United States or Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
How long since my company was a bother to you, Gertie? It never used to be." "It isn't now, and you know it. But, as I say, I am very busy. Business first, pleasure afterwards." "Humph! I'm glad I'm a pleasure, even if it's the kind that comes after everything else. What have you and your ma been talkin' about upstairs for the last hour?" "Want to know! What were you and Azuba talkin' about?"
He walked and walked, but if, upon his return, anyone had asked him where he had walked he could not have told them. This was the first serious quarrel that he and his wife had had during their married life. It was half-past seven when he returned and found Azuba fidgeting in the dining-room. It was Mr. Hapgood's free evening and he had left early. "For mercy sakes!" Azuba demanded.
She was a quiet, pleasant, capable person, and Daniel and Gertrude liked her. She took charge of the sick room. Azuba the common sense, adequate, domestic Azuba of old, not the rampant "free woman" of recent days was in charge of the kitchen. Her husband remained, at Daniel's earnest request, but he spent his time below stairs.
She made the declaration with the air of one imparting news of a startling discovery. Daniel laughed. "Is that so!" he exclaimed. "Well, well! I want to know! I always suspected it, Zuba, but I'm glad you told me, just the same. Does it say so in that paper?" Azuba rose from her chair. She did not laugh; she was intensely serious.
Hungerford, also, was absent. Captain Dan, in the library, dolefully musing in an arm chair, heard a violent altercation in the kitchen. As it did not cease, but became more violent, he hastened to the scene. Azuba was standing in the middle of the kitchen, her back against the table, facing the butler. Mr.
Gertrude shook her head. "I suppose, she can't," she replied. "And yet, I'm afraid, Mother, that you will find that fact rather hard to explain to her. Azuba doesn't consider herself a servant, in the ordinary sense, at all. She feels, I think, that she is a friend of the family. And she has a right, of course, to improve and advance in every way.
It's 'oh, Azuba, I guess. That's what I've been sayin' to myself for quite a spell. I'd have said it to your pa, too, if it would have done any good." "It wouldn't. We mustn't say a word to him, or anyone else." "I know. And yet, when I think of the way things are goin' at loose ends I have the shakes. Do you know what it's costin' to run this place the way it's run? I know.
In his dream he had navigated the Bluebird, his old schooner, to a point somewhere between Hatteras and Race Point light. It was night all at once, although it had been day only a few minutes before, and Azuba, who, it seemed, was cook aboard the Bluebird, was washing breakfast dishes in the skipper's stateroom.
So Azuba "advanced" and preached and went out at night and occasionally during the day. Gertrude and Serena went out all the time, when they were not entertaining themselves. Life became a never-ending round of politics and society functions, followed by, on Mrs. Dott's part, sleepless nights and "nerves" and fretful worriment concerning Gertrude. Gertrude did not appear to worry.
Captain Dan didn't talk to anybody. He sat alone in the library, miserable and downhearted. After a while Azuba came and announced that she guessed she'd get a mouthful of fresh air, if she wasn't needed. Receiving no answer, she apparently considered the request granted and the captain heard the back door shut.
Word Of The Day