For a long time the two children played in the sand, and Monsieur sat beside them and acted as interpreter, speaking first to one in Japanese, and then to the other in English, giving directions and suggestions and proving a first-rate play-fellow.
"Why, you know a lot about forts and mines and blockades and things, don't you?" asked June.
Monsieur looked absently across the lake. "Alas!" he said grimly, half to himself, "I know too much for their good and for mine."
When the temple bell from the hillside boomed the supper hour, the boys gathered up their things and started home.
"Good-by," said June to Monsieur, "I hope you'll come back and play with us another day."
Monsieur bowed very politely, but he did not answer, his half-closed eyes still rested on the little forts that the boys had been making in the sand, and his thoughts seemed to be far away.
When June reached the street, he turned to wave a good-by, but Monsieur was hobbling down the hill, his figure, in spite of the crutches, looking very straight and stiff against the evening sky.