of it. He has been out a great deal lately and comes
home late, and I have heard him come up the stairs as if--as if--Oh, WHY
did you insist on his staying here, living here with us?"

"Why did _I_--Humph! Well, that's all right. That's all right, Serena.
You back me up in that, too, and he'll go out a sight quicker than
he came in. I'll see that he does. He'll fly. I can handle MEN even
yet--though I don't seem to be good for much else."

But Mrs. Dott wouldn't hear of it. They couldn't PUT him out, she
declared; think of the scandal! No, no, no! The interview ended by
the captain's dismissal and Serena's getting ready for that evening's
committee meeting.

It developed that Azuba's "Band" met on that same evening. Gertrude
and her mother had gone--they were to dine with the committee at
Annette's--and when Daniel, at seven o'clock, shouted for his dinner, no
dinner was ready.

"I can't stop to fuss with dinner," said Azuba firmly. "I've got to get
ready for my Band meetin'. All the afternoon I've been fussin' with my
speech--I'm goin' to speak to-night--and now it's time for me to change
my clothes. I'm sorry, Cap'n Dott; I never neglected you afore; but this
time I've got to. There's plenty to eat in the ice-chest and you must
wait on yourself. No use to talk! I ain't got time to listen."

Captain Dan was furious. This was a trifle too much.

"You get that dinner!" he roared. "Get it, or you'll never get another
meal in this house!"

"Won't I? Why not? Mrs. Dott said I might go to this meetin'. She'll
understand."

"By time, Zuba Ginn, I'll discharge you! I will! I don't care if you
have been with us since Methusalem's time. You old foolhead! At your
age--"

"I'm no older than your wife, Dan'l Dott. And you can't discharge me,
neither. I wouldn't go. I'm no Hapgood. I've got rights and I'll stand
up for 'em. You ain't the boss, I guess. If Serena discharges me, all
right; but she won't. There! don't talk to ME. I've got other fish to
fry."

She marched up the back stairs. Daniel sprang after her, but she closed
the door in his face. For a moment he hesitated. Then he turned back
and, re-entering the kitchen, began to pace up and down, his hands in
his pockets.

He strode from the sink to the back door, wheeled and strode back
again. There was an odd expression on his face. He frowned, muttered to
himself, whistled, smiled, and once broke into a short laugh. But, as he
continued the pacing, gradually t