once。　　Madam　WeatherstoneMrs。　Thaddlerno！　yesthey　really　were　both
  on　their　feet。　　Applause　was　going　onirregularlysoon　dropped。　　Only；
  from　the　group　in　the　gallery　it　was　whole…hearted　and　consistent。
  Mrs。　Dankshire；　who　had　been　growing　red　and　redder　as　the　paper
  advanced；　who　had　conferred　in　alarmed　whispers　with　Mrs。　Ree；　and　Miss
  Massing；　who　had　even　been　seen　to　extend　her　hand　to　the　gavel　and
  finger　it　threateningly；　now　rose；　somewhat　precipitately；　and　came
  forward。
  〃Order；　please！　　You　will　please　keep　order。　　You　have　heard　thewe
  will　nowthe　meeting　is　now　open　for　discussion；　Mrs。　Thaddler！〃　　And
  she　sat　down。　　She　meant　to　have　said　Madam　Weatherstone；　by　Mrs。
  Thaddler　was　more　aggressive。
  〃I　wish　to　say；〃　said　that　much　beaded　lady　in　a　loud　voice；　〃that　I　was
  against　thisunfortunate　experimentfrom　the　first。　　And　I　trust　it
  will　never　be　repeated！〃　　She　sat　down。
  Two　tight　little　dimples　flickered　for　an　instant　about　the　corners　of
  Diantha's　mouth。
  〃Madam　Weatherstone？〃　said　the　President；　placatingly。
  Madam　Weatherstone　arose；　rather　sulkily；　and　looked　about　her。　　An
  agitated　assembly　met　her　eye；　buzzing　universally　each　to　each。
  〃Order！〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire；　〃ORDER；　please！〃　and　rapped　three　times
  with　the　gavel。
  〃I　have　attended　many　meetings；　in　many　clubs；　in　many　states；〃　said
  Madam　Weatherstone；　〃and　have　heard　much　that　was　foolish；　and　some
  things　that　were　dangerous。　　But　I　will　say　that　never　in　the　course　of
  all　my　experience　have　I　heard　anything　so　foolish　and　so　dangerous；　as
  this。　　I　trust　that　thedoubtless　well　meantattempt　to　throw　light　on
  this　subjectfrom　the　wrong　quarterhas　been　a　lesson　to　us　all。　　No
  club　could　survive　more　than　one　such　lamentable　mistake！〃　　And　she　sat
  down；　gathering　her　large　satin　wrap　about　her　like　a　retiring　Caesar。
  〃Madam　President！〃　broke　forth　Miss　Eagerson。　　〃I　was　up　firstand　have
  been　standing　ever　since〃
  〃One　moment；　Miss　Eagerson；〃　said　Mrs。　Dankshire　superbly；　〃The　Rev。　Dr。
  Eltwood。〃
  If　Mrs。　Dankshire　supposed　she　was　still　further　supporting　the　cause　of
  condemnation　she　made　a　painful　mistake。　　The　cloth　and　the　fine　bearing
  of　the　young　clergyman　deceived　her；　and　she　forgot　that　he　was　said　to
  be　〃advanced〃　and　was　new　to　the　place。
  〃Will　you　come　to　the　platform；　Dr。　Eltwood？〃
  Dr。　Eltwood　came　to　the　platform　with　the　easy　air　of　one　to　whom
  platforms　belonged　by　right。
  〃Ladies；〃　he　began　in　tones　of　cordial　good　will；　〃both　employer　and
  employed！and　gentlemenwhom　I　am　delighted　to　see　here　to…day！　　I　am
  grateful　for　the　opportunity　so　graciously　extended　to　me〃he　bowed　six
  feet　of　black　broadcloth　toward　Mrs。　Dankshire〃by　your　honored
  President。
  〃And　I　am　grateful　for　the　opportunity　previously　enjoyed；　of　listening
  to　the　most　rational；　practical；　wise；　true　and　hopeful　words　I　have
  ever　heard　on　this　subject。　　I　trust　there　will　be　enough　open…minded
  womenand　menin　Orchardina　to　make　possible　among　us　that　higher
  business　development　of　a　great　art　which　has　been　so　convincingly　laid
  before　us。　　This　club　is　deserving　of　all　thanks　from　the　community　for
  extending　to　so　many　the　privilege　of　listening　to　our　valued
  fellow…citizenMiss　Bell。〃
  He　bowed　againto　Miss　Belland　to　Mrs。　Dankshire；　and　resumed　his
  seat；　Miss　Eagerson　taking　advantage　of　the　dazed　pause　to　occupy　the
  platform　herself。
  〃Mr。　Eltwood　is　right！〃　she　said。　　〃Miss　Bell　is　right！　　This　is　the
  true　presentation　of　the　subject；　'by　one　who　knows。'　　Miss　Bell　has
  pricked　our　pretty　bubble　so　thoroughly　that　we　don't　know　where　we're
  standingbut　she　knows！　　Housework　is　a　businesslike　any　other
  businessI've　always　said　so；　and　it's　got　to　be　done　in　a　business
  way。　　Now　I　for　one〃　but　Miss　Eagerson　was　rapped　down　by　the
  Presidential　gavel；　as　Mrs。　Thaddler；　portentous　and　severe；　stalked
  forward。
  〃It　is　not　my　habit　to　make　public　speeches；〃　she　began；　〃nor　my　desire；
  but　this　is　a　time　when　prompt　and　decisive　action　needs　to　be　taken。
  This　Club　cannot　afford　to　countenance　any　such　farrago　of　mischievous
  nonsense　as　we　have　heard　to…day。　　I　move　you；　Madam　President；　that　a
  resolution　of　condemnation　be　passed　at　once；　and　the　meeting　then
  dismissed！〃
  She　stalked　back　again；　while　Mrs。　Marrow　of　Boston；　in　clear；　cold
  tones　seconded　the　motion。
  But　another　voice　was　heardfor　the　first　time　in　that　assemblyMrs。
  Weatherstone；　the　pretty；　delicate　widower　daughter…in…law　of　Madam
  Weatherstone；　was　on　her　feet　with　〃Madam　President！　　I　wish　to　speak　to
  this　motion。〃
  〃Won't　you　come　to　the　platform；　Mrs。　Weatherstone？〃　asked　Mrs。
  Dankshire　graciously；　and　the　little　lady　came；　visibly　trembling；　but
  holding　her　head　high。
  All　sat　silent；　all　expectedwhat　was　not　forthcoming。
  〃I　wish　to　protest；　as　a　member　of　the　Club；　and　as　a　woman；　against　the
  gross　discourtesy　which　has　been　offered　to　the　guest　and　speaker　of　the
  day。　　In　answer　to　our　invitation　Miss　Bell　has　given　us　a　scholarly　and
  interesting　paper；　and　I　move　that　we　extend　her　a　vote　of　thanks。〃
  〃I　second　the　motion；〃　came　from　all　quarters。
  〃There　is　another　motion　before　the　house；〃　from　others。
  Cries　of　〃Madam　President〃　arose　everywhere；　many　speakers　were　on　their
  feet。　　Mrs。　Dankshire　tapped　frantically　with　the　little　gavel；　but　Miss
  Eagerson；　by　sheer　vocal　power；　took　and　held　the　floor。
  〃I　move　that　we　take　a　vote　on　this　question；〃　she　cried　in　piercing
  tones。　　〃Let　every　woman　who　knows　enough　to　appreciate　Miss　Bell's
  paperand　has　any　sense　of　decencystand　up！〃
  Quite　a　large　proportion　of　the　audience　stood　upvery　informally。
  Those　who　did　not；　did　not　mean　to　acknowledge　lack　of　intelligence　and
  sense　of　decency；　but　to　express　emphatic　disapproval　of　Miss　Eagerson；
  Miss　Bell　and　their　views。
  〃I　move　you；　Madam　President；〃　cried　Mrs。　Thaddler；　at　the　top　of　her
  voice；　〃that　every　member　who　is　guilty　of　such　grossly　unparlimentary
  conduct　be　hereby　dropped　from　this　Club！〃
  〃We　hereby　resign！〃　cried　Miss　Eagerson。　　〃_We_　drop　_you！_　　We'll　have
  a　New　Woman's　Club　in　Orchardina　with　some　warmth　in　its　heart　and　some
  brains　in　its　headeven　if　it　hasn't　as　much　money　in　its　pocket！〃
  Amid　stern　rappings；　hissings；　cries　of　〃Orderorder；〃　and　frantic
  〃Motions　to　adjourn〃　the　meeting　broke　up；　the　club　elements　dissolving
  and　reforming　into　two　bodies　as　by　some　swift　chemical　reaction。
  Great　was　the　rejoicing　of　the　daily　press；　some　amusement　was　felt；
  though　courteously　suppressed　by　the　men　present；　and　by　many　not
  present；　when　they　heard　of　it。
  Some　ladies　were　so　shocked　and　grieved　as　to　withdraw　from　club…life
  altogether。　　Others；　in　stern　dignity；　upheld　the　shaken　standards　of
  Home　and　Culture；　while　the　most　conspicuous　outcome　of　it　all　was　the
  immediate　formation　of　the　New　Woman's　Club　of　Orchardina。
  WHAT　DIANTHA　DID
  CHAPTER　VIII。
  Behind　the　straight　purple　backs　and　smooth　purple　legs　on　the　box
  before　them；　Madam　Weatherstone　and　Mrs。　Weatherstone　rolled　home
  silently；　a　silence　of　thunderous　portent。　　Another　purple　person　opened
  the　door　for　them；　and　when　Madam　Weatherstone　said；　〃We　will　have　tea
  on　the　terrace；〃　it　was　brought　them　by　a　fourth。
  〃I　was　astonished　at　your　attitude；　Viva；〃　began　the　old　lady；　at
  length。　　〃Of　course　it　was　Mrs。　Dankshire's　fault　in　the　first　place；
  but　to　encourage　that；outrageous　person！　　How　could　you　do　it！〃
  Young　Mrs。　Weatherstone　emptied　her　exquisite　cup　and　set　it　down。
  〃A　sudden　access　of　courage；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　astonished　at
  myself。〃
  〃I　wholly　disagree　with　you！〃　replied　her　mother…in…law。　　〃Never　in　my
  life　have　I　heard　such　nonsense。　　Talk　like　that　would　be　dangerous；　if
  it　were　not　absurd！　　It　would　destroy　the　home！　　It　would　strike　at　the
  roots　of　the　family。〃
  Viva　eyed　her　quietly；　trying　to　bear　in　mind　the　weight　of　a　tradition；
  the　habits　of　a　lifetime；　the　effect　of　long　years　of　uninterrupted
  worship　of　household　gods。
  〃It　doesn't　seem　so　to　me；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃I　was　much　interested　and
  impressed。　　She　is　evidently　a　young　woman　of　knowledge　and　experience；
  and　put　her　case　well。　　It　has　quite　waked　me　up。〃
  〃It　has　quite　upset　you！〃　was　the　reply。　　〃You'll　be　ill　after　this；　I
  am　sure。　　Hadn't　you　better　go　and　lie　down　now？　　I'll　have　some　dinner
  sent　to　you。〃
  〃Thank　you；〃　said　Viva；　rising　and　walking　to　the　edge　of　the　broad
  terrace。　　〃You　are　very　kind。　　No。　　I　do　not　wish　to　lie　down。　　I
  haven't　felt　so　thoroughly　awake　in〃　she　drew　a　pink　cluster　of
  oleander　against　her　cheek　and　thought　a　moment〃in　several　years。〃
  There　was　a　new　look　about　her　certainly。
  〃Nervous　excitement；〃　her　mother…in…law　replied。　　〃You're　not　like
  yourself　at　all　to…night。　　You'll　certainly　be　ill　to…morrow！〃
  Viva　turned　at　this　and　again　astonished　the　old　lady　by　serenely
  kissing　her。　　〃Not　at　all！〃　she　said　gaily。　　〃I'm　going　to　be　well
  to…morrow。　　You　will　see！〃
  She　went　to　her　room；　drew　a　chair　to　the　wide　west　window　with　the　far
  off　view　and　sat　herself　down　to　think。　　Diantha's　assured　poise；　her
  clear　reasoning；　her　courage；　her　common　sense；　and　something　of
  tenderness　and　consecration　she　di