.

"Her African name is Poqua-dilla, but here they call her Jane Henderson,
when they talk of her. She knows that name, too. We all has to have
English names."

"Well, we don't want any Jane Henderson," said Corny. "Poqua-dilla!
that's a good name for a queen. But what we first want is to have her
stop selling things at the front door. We'll do better for her than
that."

"Is you goin' to sen' her to the 'sylum?" asked the woman.

"The asylum!" exclaimed Corny. "No, indeed! You'll see. She's to live
here, but she's not to sell pepper-pods, or anything else."

"Well, young missy," said the woman, "you better buy 'em of her. I
reckon she'll sell out for 'bout fourpence."

This was a sensible proposition, and, as treasurer, I bought the stock,
the queen having signified her willingness to the treaty by a dignified
nod and a courtesy. She was very much given to style, which encouraged
us a good deal.

"Now, then," said Rectus, who thought it was about time that the captain
should have something to say, "you must tell her that she isn't to lay
in any more stock. This is to be the end of her mercantile life."

I don't believe the woman translated all of this speech, but the queen
gave another nod and courtesy, and I pocketed the peppers to keep as
trophies. The other things we kept, to give to the children and make
ourselves popular.

"How much do you think it would cost," asked Corny of me, "to make this
place a little more like a palace?"

I made a rough sort of a calculation, and came to the conclusion that
the room could be made a little more like a palace for about eight
dollars.

"That's cheap enough," said Rectus to me. "You and I will each give four
dollars."

"No, indeed!" said Corny. "I'm going to give some. How much is three
into eight?"

"Two and two-thirds," said I, "or, in this case, two dollars, sixty-six
cents and some sixes over."

"All right!" said Corny; "I'll ask father for three dollars. There ought
to be something for extras. I'll tell mother what I want it for, and
that will satisfy him. He can know afterward. I don't think he ought to
worry his lung with anything like this."

"She wont want a throne," said Rectus, turning the conversation from Mr.
Chipperton, "for she has a very good rocking-chair, which could be fixed
up."

"Yes," said I, "it could be cushioned. She might do it herself."

At this, the colored woman made a remark to the queen, but what it was
we did not know.