“Gozo,” she said, “mother let me do all kinds of work when the servants went.”
“Hoom!” grunted Billy, “you used to play at work. Plum Blossom did it all. If you take any girl”—he spoke the word with almost Oriental contempt—”take Plum Blossom.”
The latter smiled gratefully in the direction of her step-brother.
“I goin’ wait till you grow up, Beely. Then I keep house for you.”
“You gotter git marry with Takashima Ido,” put in Taro.
“I nod got!” cried the little girl, indignantly.
“You got!” persisted Taro. “His fadder already speag for you to our fadder.”
“Tha’s jus’ account our fadder becom’ hero. He wan’ be in our family also. But I nod goin’ marry thad boy all same. He got a small-pox all over his face.”
“Plenty husband got small-pox,” said Taro. “He also got lots money. Mebbe one hundred dollars.”
Plum Blossom pouted.