The captain waited for her
to speak. As a general thing he did not have to wait.
"Hello, Zuba," he hailed.
Azuba turned a page of the paper. She did not answer.
"Hello!" he hailed again. "What's the matter, Zuba? Gone into a trance,
have you?"
"Hey?" Azuba did look up then, but at once looked down again. "Hey?" she
repeated. "No, I ain't in no trance. I'm readin', that's all."
"I should think that was enough, if it fixes you so you can't speak to
anybody. Must be mighty interestin' readin'."
"Hey? Interestin'? I guess 'tis interestin'! It's more'n that, it's
upliftin', too. I'm just beginnin' to realize what I am."
"That so? Well, what are you?"
"I'm a woman, that's what I am."
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.
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