Daniel whistled. “Whew!” he exclaimed. “That's interestin'.”
“Ain't it, now! Laban says the old commodore--meanin' the pa, I suppose--is a holy terror and sets more store by his daughter than he does by his hopes of salvation, enough sight. Good reason, too, I presume likely; he's toler'ble sure of the daughter. Well, anyhow, the letters are gone and Labe says he's willin' to bet that Cousin Percy'll be GOIN'--out of the window and out of Scarford--when papa gets after him. Nice mess, ain't it!”
Captain Dan whistled again. “Well, Zuba,” he observed, “we can't help it, as I see. What's done's done and chickens do come home to roost, don't they?”
“Humph! I wish my husband would come home and roost where I can keep my eye on him. He says he's gettin' sick of bein' a land lubber. He'll be aboard some ship and off again afore long, that's some comfort. The only time I know that man is safe is when he's a thousand miles from dry land.”
Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor. It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready. This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.” She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
“Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena. “I haven't heard her sing before for a long time. I suppose, like the rest of us, she has been too troubled to sing.”
Captain Dan listened to the singing, shook his head, and remarked whimsically, “There's some comfort to be got out of trouble, then. Say, the 'Sweet By and By' would turn sour if it could hear her sing about it, wouldn't it?”
“Hush, Daniel, don't be irreverent. Why don't you light the lamp, or let me light it? It's getting so dark I can hardly see you.”
“Never mind; let's sit in the dark a spell. Gertie comin' down pretty soon, is she?”
“Yes. She's changing her dress, because you asked her to. Why did you ask her? Why should she dress up just for you and me?”
“Oh, just a notion of mine. I like that red dress of hers, anyway; the one with the fringe trimmin's along the upper riggin'.”
“I don't care. I thought 'twas about the color of my nose, and if that's pink then I'm losin' my complexion.”