She was disappointed to find him grown.
Somehow all the heroes and heroines whom she had looked upon as her own age, who _were_ her own age when the interesting things she knew about them had happened, were all grown up.

Her first disappointment had been in Rob, then in Betty.

For this Betty was not the one Joyce had pictured in her stories of the first house-party.

This one had long dresses, and her curly hair was tucked up on her head in such a bewitchingly young-ladified way that Mary was in awe of her at first.

She was not disappointed in her now, however, and no longer in awe, since Betty had piloted her over the place, swinging hands with her in as friendly a fashion as if she were no older than Hazel Lee, and telling the way she looked when _she_ saw The Locusts for the first time--a timid little country girl in a sunbonnet, with a wicker basket on her arm.
The military uniforms lent an air of distinction to the scene, and Allison and Kitty each began a conversation in such a vivacious way, that Mary found it difficult to decide which group to attach herself to.
She did not want to lose a word that any one was saying, and the effort to listen to several separate conversations was as much of a strain as trying to watch three rings at the circus.
Through the laughter and the repartee of the young people she heard Mrs.
Walton say to Mr.Sherman: "Yes, only second lieutenants, but I've been an army woman long enough to appreciate them as they deserve.