“And a hero!” added Marion, in an awed voice.
Gozo permitted the ghost of a smile to flicker across the tranquillity of his face.
“In liddle while,” said Plum Blossom, smiling happily, “father coming down into garden. He’ll tell story then.”
“He naever tell story ’bout his own self,” said Taro, discontentedly. “He mos’ greatest hero of all. Tha’s right, Gozo?”
Gozo nodded gravely.
“Mos’ of all,” he agreed.
“’Cept you,” said Marion, still bent on hero worship.
Gozo smiled in the little girl’s direction. His usually impassive face was strangely winning when he smiled. Marion went closer to him, and, taking her hand, put it fondly against his cheek.
“You see, Gozo,” she said, “I used to think about you as a hero even before father went away.”
“Yes,” said Billy, disgustedly, “she thinks you’re a greater hero than Togo even.”