"You are very kind," said Marjorie, heartily. "It was very stupid of me to lose my way; I never was lost before."
"And do you often walk here in the park?" her new friend inquired, politely.
"Oh, no, I was never here before. I only came to New York yesterday; my home is in Arizona."
"You have come a long distance," he said. "And how do you like New York—that is to say as much as you have seen of it?"
"I think it is very noisy and rather smoky, but the hotel is beautiful, and so is this park. I haven't seen much of New York yet, but I am going to spend the winter here."
"I quite agree with you as to the noise and smoke," said her companion, smiling, "but New York is a pretty jolly place notwithstanding. It isn't my home either; I am from Virginia."
"Yes, I know you are," said Marjorie, innocently. "You came here to go to college, and your mother is with you. My cousin told us all about it last evening at dinner."
The young man laughed outright. It was such a merry laugh that Marjorie could not help joining in it, and after that they were excellent friends.
"Now I wonder if you would mind telling me how your cousin obtained her information," Marjorie's new friend said when he had recovered his gravity. "I haven't met her, have I? What is her name?"
"Elsie Carleton. No, she hasn't met you yet, but she wants to very much. A friend of hers has promised to introduce you if she has a chance. Your name is Randolph, isn't it?"