She made the declaration with the air of one imparting news of a startling discovery. Daniel laughed.
“Is that so!” he exclaimed. “Well, well! I want to know! I always suspected it, Zuba, but I'm glad you told me, just the same. Does it say so in that paper?”
Azuba rose from her chair. She did not laugh; she was intensely serious.
“It says a lot of things,” she announced, “a lot of things I never thought of afore. I don't mean that exactly. I've thought of 'em, but I never knew how to make anything out of my thoughts. I just kept thinkin' and let it go at that. Now, I'm beginnin' to realize. I'm a woman, I am, a free woman. That paper is for free women. Have you read it, Cap'n Daniel?”
Captain Dan took the paper which she extended to him at arm's length. He recognized it immediately. It was “The Woman's Voice,” official organ of the National Guild of Ladies of Honor. Serena was a subscriber.
He glanced at the paper and tossed it on the table.
“Yes,” he said shortly, “I've read some of it.”
Azuba seized the discarded journal as if it were a precious treasure, a thing to be treated tenderly and with reverence.
“Some of it!” she repeated. “Humph! I'd read all of it, if I was you. 'Twould do the men good if they was made to read every number ten times over. It's a wonderful paper. It's opened MY eyes, I can tell you that.”
It had, apparently, opened her mouth as well, although to do that required no great urging at any time. She went on to preach the glories of the “Voice,” and concluded by reading an editorial which, like Mrs. Lake's addresses at Chapter meetings, contained a great many words and, to the captain's mind, little understanding.