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Updated: June 10, 2025
The look of the girl pleased her, though suspiciously above her station in manner; service of any sort was scarce and high in Orchardina, and she had been an agelong week without any. "When can you come?" she asked. "I can stop now if you like," said the stranger. "This is my baggage. But we must arrange terms first.
It was the library success which brought her here, fresh from her foreign studies, and Orchardina accepted with western cordiality the youth and beauty of the young architect, though a bit surprised at first that "I. H. Wright" was an Isabel.
But while these unmentioned surprises were pending, Mrs. Weatherstone departed to New York to Europe; and was gone some months. In the spring she returned, in April which is late June in Orchardina. She called upon Diantha and her mother at once, and opened her attack. "I do hope, Mrs. Bell, that you'll back me up," she said. "You have the better business head I think, in the financial line."
In spite of its large size and high social standing, the Orchardina Home and Culture Club contained some elements of unrest, and when the yearly election of officers came round there was always need for careful work in practical politics to keep the reins of government in the hands of "the right people." Mrs.
"We drop you! We'll have a New Woman's Club in Orchardina with some warmth in its heart and some brains in its head even if it hasn't as much money in its pocket!" Amid stern rappings, hissings, cries of "Order order," and frantic "Motions to adjourn" the meeting broke up; the club elements dissolving and reforming into two bodies as by some swift chemical reaction.
"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 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!"
Isabel was never a cook. In the many servantless gaps of domestic life in Orchardina, there was always a strained atmosphere in the Porne household. "Dear," said Mr. Porne, "might I petition to have the steak less cooked? I know you don't like to do it, so why not shorten the process?" "I'm sorry," she answered, "I always forget about the steak from one time to the next."
There was the Prince, sure enough a pleasant, blue-eyed young man. And there was the Count, bearing visible evidence of duels a-plenty in earlier days. And there was Diantha Bell receiving, with Mrs. Porne and Mrs. Weatherstone. All Orchardina stared. Diantha had been at the dinner that was clear.
When Madam Weatherstone shook the plentiful dust of Orchardina from her expensive shoes, and returned to adorn the more classic groves of Philadelphia, Mrs. Thaddler assumed to hold undisputed sway as a social leader. The Social Leader she meant to be; and marshalled her forces to that end.
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