“She’s splendid!” agreed Phœbe; “and her poetry reminds me so much of Mrs. Browning.”
“Me too,” he said, laughing. “I never can understand a word of it.”
Others called on Marion and she soon became a popular favorite in the village. Especially, was she attracted to Janet Ferguson, and as Janet was a warm friend of the Darings, this made it pleasant for all the young people. When the famous lawn party was given at the Randolph residence the occasion was one long remembered, for no such elaborate entertainment was ever before known in Riverdale.
The festivity was designed to celebrate Marion’s birthday, as well as to introduce her socially to the young folks of the town.
“Of course it cannot be very exclusive,” observed her mother, when the invitation list was being prepared; “otherwise you would have but a mere handful.”
“I do not wish to be exclusive here,” returned Marion, gravely. “My desire is to study character and human nature, to assist me in my literary work. One cannot write of humanity without knowing something of the rank and file, you see; and there are many respectable, if humble, families in Riverdale.”
Mrs. Randolph scanned the list critically.
“Is it possible that you intend to ask the entire family of Darings?” she inquired.
“Yes, dear. I am inviting Rebecca and Donald for Doris and Allerton, you see, and I cannot well leave out that little fairy elf, Sue. So they must all come.”
“Do you know, Marion, those Darings—the younger ones, I refer to—are very ill-bred children?”