"Well, I guess she's as good as any you'd be likely to get," Mrs.Bell admitted, "and we mustn't expect paragons.If this can't be done by an average bunch of working women the world over, it can't be done--that's all!""It can be done," said the girl, calmly."It will be done.You see.""Mr.Thaddler says you could run any kind of a business you set your hand to," her mother went on."He has a profound respect for your abilities, Dina.""Seems to me you and Mr.Thaddler have a good deal to say to each other, motherkins.I believe you enjoy that caffeteria desk, and all the compliments you get.""I do," said Mrs.Bell stoutly."I do indeed! Why, I haven't seen so many men, to speak to, since--why, never in my life! And they are very amusing--some of them.They like to come here--like it immensely.And I don't wonder.I believe you'll do well to enlarge."Then they plunged into a discussion of the winter's plans.The day service department and its employment agency was to go on at the New Union House, with Mrs.Jessup as manager; the present establishment was to be run as a hotel and restaurant, and the depot for the cooked food delivery.
Mrs.Thorvald and her husband were installed by themselves in another new venture; a small laundry outside the town.This place employed several girls steadily, and the motor wagon found a new use between meals, in collecting and delivering laundry parcels.
"It simplifies it a lot--to get the washing out of the place and the girls off my mind," said Diantha."Now I mean to buckle down and learn the hotel business--thoroughly, and develop this cooked food delivery to perfection.""Modest young lady," smiled her mother."Where do you mean to stop--if ever?""I don't mean to stop till I'm dead," Diantha answered; "but I don't mean to undertake any more trades, if that is what you mean.You know what I'm after--to get 'housework' on a business basis, that's all; and prove, prove, PROVE what a good business it is.There's the cleaning branch--that's all started and going well in the day service.There's the washing--that's ****** and easy.Laundry work's no mystery.But the food part is a big thing.It's an art, a science, a business, and a handicraft.I had the handicraft to start with; I'm learning the business; but I've got a lot to learn yet in the science and art of it.""Don't do too much at once," her mother urged."You've got to cater to people as they are.""I know it," the girl agreed."They must be led, step by step--the natural method.It's a big job, but not too big.Out of all the women who have done housework for so many ages, surely it's not too much to expect one to have a special genius for it!"Her mother gazed at her with loving admiration.
"That's just what you have, Dina--a special genius for housework.Iwish there were more of you!"
"There are plenty of me, mother dear, only they haven't come out.As soon as I show 'em how to make the thing pay, you'll find that we have a big percentage of this kind of ability.It's all buried now in the occasional 'perfect housekeeper.'
"But they won't leave their husbands, Dina.""They don't need to," the girl answered cheerfully."Some of them aren't married yet; some of them have lost their husbands, and _some_ of them"--she said this a little bitterly--"have husbands who will be willing to let their wives grow.""Not many, I'm afraid," said Mrs.Bell, also with some gloom.
Diantha lightened up again."Anyhow, here you are, mother dear! And for this year I propose that you assume the financial management of the whole business at a salary of $1,000 'and found.' How does that suit you?"Mrs.Bell looked at her unbelievingly.
"You can't afford it, Dina!"
"Oh, yes, I can--you know I can, because you've got the accounts.I'm going to make big money this year.""But you'll need it.This hotel and restaurant business may not do well.""Now, mother, you _know_ we're doing well.Look here!" And Diantha produced her note-book.
"Here's the little laundry place; its fittings come to so much, wages so much, collection and delivery so much, supplies so much--and already enough patronage engaged to cover.It will be bigger in winter, a lot, with transients, and this hotel to fall back on; ought to clear at least a thousand a year.The service club don't pay me anything, of course;that is for the girls' benefit; but the food delivery is doing better than I dared hope."Mrs.Bell knew the figures better than Diantha, even, and they went over them carefully again.If the winter's patronage held on to equal the summer's--and the many transient residents ought to increase it--they would have an average of twenty families a week to provide for--one hundred persons.
The expenses were:
Food for 100 at $250 a week.Per capita.$600---
per year $13,000
Labor--delivery man.$600
Head cook.$600
Two assistant cooks.$1,040
Three washers and packers.$1,560
Office girl.$520
---
Per year $4,320
Rent, kitchen, office, etc.$500
Rent of motor.$300
Rent of cases.$250
Gasolene and repairs.$630
---
Per year $1,680
Total.$19,000
"How do you make the gasolene and repairs as much as that?" asked Mrs.
Bell.
"It's margin, mother--makes it even money.It won't be so much, probably."The income was ****** and sufficient.They charged $5.00 a week per capita for three meals, table d'hote, delivered thrice daily.Frequent orders for extra meals really gave them more than they set down, but the hundred-person estimate amounted to $26,000 a year.
"Now, see," said Diantha triumphantly; "subtract all that expense list (and it is a liberal one), and we have $7,000 left.I can buy the car and the cases this year and have $1,600 over! More; because if I do buy them I can leave off some of the interest, and the rent of kitchen and office comes to Union House! Then there's all of the extra orders.
It's going to pay splendidly, mother! It clears $70 a year per person.
Next year it will clear a lot more."
