“Yes, Princeton. But I didn’t graduate either.”
They drew up in front of the little inn which John had decided upon, and the men helped the girls to get out. Marjorie could not but be pleased with MacDonald’s manner; he seemed perfectly at ease, familiar with the accepted social code. She found herself wondering at Queenie’s attraction for him, for, whatever the girl’s good points were, she was undoubtedly crude, her manners were often rough and boisterous, and her English was frightful. And although pretty, she was scarcely above the average American girl of her own age and class. Her strong point, Marjorie thought, was her genuineness, and that quality was seldom attractive to men of MacDonald’s type. Yet she had personality, too; or how else could she be such a pronounced leader in her own little group?
They selected a little table with a prettily shaded lamp, and John ordered a tempting dinner. It was all so pleasant that Marjorie felt just as if she were accompanied by any of her college friends.
She watched John wonderingly, as he led the conversation, seeming perfectly content to let it remain upon general topics, except now and then, when it returned to the always interesting subject of the troop and the team. He apparently made no progress at all with MacDonald as far as personalities were concerned, yet he did not seem disturbed. Probably he was learning more than Marjorie had any idea of.
“May I smoke, Miss Wilkinson?” asked Queenie, when the meal was over.
“That’s up to you,” replied Marjorie indifferently. “It’s permitted here, I believe.”
“Well, why shouldn’t I?” flashed the younger girl challengingly, as if Marjorie had actually expressed disapproval. “Can you tell me any reason why a girl shouldn’t smoke as well as a fellow?”
“None,” replied Marjorie with provoking calmness.
“Then you don’t object—I mean the Girl Scouts don’t?”
“It is a generally accepted rule of both the Boy and Girl Scout organizations alike that their members do not smoke at least until they are twenty-one years of age. All athletes keep this up as long as they are in training—men and women alike. So if you are really interested in becoming a fast basket-ball player, I want to warn you that it cuts your wind.”