lone. For thunder sakes, tell me what you're talkin' about? Zuby--Zuby
Jane Ginn racin' to lodges and tellin' you--YOU--to cook your own meals!
Go on! You're loony."

"Maybe I am, Labe, but it's so."

"It's so? And you let it be so? I don't believe it. What do you mean?
How long has it been so?"

Captain Dan proceeded to tell of his housekeeper's conversion to
progress and advancement. He did not suppress any of the details; in
fact, he magnified them just a bit.

"She's a free woman, so she says, Labe," he said, in conclusion. "And a
free woman has a right to be free."

"Is that so! That's what she says, hey? And you let her say it? Why,
you--you--" He hesitated, hovering between candid expression and the
respect due an ex-skipper of a three-master. "Wh-what do you have such
goin's on in your house for?" he demanded. "What makes you let the
gang afore the mast run over you this way? Why don't you--who's that
upstairs; your wife?"

"No, my wife is out. I shouldn't wonder if that was Zuba. She's on her
way to the door, probably."

"She is, hey? Call her down here. Sing out to her to come down. Hi!" as
the captain stepped to the stairs, "don't say nothin' about me."

Daniel, suppressing a grin, shouted up the stairs.

"Zuba!" he called. "Zuba, come down here a minute."

Azuba answered, but in no complacent tone. "Don't bother me, Cap'n
Dott," she protested. "I'm late as 'tis."

"Just a minute, Zuba, that's all. One minute, please."

Mr. Ginn snorted at the "please." They heard the housekeeper descending.
At the bottom step she sniffed loudly.

"I do believe it's tobacco smoke!" she exclaimed. "Cap'n Dott, have you
been smokin' in my kitchen?"

She entered the room, waving an indignant arm. She was dressed in her
Sunday best, bonnet and all.

"What!" she began, and then, suddenly aware that her employer was not
alone, turned to stare at his companion. "Why!" she exclaimed; "who--oh,
my soul! LABAN!"

"Hello, Zuby!" roared her husband, rising to greet her. "How be you, old
gal?"

Before she could speak or move he seized her in his arms, squeezed her
to him, and pressed a kiss like the report of a fire-cracker upon her
cheek. "How be you, Zuby?" he repeated.

"Oh, Labe!" gasped Azuba. "Labe!"

"I'm Labe, all right. No doubt about that.... Well, why don't you say
somethin'? Ain't you glad to see me?"

Azuba looked as if she did not know whether she was glad or not; in
fact, as if she knew or realize