“But what can we do with her, Daniel? We might leave her here to take care of the place, I suppose, but that would only be for a time, until we find somebody to buy it. Of course we can't run two places, and we'll have to sell this one some time or other.”
Daniel, to whom the idea of selling the home of which he had been so proud was unthinkable, ignored the question.
“You couldn't leave her here,” he declared. “She wouldn't stay. Zuba's queer—all her tribe are and always was—but she's nobody's fool. She'd know right off you were tryin' to get rid of her. No, it may be all right enough to leave Nate Bangs in charge of the store, because he'd like nothin' better, but you can't leave Zuba in the house.”
“Then what can we do with her?”
“Take her with us. She can do housekeepin' in Scarford same as she can here, can't she?”
“Take her with us! Why, Daniel Dott! the very idea! Think of Azuba in a place like that Scarford mansion! Think of her and that dignified, polite Hapgood man together! Think of it!”
The captain seemed to find the thought amusing.
“Say, that would be some fun, wouldn't it?” he chuckled. “I'd risk Zuba, though. He wouldn't do the Grand Panjandrum over her more'n once. I'd risk her to hold up her end.”
“What do you think the B. Phelps Blacks would say if they saw Azuba trotting through the grand front hall with her kitchen apron on?”
The mention of the name had an odd effect upon the captain. He straightened in his chair.