Oh, you can't deceive us. We know how much you admire him, Helen.
Helen
Oh, no you don't! [The family is amazed.] Not even he does. Did you ever hear how he risked his life in battle down in Cuba? Why, he's a perfect hero of romance!
John
[mutters]
Never even saw a war—mollycoddle germ killer!
Helen
Not in the war with Spain—the war against yellow fever, John.... No drums to make him brave, no correspondents to make him famous—he merely rolled up his sleeve and let an innocent-looking mosquito bite him. Then took notes on his symptoms till he became delirious.... He happened to be among those who recovered.
[The family is impressed.
Theodore