第23章

All the people she ever knew called on her afresh, and people she never knew called on her even more freshly.Not that she was directly responsible for it.She had not triumphed cruelly over her less happy friends; nor had she cried aloud on the street corners concerning her good fortune.It was not her fault, nor, in truth anyone's.But in a community where the "servant question" is even more vexed than in the country at large, where the local product is quite unequal to the demand, and where distance makes importation an expensive matter, the fact of one woman's having, as it appeared, settled this vexed question, was enough to give her prominence.

Mrs.Ellen A.Dankshire, President of the Orchardina Home and Culture Club, took up the matter seriously.

"Now Mrs.Porne," said she, settling herself vigorously into a comfortable chair, "I just want to talk the matter over with you, with a view to the club.We do not know how long this will last--""Don't speak of it!" said Mrs.Porne.

"--and it behooves us to study the facts while we have them.""So much is involved!" said little Mrs.Ree, the Corresponding Secretary, lifting her pale earnest face with the perplexed fine lines in it."We are all so truly convinced of the sacredness of the home duties!""Well, what do you want me to do?" asked their hostess.

"We must have that remarkable young woman address our club!" Mrs.

Dankshire announced."It is one case in a thousand, and must be studied!""So noble of her!" said Mrs.Ree."You say she was really a school-teacher? Mrs.Thaddler has put it about that she is one of these dreadful writing persons--in disguise!""O no," said Mrs.Porne."She is perfectly straightforward about it, and had the best of recommendations.She was a teacher, but it didn't agree with her health, I believe.""Perhaps there is a story to it!" Mrs.Ree advanced; but Mrs.Dankshire disagreed with her flatly.

"The young woman has a theory, I believe, and she is working it out.Irespect her for it.Now what we want to ask you, Mrs.Porne, is this:

do you think it would make any trouble for you--in the household relations, you know--if we ask her to read a paper to the Club? Of course we do not wish to interfere, but it is a remarkable opportunity--very.You know the fine work Miss Lucy Salmon has done on this subject; and Miss Frances Kellor.You know how little data we have, and how great, how serious, a question it is daily becoming! Now here is a young woman of brains and culture who has apparently grappled with the question; her example and influence must not be lost! We must hear from her.The public must know of this.""Such an ennobling example!" murmured Mrs.Ree."It might lead numbers of other school-teachers to see the higher side of the home duties!""Furthermore," pursued Mrs.Dankshire, "this has occured to me.Would it not be well to have our ladies bring with them to the meeting the more intelligent of their servants; that they might hear and see the--the dignity of household labor--so ably set forth?

"Isn't it--wouldn't that be a--an almost dangerous experiment?" urged Mrs.Ree; her high narrow forehead fairly creped with little wrinkles: