Diantha offered her the place, boy and all."He can be 'bell boy' and help you in the kitchen, too.Can't you, Hector?" Hector rolled large adoring eyes at her, but said nothing.His mother accepted the proposition, but without enthusiasm."I can't keep no eye on him, Miss, if I'm cookin' an less'n you keep your eye on him they's no work to be got out'n any kind o' boy.""What is your last name, Julianna?" Diantha asked her.
"I suppose, as a matter o' fac' its de name of de last nigger Imarried," she replied."Dere was several of 'em, all havin' different names, and to tell you de truf Mis' Bell, I got clean mixed amongst 'em.
But Julianna's my name--world without end amen."So Diantha had to waive her theories about the surnames of servants in this case.
"Did they all die?" she asked with polite sympathy.
"No'm, dey didn't none of 'em die--worse luck.""I'm afraid you have seen much trouble, Julianna," she continued sympathetically; "They deserted you, I suppose?"Julianna laid her long spoon upon the table and stood up with great gravity."No'm," she said again, "dey didn't none of 'em desert me on no occasion.I divorced 'em."Marital difficulties in bulk were beyond Diantha's comprehension, and she dropped the subject.
Union House opened in the autumn.The vanished pepper trees were dim with dust in Orchardina streets as the long rainless summer drew to a close; but the social atmosphere fairly sparkled with new interest.
Those who had not been away chattered eagerly with those who had, and both with the incoming tide of winter visitors.
"That girl of Mrs.Porne's has started her housekeeping shop!""That 'Miss Bell' has got Mrs.Weatherstone fairly infatuated with her crazy schemes.""Do you know that Bell girl has actually taken Union House? Going to make a Girl's Club of it!""Did you ever _hear_ of such a thing! Diantha Bell's really going to try to run her absurd undertaking right here in Orchardina!"They did not know that the young captain of industry had deliberately chosen Orchardina as her starting point on account of the special conditions.The even climate was favorable to "going out by the day,"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 found--so 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 week--I know that!" said Mr.Porne.
