. "Who is it you're talking with? Is your father
there? Why doesn't he come to bed?"

"He's coming, Mother, right away. So am I. Good-night, Daddy."

The next forenoon, as Azuba was blacking the stove, Gertrude entered the
kitchen.

"Good-morning, Azuba," she said. "Are you alone?"

"Yes, yes, I'm alone."

"Where is Hapgood?"

"Land knows! Upstairs, lookin' out for that Hungerford man's clothes, I
guess likely. He waits on that young critter as if he was the Prince of
Wales. Well, you went Chapterin' and advancin' last night, I understand.
What did you think of it?"

"Think? I thought--Oh, Azuba!"

"Yup. 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. And I know, too, that nobody else seems to know or
care. Your pa trusts everything to his wife, and she trusts everything
to that Hapgood. She can't be bothered, she says, and Hapgood's such a
capable buyer. Capable! he'll be rich as well as capable if it keeps on,
and the rest of us'll be capable of the poorhouse. And there's Serena's
health. She's gettin' more nervous all the time, and just wearin'
herself out with her papers and conventions and politics and bridge and
society. My land! Don't talk to me! And it ain't no use to talk to her.
There's got to be somethin' more'n talk."

Gertrude nodded.

"So I think," she affirmed. "Azuba, I have a scheme. It may be the best
idea in the world and it may be the worst, but I am going to risk it.
And you must help me. Will you?"

"Sartin sure I will!"

"And you won't tell a soul, not a living soul?"

"Not one, livin' or dead. You needn't look at me like that. I swan to
mercy, I won't tell anybody."

"Good! Then listen."

Azuba listened, listened in silence. When her young mistress ceased
speaking she shook her head slowly.

"Well," she observed, "it looks some like hoppin' out of the fryin' pan
into the fire, but, even if it turns out that way, perhaps it's just as
well to be roasted as fried. Humph! no, 'twon't do to tell anybody. I
shan't, and you mustn't."

"I don't intend to."

"Um! Not even John Doane?"

"Well," doubtfully, "I may tell John later on. But I shall wait t