thankfulness。 I never was a good carver； so it was no pleasure to me to
show off； and to tell you the truth； when I come to the table； I like to
eatnot saw wood。〃 And Mr。 Porne ate with every appearance of
satisfaction。
〃We never get roast beef like this I'm sure；〃 Mrs。 Ree admitted； 〃we
can't get it small enough for our family。〃
〃And a little roast is always spoiled in the cooking。 Yes this is far
better than we used to have；〃 agreed her hostess。
Mrs。 Ree enjoyed every mouthful of her meal。 The soup was hot。 The
salad was crisp and the ice cream hard。 There was sponge cake； thick；
light； with sugar freckles on the dark crust。 The coffee was perfect
and almost burned the tongue。
〃I don't understand about the heat and cold；〃 she said； and they showed
her the asbestos…lined compartments and perfectly fitting places for
each dish and plate。 Everything went back out of sight； small leavings
in a special drawer； knives and forks held firmly by rubber fittings；
nothing that shook or rattled。 And the case was set back by the door
where the man called for it at eight o'clock。
〃She doesn't furnish table linen？〃
〃No； there are Japanese napkins at the top here。 We like our own
napkins； and we didn't use a cloth； anyway。〃
〃And how about silver？〃
〃We put ours away。 This plated ware they furnish is perfectly good。 We
could use ours of course if we wanted to wash it。 Some do that and some
have their own case marked； and their own silver in it； but it's a good
deal of risk； I think； though they are extremely careful。〃
Mrs。 Ree experienced peculiarly mixed feelings。 As far as food went；
she had never eaten a better dinner。 But her sense of Domestic
Aesthetics was jarred。
〃It certainly tastes good；〃 she said。 〃Delicious； in fact。 I am
extremely obliged to you； Mrs。 Porne； I'd no idea it could be sent so
far and be so good。 And only five dollars a week； you say？〃
〃For each person； yes。〃
〃I don't see how she does it。 All those cases and dishes； and the
delivery wagon！〃
That was the universal comment in Orchardina circles as the months
passed and Union House continued in existence〃I don't see how she does
it！〃
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER XII
LIKE A BANYAN TREE
The Earth…Plants spring up from beneath；
The Air…Plants swing down from above；
But the Banyan trees grow
Both above and below；
And one makes a prosperous grove。
In the fleeting opportunities offered by the Caffeteria； and in longer
moments； rather neatly planned for； with some remnants of an earlier
ingenuity； Mr。 Thaddler contrived to become acquainted with Mrs。 Bell。
Diantha never quite liked him； but he won her mother's heart by frank
praise of the girl and her ventures。
〃I never saw a smarter woman in my life；〃 he said； 〃and no airs。 I tell
you； ma'am； if there was more like her this world would be an easier
place to live in； and I can see she owes it all to you； ma'am。〃
This the mother would never admit for a moment； but expatiated loyally
on the scientific mind of Mr。 Henderson Bell； still of Jopalez。
〃I don't see how he can bear to let her out of his sight；〃 said Mr。
Thaddler。
〃Of course he hated to let her go；〃 replied the lady。 〃We both did。
But he is very proud of her now。〃
〃I guess there's somebody else who's proud of her； too；〃 he suggested。
〃Excuse me； ma'am； I don't mean to intrude； but we know there must be a
good reason for your daughter keeping all Orchardina at a distance。
Why； she could have married six times over in her first year here！〃
〃She does not wish to give up her work；〃 Mrs。 Bell explained。
〃Of course not； and why should she？ Nice； womanly business； I am sure。
I hope nobody'd expect a girl who can keep house for a whole township to
settle down to bossing one man and a hired girl。〃
In course of time he got a pretty clear notion of how matters stood； and
meditated upon it； seriously rolling his big cigar about between pursed
lips。 Mr。 Thaddler was a good deal of a gossip； but this he kept to
himself； and did what he could to enlarge the patronage of Union House。
The business grew。 It held its own in spite of fluctuations； and after
a certain point began to spread steadily。 Mrs。 Bell's coming and Mr。
Eltwood's ardent championship； together with Mr。 Thaddler's； quieted the
dangerous slanders which had imperilled the place at one time。 They
lingered； subterraneously； of course。 People never forget slanders。 A
score of years after there were to be found in Orchardina folk who still
whispered about dark allegations concerning Union House； and the papers
had done some pretty serious damage； but the fame of good food； good
service； cheapness and efficiency made steady headway。
In view of the increase and of the plans still working in her mind；
Diantha made certain propositions to Mr。 Porne； and also to Mrs。 Porne；
in regard to a new； specially built club…house for the girls。
〃I have proved what they can do； with me to manage them； and want now to
prove that they can do it themselves； with any matron competent to
follow my directions。 The house need not be so expensive； one big
dining…room； with turn…up tables like those ironing…board seat…tables；
you knowthen they can dance there。 Small reception room and office；
hall； kitchen and laundry； and thirty bedrooms； forty by thirty； with an
〃ell〃 for the laundry； ought to do it； oughtn't it？〃
Mrs。 Porne agreed to make plans； and did so most successfully； and Mr。
Porne found small difficulty in persuading an investor to put up such a
house； which visibly could be used as a boarding…house or small hotel；
if it failed in its first purpose。
It was built of concrete； a plain simple structure； but fine in
proportions and pleasantly colored。
Diantha kept her plans to herself； as usual； but they grew so fast that
she felt a species of terror sometimes； lest the ice break somewhere。
〃Steady； now！〃 she would say。 〃This is real business； just plain
business。 There's no reason why I shouldn't succeed as well as Fred
Harvey。 I will succeed。 I am succeeding。〃
She kept well； she worked hard； she was more than glad to have her
mother with her； but she wanted something else； which seemed farther off
than ever。 Her lover's picture hung on the wall of her bedroom； stood
on her bureau； and （but this was a secret） a small one was carried in
her bosom。
Rather a grim looking young woman； Diantha； with the cares of the world
of house…keepers upon her proud young shoulders； with all the stirring
hopes to be kept within bounds； all the skulking fears to be resisted；
and the growing burden of a large affair to be carried steadily。
But when she woke； in the brilliant California mornings； she would lie
still a few moments looking at the face on the wall and the face on the
bureau； would draw the little picture out from under her pillow and kiss
it； would say to herself for the thousandth time； 〃It is for him； too。〃
She missed him； always。
The very vigor of her general attitude； the continued strength with
which she met the days and carried them； made it all the more needful
for her to have some one with whom she could forget every care； every
purpose； every effort； some one who would put strong arms around her and
call her 〃Little Girl。〃 His letters were both a comfort and a pain。 He
was loyal； kind； loving； but always that wall of disapproval。 He loved
her； he did not love her work。
She read them over and over； hunting anew for the tender phrases； the
things which seemed most to feed and comfort her。 She suffered not only
from her loneliness； but from his； and most keenly from his sternly
suppressed longing for freedom and the work that belonged to him。
〃Why can't he see；〃 she would say to herself； 〃that if this succeeds； he
can do his work； that I can make it possible for him？ And he won't let
me。 He won't take it from me。 Why are men so proud？ Is there anything
so ignominious about a woman that it is disgraceful to let one help you？
And why can't he think at all about the others？ It's not just us； it's
all people。 If this works； men will have easier times； as well as
women。 Everybody can do their real work better with this old primitive
business once set right。〃
And then it was always time to get up； or time to go to bed； or time to
attend to some of the numberless details of her affairs。
She and her mother had an early lunch before the caffeteria opened； and
were glad of the afternoon tea； often held in a retired corner of the
broad piazza。 She sat there one hot； dusty afternoon； alone and
unusually tired。 The asphalted street was glaring and noisy； the cross
street deep in soft dust； for months unwet。
Failure had not discouraged her； but increasing success with all its
stimulus and satisfaction called for more and more power。 Her mind was
busy foreseeing； arranging； providing for emergencies； and then the
whole thing slipped away from her； she dropped her head upon her arm for
a moment； on the edge of the tea table； and wished for Ross。
From down the street and up the street at this moment； two men were
coming； both young； both tall； both good looking； both apparently
approaching Union House。 One of them was the nearer； and his foot soon
sounded on the wooden step。 The other stopped and looked in a shop
window。
Diantha started up； came forward；it was Mr。 Eltwood。 She had a vague
sense of disappointment； but received him cordially。 He stood there；
his hat off； holding her hand for a long moment； and gazing at her with
evident admiration。 They turned and sat down in the shadow of the
reed…curtained corner。
The man at the shop window turned； too； and went away。
Mr。 Eltwood had been a warm friend and cordial supporter from the epoch
of the Club…splitting speech。 He had helped materially in the slow；
up…hill days of the girl's effort； with faith and kind words。 He had
met the mother's coming with most friendly advances； and Mrs。 Bell found
herself much at home in his liberal little church。
Diantha had grown to like and trust him much。
〃What's this about the new house； Miss Bell？ Your mother says I may
know。〃
〃Why not？〃 she said。 〃You h