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speak to his grandmother too！〃
〃Owould you？〃 urged Diantha。 〃She wouldn't believe anything except
that the girl 'led him on'you know that。 But I have an idea that we
could convince herif you're willing to do something rather
melodramaticand I think we'd better do it to…night！〃
〃What's that？〃 asked her employer； and Diantha explained。 It was
melodramatic； but promised to be extremely convincing。
〃Do you think he'd dare！ under my roof？〃 hotly demanded Madam
Weatherstone。
〃I'm very much afraid it wouldn't be the first time；〃 Diantha
reluctantly assured her。 〃It's no use being horrified。 But if we could
only make _sure_〃
〃If we could only make his grandmother sure！〃 cried Madam Weatherstone。
〃That would save me a deal of trouble and misunderstanding。 See hereI
think I can manage itwhat makes you think it's to…night？〃
〃I can't be absolutely certain〃 Diantha explained； and told her the
reasons she had。
〃It does look so；〃 her employer admitted。 〃We'll try it at any rate。〃
Urging her mother…in…law's presence on the ground of needing her
experienced advice； Mrs。 Weatherstone brought the august lady to the
room next to Ilda's late that evening； the housekeeper in attendance。
〃We mustn't wake the servants；〃 she said in an elaborate whisper。 〃They
need sleep； poor things！ But I want to consult you about these
communicating doors and the locksmith is coming in the morning。you see
this opens from this side。〃 She turned the oiled key softly in the
lock。 〃Now Miss Bell thinks they ought to be left soso that the girls
can visit one another if they likewhat do you think？〃
〃I think you are absurd to bring me to the top floor； at this time of
night； for a thing like this！〃 said the old lady。 〃They should be
permanently locked； to my mind！ There's no question about it。〃
Viva； still in low tones； discussed this point further； introduced the
subject of wall…paper or hard finish； pointed out from the window a tall
eucalyptus which she thought needed heading； did what she could to keep
her mother…in…law on the spot； and presently her efforts were rewarded。
A sound of muffled speech came from the next rooma man's voice dimly
heard。 Madam Weatherstone raised her head like a warhorse。
〃What's this！ What's this！〃 she said in a fierce whisper。
Viva laid a hand on her arm。 〃Sh！〃 said she。 〃Let us make sure！〃 and
she softly unlatched the door。
A brilliant moon flooded the small chamber。 They could see little Ilda；
huddled in the bedclothes； staring at her door from which the key had
fallen。 Another key was being insertedturnedbut the bolt held。
〃Come and open it； young lady！〃 said a careful voice outside。
〃Go away！ Go away！〃 begged the girl； low and breathlessly。 〃Oh how
_can_ you！ Go away quick！〃
〃Indeed； I won't！〃 said the voice。 〃You come and open it。〃
〃Go away；〃 she cried； in a soft but frantic voice。 〃II'll scream！〃
〃Scream away！〃 he answered。 〃I'll just say I came up to see what the
screaming's about； that's all。 You open the doorif you don't want
anybody to know I'm here！ I won't hurt you anyI just want to talk to
you a minute。〃
Madam Weatherstone was speechless with horror； her daughter…in…law
listened with set lips。 Diantha looked from one to the other； and at
the frightened child before them who was now close to the terrible door。
〃O please！_please！_ go away！〃 she cried in desperation。 〃O what shall
I do！ What shall I do！〃
〃You can't do anything；〃 he answered cheerfully。 〃And I'm coming in
anyhow。 You'd better keep still about this for your own sake。 Stand
from under！〃 Madam Weatherstone marched into the room。 Ilda； with a
little cry； fled out of it to Diantha。
There was a jump； a scramble； two knuckly hands appeared； a long leg was
put through the transom； two legs wildly wriggling； a descending body；
and there stood before them； flushed； dishevelled； his coat up to his
earsMat Weatherstone。
He did not notice the stern rigidity of the figure which stood between
him and the moonlight； but clasped it warmly to his heart。〃Now I've
got you； Ducky！〃 cried he； pressing all too affectionate kisses upon the
face of his grandmother。
Young Mrs。 Weatherstone turned on the light。
It was an embarrassing position for the gentleman。
He had expected to find a helpless cowering girl； afraid to cry out
because her case would be lost if she did； begging piteously that he
would leave her； wholly at his mercy。
What he did find was so inexplicable as to reduce him to gibbering
astonishment。 There stood his imposing grandmother； so overwhelmed with
amazement that her trenchant sentences failed her completely； his
stepmother； wearing an expression that almost suggested delight in his
discomfiture； and Diantha； as grim as Rhadamanthus。
Poor little Ilda burst into wild sobs and choking explanations； clinging
to Diantha's hand。 〃If I'd only listened to you！〃 she said。 〃You told
me he was bad！ I never thought he'd do such an awful thing！〃
Young Mathew fumbled at the door。 He had locked it outside in his
efforts with the pass…key。 He was red； red to his earsvery red； but
there was no escape。 He faced themthere was no good in facing the
door。
They all stood aside and let him passa wordless gauntlet。
Diantha took the weeping Ilda to her room for the night。 Madam
Weatherstone and Mrs。 Weatherstone went down together。
〃She must have encouraged him！〃 the older lady finally burst forth。
〃She did not encourage him to enter her room； as you saw and heard；〃
said Viva with repressed intensity。
〃He's only a boy！〃 said his grandmother。
〃She is only a child； a helpless child； a foreigner； away from home；
untaught； unprotected；〃 Viva answered swiftly； adding with quiet
sarcasm〃Save for the shelter of the home！〃
They parted in silence。
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER X
UNION HOUSE。
〃We are weak！〃 said the Sticks； and men broke them；
〃We are weak！〃 said the Threads； and were torn；
Till new thoughts came and they spoke them；
Till the Fagot and the Rope were born。
For the Fagot men find is resistant；
And they anchor on the Rope's taut length；
Even grasshoppers combined；
Are a force； the farmers find
In union there is strength。
Ross Warden endured his grocery business； strove with it； toiled at it；
concentrated his scientific mind on alien tasks of financial calculation
and practical psychology； but he liked it no better。 He had no interest
in business； no desire to make money； no skill in salesmanship。
But there were five mouths at home； sweet affectionate feminine mouths
no doubt； but requiring food。 Also two in the kitchen； wider； and
requiring more food。 And there were five backs at home to be covered；
to use the absurd metaphoras if all one needed for clothing was a four
foot patch。 The amount and quality of the covering was an unceasing
surprise to Ross； and he did not do justice to the fact that his
womenfolk really saved a good deal by doing their own sewing。
In his heart he longed always to be free of the whole hated load of
tradesmanship。 Continually his thoughts went back to the hope of
selling out the business and buying a ranch。
〃I could make it keep us； anyhow；〃 he would plan to himself； 〃and I
could get at that guinea pig idea。 Or maybe hens would do。〃 He had a
theory of his own； or a personal test of his own； rather； which he
wished to apply to a well known theory。 It would take some years to
work it out； and a great many fine pigs； and be of no possible value
financially。 〃I'll do it sometime；〃 he always concluded； which was cold
comfort。
His real grief at losing the companionship of the girl he loved； was
made more bitter by a total lack of sympathy with her aims； even if she
achieved themin which he had no confidence。 He had no power to change
his course； and tried not to be unpleasant about it； but he had to
express his feelings now and then。
〃Are you coming back to me？〃 he wrote。 〃How con you bear to give so
much pain to everyone who loves you？ Is your wonderful salary worth
more to you than being here with your motherwith me？ How can you say
you love meand ruin both our lives like this？ I cannot come to see
youI _would_ not come to see youcalling at the back door！ Finding
the girl I love in a cap and apron！ Can you not see it is wrong；
utterly wrong； all this mad escapade of yours？ Suppose you do make a
thousand dollars a yearI shall never touch your moneyyou know that。
I cannot even offer you a home； except with my family； and I know how
you feel about that； I do not blame you。
〃But I am as stubborn as you are； dear girl； I will not live on my
wife's moneyyou will not live in my mother's houseand we are
drifting apart。 It is not that I care less for you dear； or at all for
anyone else； but this is slow deaththat's all。〃
Mrs。 Warden wrote now and then and expatiated on the sufferings of her
son； and his failing strength under the unnatural strain； till Diantha
grew to dread her letters more than any pain she knew。 Fortunately they
came seldom。
Her own family was much impressed by the thousand dollars； and found the
occupation of housekeeper a long way more toler