"Now then.This is not an obligation, Miss Bell, it is another valuable investment.I'm having more made.I expect to have use for them in a good many places.This cost pretty near $3,000, and you get it at the same good interest, for $300 a year.What's more, if you are smart enough--and I don't doubt you are,--you can buy the whole thing on installments, same as you mean to with your furniture."Diantha was dumb, but her mother wasn't.She thanked Mrs.Weatherstone with a hearty appreciation of her opportune help, but no less of her excellent investment.
"Don't be a goose, Diantha," she said."You will set up your food business in first class style, and I think you can carry it successfully.But Mrs.Weatherstone's right; she's got a new investment here that'll pay her better than most others--and be a growing thing Ido believe."
And still Diantha found it difficult to express her feelings.She had lived under a good deal of strain for many months now, and this sudden opening out of her plans was a heavenly help indeed.
Mrs.Weatherstone went around the table and sat by her."Child," said she, "you don't begin to realize what you've done for me--and for Isobel--and for ever so many in this town, and all over the world.And besides, don't you think anybody else can see your dream? We can't _do_it as you can, but we can see what it's going to mean,--and we'll help if we can.You wouldn't grudge us that, would you?"As a result of all this the cooked food delivery service was opened at once.
"It is true that the tourists are gone, mostly," said Mrs.Weatherstone, as she urged it, "but you see there are ever so many residents who have more trouble with servants in summer than they do in winter, and hate to have a fire in the house, too."So Diantha's circulars had an addition, forthwith.
These were distributed among the Orchardinians, setting their tongues wagging anew, as a fresh breeze stirs the eaves of the forest.
The stealthy inroads of lunches and evening refreshments had been deprecated already; this new kind of servant who wasn't a servant, but held her head up like anyone else ("They are as independent as--as--'salesladies,'" said one critic), was also viewed with alarm;but when even this domestic assistant was to be removed, and a square case of food and dishes substituted, all Archaic Orchardina was horrified.
There were plenty of new minds in the place, however; enough to start Diantha with seven full orders and five partial ones.
Her work at the club was now much easier, thanks to her mother's assistance, to the smoother running of all the machinery with the passing of time, and further to the fact that most of her girls were now working at summer resorts, for shorter hours and higher wages.They paid for their rooms at the club still, but the work of the house was so much lightened that each of the employees was given two weeks of vacation--on full pay.
The lunch department kept on a pretty regular basis from the patronage of resident business men, and the young manager--in her ambitious moments--planned for enlarging it in the winter.But during the summer her whole energies went to perfecting the _menus_ and the service of her food delivery.
Mrs.Porne was the very first to order.She had been waiting impatiently for a chance to try the plan, and, with her husband, had the firmest faith in Diantha's capacity to carry it through.
"We don't save much in money," she explained to the eager Mrs.Ree, who hovered, fascinated, over the dangerous topic, "but we do in comfort, Ican tell you.You see I had two girls, paid them $12 a week; now I keep just the one, for $6.My food and fuel for the four of us (I don't count the babies either time--they remain as before), was all of $16, often more.That made $28 a week.Now I pay for three meals a day, delivered, for three of us, $15 a week--with the nurse's wages, $21.
Then I pay a laundress one day, $2, and her two meals, $.50, making $23.50.Then I have two maids, for an hour a day, to clean; $.50 a day for six days, $3, and one maid Sunday, $.25.$26.75 in all.So we only make $1.25.
_But!_ there's another room! We have the cook's room for an extra guest; I use it most for a sewing room, though and the kitchen is a sort of day nursery now.The house seems as big again!""But the food?" eagerly inquired Mrs.Ree."Is it as good as your own?
Is it hot and tempting?"
Mrs.Ree was fascinated by the new heresy.As a staunch adherent of the old Home and Culture Club, and its older ideals, she disapproved of the undertaking, but her curiosity was keen about it.
Mrs.Porne smiled patiently."You remember Diantha Bell's cooking I am sure, Mrs.Ree," she said."And Julianna used to cook for dinner parties--when one could get her.My Swede was a very ordinary cook, as most of these untrained girls are.Do take off your hat and have dinner with us,--I'll show you," urged Mrs.Porne.
"I--O I mustn't," fluttered the little woman."They'll expect me at home--and--surely your--supply--doesn't allow for guests?""We'll arrange all that by 'phone," her hostess explained; and she promptly sent word to the Ree household, then called up Union House and ordered one extra dinner.
