Although he had lied volubly to her for his own ends, he stood in awe of her commanding personality, and never dreamed of disregarding her high behests.

But he had a moral disapproval of work.

He could see no nobility in it, having done so much enforced labour in his time.
"Do you think we need begin now, ma'am ?" he asked anxiously.
"At once," said Zora.

"It will take you a month to clean the place.

And it will give you something to do." She went away femininely consoled by her exercise of authority--a minor victory covering a retreat.