They had grown up big and vigorous, sturdy, handsome creatures, especially the two younger ones.

Diantha was good-looking enough.

Roscoe Warden thought her divinely beautiful.

But her young strength had been heavily taxed from childhood in that complex process known as "helping mother." As a little child she had been of constant service in caring for the babies; and early developed such competence in the various arts of house work as filled her mother with fond pride, and even wrung from her father some grudging recognition.

That he did not value it more was because he expected such competence in women, all women; it was their natural field of ability, their duty as wives and mothers.