It was hard to be the only plain one in the midst of so many pretty girls; so plain that nobody even thought of suggesting her for one of the characters.
"I know very well," she said to herself, "that a Lily Maid of Astolat with freckles would be ridiculous, and I'm not slim and graceful enough to be a tambourine girl, but it would be so nice to have some part in it.

It would be such a comfortable feeling to know that you're pretty enough always to be counted in." Her musings were interrupted by the descent of the party upon the picnic tables, and she looked up to see Elise beckoning her to a seat.

To her delight it was at the table opposite the one where Lloyd and Phil, Anna Moore and Keith were seated.

Malcolm was just across from them, with Miss Bonham on one side and Betty and Lieutenant Stanley on the other.
Mary looked around inquiringly for her sister.

She was with Rob now, and Lieutenant Logan was placing chairs for Allison and himself on the other side of the tree.