who sat in dumbness； or made faint defense。 It was also discussed by
the young people； but not before their parents。
She had told Ross； first of all； meaning to have a quiet talk with him
to clear the ground before arousing her own family； but he was suddenly
away just as she opened the subject； by a man on a wheelsome wretched
business about the store of courseand sent word that night that he
could not come up again。 Couldn't come up the next night either。 Two
long daystwo long evenings without seeing him。 Wellif she went away
she'd have to get used to that。
But she had so many things to explain； so much to say to make it right
with him； she knew well what a blow it was。 Now it was all over
townand she had had no chance to defend her position。
The neighbors called。 Tall bony Mrs。 Delafield who lived nearest to
them and had known Diantha for some years； felt it her duty to make a
special appealor attack rather； and brought with her stout Mrs。
Schlosster； whose ancestors and traditions were evidently of German
extraction。
Diantha retired to her room when she saw these two bearing down upon the
house； but her mother called her to make a pitcher of lemonade for
themand having entered there was no escape。 They harried her with
questions； were increasingly offended by her reticence； and expressed
disapproval with a fullness that overmastered the girl's self…control。
〃I have as much right to go into business as any other citizen； Mrs。
Delafield；〃 she said with repressed intensity。 〃I am of age and live in
a free country。 What you say of children no longer applies to me。〃
〃And what is this mysterious business you're goin' intoif one may
inquire？ Nothin you're ashamed to mention； I hope？〃 asked Mrs。
Delafield。
〃If a woman refuses to mention her age is it because she's ashamed of
it？〃 the girl retorted； and Mrs。 Delafield flushed darkly。
〃Never have I heard such talk from a maiden to her elders；〃 said Mrs。
Schlosster。 〃In my country the young have more respect； as is right。〃
Mrs。 Bell objected inwardly to any reprimand of her child by others； but
she agreed to the principle advanced and made no comment。
Diantha listened to quite a volume of detailed criticism； inquiry and
condemnation； and finally rose to her feet with the stiff courtesy of
the young。
〃You must excuse me now；〃 she said with set lips。 〃I have some
necessary work to do。〃
She marched upstairs； shut her bedroom door and locked it； raging
inwardly。 〃Its none of their business！ Not a shadow！ Why should
Mother sit there and let them talk to me like that！ One would think
childhood had no limitunless it's matrimony！〃
This reminded her of her younger sister's airs of superior wisdom； and
did not conduce to a pleasanter frame of mind。 〃With all their
miserable little conventions and idiocies！ And what 'they'll say；' and
'they'll think'！ As if I cared！ Minnie'll be just such another！〃
She heard the ladies going out； still talking continuously； a faint
response from her mother now and then； a growing quiet as their steps
receded toward the gate； and then another deeper voice took up the theme
and heavily approached。
It was the minister！ Diantha dropped into her rocker and held the arms
tight。 〃Now I'll have to take it again I suppose。 But he ought to know
me well enough to understand。〃
〃Diantha！〃 called her mother； 〃Here's Dr。 Major；〃 and the girl washed
her face and came down again。
Dr。 Major was a heavy elderly man with a strong mouth and a warm hand
clasp。 〃What's all this I hear about you； young lady？〃 he demanded；
holding her hand and looking her straight in the eye。 〃Is this a new
kind of Prodigal Daughter we're encountering？〃
He did not look nor sound condemnatory； and as she faced him she caught
a twinkle in the wise old eyes。
〃You can call it that if you want to；〃 she said； 〃Only I thought the
Prodigal Son just spent his moneyI'm going to earn some。〃
〃I want you to talk to Diantha； Doctor Major；〃 Mrs。 Bell struck in。
〃I'm going to ask you to excuse me； and go and lie down for a little。 I
do believe she'll listen to you more than to anybody。〃
The mother retired； feeling sure that the good man who had known her
daughter for over fifteen years would have a restraining influence now；
and Diantha braced herself for the attack。
It came； heavy and solid； based on reason； religion； tradition； the
custom of ages； the pastoral habit of control and protection； the
father's instinct； the man's objection to a girl's adventure。 But it
was courteous； kind； and rationally put； and she met it point by point
with the whole…souled arguments of a new position； the passionate
enthusiasm of her years。
They called a truce。
〃I can see that you _think_ its your duty； young； womanthat's the main
thing。 I think you're wrong。 But what you believe to be right you have
to do。 That's the way we learn my dear； that's the way we learn！
Wellyou've been a good child ever since I've known you。 A remarkably
good child。 If you have to sow this kind of wild oats〃 they both
smiled at this； 〃I guess we can't stop you。 I'll keep your secret〃
〃Its not a secret really；〃 the girl explained； 〃I'll tell them as soon
as I'm settled。 Then they can tellif they want to。〃 And they both
smiled again。
〃WellI won't tell till I hear of it then。 Andyes； I guess I can
furnish that document with a clean conscience。〃
She gave him paper and pen and he wrote； with a grin； handing her the
result。
She read it； a girlish giggle lightening the atmosphere。 〃Thank you！〃
she said earnestly。 〃Thank you ever so much。 I knew you would help
me。〃
〃If you get stuck anywhere just let me know；〃 he said rising。 〃This
Proddy Gal may want a return ticket yet！〃
〃I'll walk first！〃 said Diantha。
〃O Dr。 Major；〃 cried her mother from the window； 〃Don't go！ We want you
to stay to supper of course！〃
But he had other calls to make； he said； and went away； his big hands
clasped behind him； his head bent； smiling one minute and shaking his
head the next。
Diantha leaned against a pearly eucalyptus trunk and watched him。 She
would miss Dr。 Major。 But who was this approaching？ Her heart sank
miserably。 Mrs。 Wardenand _all_ the girls。
She went to meet themperforce。 Mrs。 Warden had always been kind and
courteous to her； the girls she had not seen very much of； but they had
the sweet Southern manner； were always polite。 Ross's mother she must
love。 Ross's sisters tooif she could。 Why did the bottom drop out of
her courage at sight of them？
〃You dear child！〃 said Mrs。 Warden； kissing her。 〃I know just how you
feel！ You want to help my boy！ That's your secret！ But this won't do
it； my dear！〃
〃You've no idea how badly Ross feels！〃 said Madeline。 〃Mrs。 Delafield
dropped in just now and told us。 You ought to have seen him！〃
〃He didn't believe it of course；〃 Adeline put in。 〃And he wouldn't say
a thingnot a thing to blame you。〃
〃We said we'd come over right offand tried to bring himbut he said
he'd got to go back to the store；〃 Coraline explained。
〃He was mad though！〃 said Dora〃_I_ know。〃
Diantha looked from one to the other helplessly。
〃Come in！ Come in！〃 said Mrs。 Bell hospitably。 〃Have this rocker； Mrs。
Wardenwouldn't you like some cool drink？ Diantha？〃
〃No indeed！〃 Mrs。 Warden protested。 〃Don't get a thing。 We're going
right back； it's near supper time。 No； we can't think of staying； of
course not； no indeed！But we had to come over and hear about this dear
child's idea！Now tell us all about it； Diantha！〃
There they satfive pairs of curious eyesand her mother's sad
onesall kindall utterly incapable of understanding。
She moistened her lips and plunged desperately。 〃It is nothing
dreadful； Mrs。 Warden。 Plenty of girls go away to earn their livings
nowadays。 That is all I'm doing。〃
〃But why go away？〃
〃I thought you were earning your living before！〃
〃Isn't teaching earning your living？〃
〃What _are_ you going to do？〃 the girls protested variously； and Mrs。
Warden； with a motherly smile； suggested
〃That doesn't explain your wanting to leave Ross； my dearand your
mother！〃
〃I don't want to leave them；〃 protested Diantha； trying to keep her
voice steady。 〃It is simply that I have made up my mind I can do better
elsewhere。〃
〃Do what better？〃 asked Mrs。 Warden with sweet patience； which reduced
Diantha to the bald statement； 〃Earn more money in less time。〃
〃And is that better than staying with your mother and your lover？〃
pursued the gentle inquisitor； while the girls tried； 〃What do you want
to earn more money for？〃 and 〃I thought you earned a lot before。〃
Now Diantha did not wish to state in so many words that she wanted more
money in order to marry soonershe had hardly put it to herself that
way。 She could not make them see in a few moments that her plan was to
do far more for her mother than she would otherwise ever be able to。
And as to making them understand the larger principles at stakethe
range and depth of her full purposethat would be physically
impossible。
〃I am sorry！〃 she said with trembling lips。 〃I am extremely sorry。
ButI cannot explain！〃
Mrs。 Warden drew herself up a little。 〃Cannot explain to me？Your
mother； of course； knows？〃
〃Diantha is naturally more frank with me than withanyone；〃 said Mrs。
Bell proudly； 〃But she does not wish herbusinessplansmade public
at present！〃
Her daughter looked at her with vivid gratitude； but the words 〃made
public〃 were a little unfortunate perhaps。
〃Of course；〃 Mrs。 Warden agreed； with her charming smile； 〃that we can
quite understand。 I'm sure I should always wish my girls to feel so。
Madelinejust show Mrs。 Bell that necktie you're makingshe was asking
about the stitch； you remember。〃
The necktie was produced and admired； while the other girls asked
Diantha if she had her fall dressmaking done yetand whether she found
wash ribbon satisfactory。 And presently the whole graceful family
withdrew； only Dora holding her head with visible stiffness。
Diantha sat on the floor by her mother； put her head in her lap and
cried。 〃How splendid of you； Mother！〃 she sobbed。 〃How simply
splendid！