introduced to Marcia as she picks blackberries in a sunlit meadow, daydreaming about her own desires amid preparations for her sister’s upcoming wedding. Her longing for a new dress reflects her youth and innocence, set against the backdrop of her sister Kate's impending marriage to the charming David Spafford. As the plot unfolds, Marcia's unacknowledged feelings for David contrast sharply with her frustrations regarding her stepmother and her sister's self-absorbed demeanor—a tension that sets the stage for emerging complications when Kate's purportedly perfect wedding plans begin to unravel. The beginning captures Marcia’s inner world, balancing her duties and dreams within her family's expectations, making it clear that her character will undergo significant development as the narrative progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)