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！
Diantha met his eyes unflinchingly。 He was a tall old man； still
handsome and impressive in appearance； had been the head of his own
household beyond question； ever since he was left the only son of an
idolizing mother。 But he had never succeeded in being the head of
anything else。 Repeated failures in the old New England home had
resulted in his ruthlessly selling all the property there； and bringing
his delicate wife and three young children to California。 Vain were her
protests and objections。 It would do her goodbest place in the world
for childrengood for nervous complaints too。 A wife's duty was to
follow her husband； of course。 She had followed； willy nilly； and it
was good for the childrenthere was no doubt of that。
Mr。 Bell had profited little by his venture。 They had the ranch； the
flowers and fruit and ample living of that rich soil； but he had failed
in oranges； failed in raisins； failed in prunes； and was now failing in
wealth…promising hens。
But Mrs。 Bell； though an ineffectual housekeeper； did not fail in the
children。 They had grown up big and vigorous； sturdy； handsome
creatures； especially the two younger ones。 Diantha was good…looking
enough。 Roscoe Warden thought her divinely beautiful。 But her young
strength had been heavily taxed from childhood in that complex process
known as 〃helping mother。〃 As a little child she had been of constant
service in caring for the babies； and early developed such competence in
the various arts of house work as filled her mother with fond pride； and
even wrung from her father some grudging recognition。 That he did not
value it more was because he expected such competence in women； all
women； it was their natural field of ability； their duty as wives and
mothers。 Also as daughters。 If they failed in it that was by illness
or perversity。 If they succeededthat was a matter of course。
He ate another of Diantha's excellent biscuits； his greyish…red whiskers
slowly wagging； and continued to eye her disapprovingly。 She said
nothing； but tried to eat； and tried still harder to make her heart go
quietly； her cheeks keep cool； and her eyes dry。 Mrs。 Bell also strove
to keep a cheerful countenance； urged food upon her family； even tried
to open some topic of conversation； but her gentle words trailed off
into unnoticed silence。
Mr。 Bell ate until he was satisfied and betook himself to a comfortable
chair by the lamp； where he unfolded the smart local paper and lit his
pipe。 〃When you've got through with the dishes； Diantha；〃 he said
coldly； 〃I'll hear about this proposition of yours。〃
Diantha cleared the table； lowered the leaves； set it back against the
wall； spreading the turkey…red cloth upon it。 She washed the
dishes；her kettle long since boiling； scalded them； wiped them； set
them in their places； washed out the towels； wiped the pan and hung it
up； swiftly； accurately； and with a quietness that would have seemed
incredible to any mistress of heavy…footed servants。 Then with
heightened color and firm…set mouth； she took her place by the lamplit
table and sat still。
Her mother was patiently darning large socks with many holesa kind of
work she specially disliked。 〃You'll have to get some new socks；
Father；〃 she ventured； 〃these are pretty well gone。〃
〃O they'll do a good while yet；〃 he replied； not looking at them。 〃I
like your embroidery； my dear。〃
That pleased her。 She did not like to embroider； but she did like to be
praised。
Diantha took some socks and set to work； red…checked and excited； but
silent yet。 Her mother's needle trembled irregularly under and over；
and a tear or two slid down her cheeks。
Finally Mr。 Bell laid down his finished paper and his emptied pipe and
said； 〃Now then。 Out with it。〃
This was not a felicitious opening。 It is really astonishing how little
diplomacy parents exhibit； how difficult they make it for the young to
introduce a proposition。 There was nothing for it but a bald statement；
so Diantha made it baldly。
〃I have decided to leave home and go to work；〃 she said。
〃Don't you have work enough to do at home？〃 he inquired； with the same
air of quizzical superiority which had always annoyed her so intensely；
even as a little child。
She would cut short this form of discussion： 〃I am going away to earn my
living。 I have given up school…teachingI don't like it； and； there
isn't money enough in it。 I have planswhich will speak for themselves
later。〃
〃So；〃 said Mr。 Bell； 〃Plans all made； eh？ I suppose you've considered
your Mother in these plans？〃
〃I have；〃 said his daughter。 〃It is largely on her account that I'm
going。〃
〃You think it'll be good for your Mother's health to lose your
assistance； do you？〃
〃I know she'll miss me； but I haven't left the work on her shoulders。 I
am going to pay for a girlto do the work I've done。 It won't cost you
any more； Father； and you'll save somefor she'll do the washing too。
You didn't object to Henderson's goingat eighteen。 You didn't object
to Minnie's goingat seventeen。 Why should you object to my goingat
twenty…one。〃
〃I haven't objectedso far；〃 replied her father。 〃Have your plans also
allowed for the affection and duty you owe your parents？〃
〃I have done my dutyas well as I know how；〃 she answered。 〃Now I am
twenty…one； and self…supportingand have a right to go。〃
〃O yes。 You have a righta legal rightif that's what you base your
idea of a child's duty on！ And while you're talking of rightshow
about a parent's rights？ How about common gratitude！ How about what
you owe to mefor all the care and pains and cost it's been to bring
you up。 A child's a rather expensive investment these days。〃
Diantha flushed。 she had expected this； and yet it struck her like a
blow。 It was not the first time she had heard itthis claim of filial
obligation。
〃I have considered that position； Father。 I know you feel that
wayyou've often made me feel it。 So I've been at some pains to work
it outon a money basis。 Here is an accountas full as I could make
it。〃 She handed him a paper covered with neat figures。 The totals read
as follows：
Miss Diantha Bell；
To Mr。 Henderson R。 Bell； Dr。
To medical and dental expenses 。 。 。 110。00
To school expenses 。 。 。 76。00
To clothing； in full 。 。 。 1；130。00
To board and lodging at 3。00 a week 。 。 。 2；184。00
To incidentals 。 。 。 100。00
3。600。00
He studied the various items carefully； stroking his beard； half in
anger； half in unavoidable amusement。 Perhaps there was a tender
feeling too； as he remembered that doctor's billthe first he ever
paid； with the other； when she had scarlet fever； and saw the exact
price of the high chair which had served all three of the children； but
of which she magnanimously shouldered the whole expense。
The clothing total was so large that it made him whistlehe knew he had
never spent 1；130。00 on one girl's clothes。 But the items explained
it。
Materials； three years at an average of 10 a year 。 。 。 30。00
Five years averaging 20 each year 。 。 。 100。00
Five years averaging 30 each year 。 。 。 50。00
Five years averaging 50 each year 。 。 。 250