 the pet ambition of the transplanted
easterner； and a further attempt at 〃flower…beds；〃 which merely served
as a sort of springboard to their far…reaching products。
The parlor； behind the closed blinds； was as New England parlors are；
minus the hint of cosiness given by even a fireless stove； the little
bedrooms baked under the roof； only the kitchen spoke of human living；
and the living it portrayed was not； to say the least； joyous。 It was
clean； clean with a cleanness that spoke of conscientious labor and
unremitting care。 The zinc mat under the big cook…stove was scoured to
a dull glimmer； while that swart altar itself shone darkly from its
daily rubbing。
There was no dust nor smell of dust； no grease spots； no litter
anywhere。 But the place bore no atmosphere of contented pride； as does
a Dutch； German or French kitchen； it spoke of Labor； Economy and
Dutyunder restriction。
In the dead quiet of the afternoon Diantha and her mother sat there
sewing。 The sun poured down through the dangling eucalyptus leaves。
The dry air； rich with flower odors； flowed softly in； pushing the white
sash curtains a steady inch or two。 Ee…errr！Ee…errr！came the faint
whine of the windmill。
To the older woman rocking in her small splint chair by the rose…draped
window； her thoughts dwelling on long dark green grass； the shade of
elms； and cows knee…deep in river…shallows； this was Californiahot；
arid； tedious in endless sunlighta place of exile。
To the younger； the long seam of the turned sheet pinned tightly to her
knee； her needle flying firmly and steadily； and her thoughts full of
pouring moonlight through acacia boughs and Ross's murmured words； it
was Californiarich； warm； full of sweet bloom and fruit； of boundless
vitality； promise； and powerhome！
Mrs。 Bell drew a long weary sigh； and laid down her work for a moment。
〃Why don't you stop it Mother dear？ There's surely no hurry about these
things。〃
〃Nonot particularly；〃 her mother answered； 〃but there's plenty else to
do。〃 And she went on with the long neat hemming。 Diantha did the 〃over
and over seam〃 up the middle。
〃What _do_ you do it for anyway； MotherI always hated this joband
you don't seem to like it。〃
〃They wear almost twice as long； child； you know。 The middle gets worn
and the edges don't。 Now they're reversed。 As to liking it〃 She
gave a little smile； a smile that was too tired to be sarcastic； but
which certainly did not indicate pleasure。
〃What kind of work do you like bestreally？〃 her daughter inquired
suddenly； after a silent moment or two。
〃WhyI don't know；〃 said her mother。 〃I never thought of it。 I never
tried any but teaching。 I didn't like that。 Neither did your Aunt
Esther； but she's still teaching。〃
〃Didn't you like any of it？〃 pursued Diantha。
〃I liked arithmetic best。 I always loved arithmetic； when I went to
schoolused to stand highest in that。〃
〃And what part of housework do you like best？〃 the girl persisted。
Mrs。 Bell smiled again； wanly。 〃Seems to me sometimes as if I couldn't
tell sometimes what part I like least！〃 she answered。 Then with sudden
heat〃O my Child！ Don't you marry till Ross can afford at least one
girl for you！〃
Diantha put her small； strong hands behind her head and leaned back in
her chair。 〃We'll have to wait some time for that I fancy；〃 she said。
〃But； Mother； there is one part you likekeeping accounts！ I never saw
anything like the way you manage the money； and I believe you've got
every bill since yon were married。〃
〃YesI do love accounts；〃 Mrs。 Bell admitted。 〃And I can keep run of
things。 I've often thought your Father'd have done better if he'd let
me run that end of his business。〃
Diantha gave a fierce little laugh。 She admired her father in some
ways； enjoyed him in some ways； loved him as a child does if not
ill…treated； but she loved her mother with a sort of passionate pity
mixed with pride； feeling always nobler power in her than had ever had a
fair chance to grow。 It seemed to her an interminable dull tragedy；
this graceful； eager； black…eyed woman； spending what to the girl was
literally a lifetime； in the conscientious performance of duties she did
not love。
She knew her mother's idea of duty； knew the clear head； the steady
will； the active intelligence holding her relentlessly to the task； the
chafe and fret of seeing her husband constantly attempting against her
judgment； and failing for lack of the help he scorned。 Young as she
was； she realized that the nervous breakdown of these later years was
wholly due to that common misery of 〃the square man in the round hole。〃
She folded her finished sheet in accurate lines and laid it awaytaking
her mother's also。 〃Now you sit still for once； Mother dear； read or
lie down。 Don't you stir till supper's ready。〃
And from pantry to table she stepped； swiftly and lightly； setting out
what was needed； greased her pans and set them before her； and proceeded
to make biscuit。
Her mother watched her admiringly。 〃How easy you do it！〃 she said。 〃I
never could make bread without getting flour all over me。 You don't
spill a speck！〃
Diantha smiled。 〃I ought to do it easily by this time。 Father's got to
have hot bread for supperor thinks he has！and I've made 'emevery
night when I was at home for this ten years back！〃
〃I guess you have；〃 said Mrs。 Bell proudly。 〃You were only eleven when
you made your first batch。 I can remember just as well！ I had one of
my bad headaches that nightand it did seem as if I couldn't sit up！
But your Father's got to have his biscuit whether or no。 And you said；
'Now Mother you lie right still on that sofa and let me do it！ I can！'
And you could！you did！ They were bettern' mine that first timeand
your Father praised 'emand you've been at it ever since。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Diantha； with a deeper note of feeling than her mother
caught； 〃I've been at it ever since！〃
〃Except when you were teaching school；〃 pursued her mother。
〃Except when I taught school at Medville；〃 Diantha corrected。 〃When I
taught here I made 'em just the same。〃
〃So you did；〃 agreed her mother。 〃So you did！ No matter how tired you
wereyou wouldn't admit it。 You always were the best child！〃
〃If I was tired it was not of making biscuits anyhow。 I was tired
enough of teaching school though。 I've got something to tell you；
presently； Mother。〃
She covered the biscuits with a light cloth and set them on the shelf
over the stove； then poked among the greasewood roots to find what she
wanted and started a fire。 〃Why _don't_ you get an oil stove？ Or a
gasoline？ It would be a lot easier。〃
〃Yes；〃 her mother agreed。 〃I've wanted one for twenty years； but you
know your Father won't have one in the house。 He says they're
dangerous。 What are you going to tell me； dear？ I do hope you and Ross
haven't quarrelled。〃
〃No indeed we haven't； Mother。 Ross is splendid。 Only〃
〃Only what； Dinah？〃
〃Only he's so tied up！〃 said the girl； brushing every chip from the
hearth。 〃He's perfectly helples