wfully sorry. I've thought of lots of excuses to write
to you, but I guess I won't write them. I know that I
didn't study hard enough. I had too much fun.

I promise you that I'll do better next time. I know that
I can. Please don't scold me.

Lots of love,
HUGH

All that his mother wrote in reply was, "Of course, you will do better
next time." The kindness hurt dreadfully. Hugh wished that she had
scolded him.

CHAPTER XII

The college granted a vacation of three days between terms, but Hugh did
not go home, nor did many of the other undergraduates. There was
excitement in the air; the college was beginning to stew and boil again.
Fraternity rushing was scheduled for the second week of the new term.

The administration strictly prohibited the rushing of freshmen the first
term; and, in general, the fraternities respected the rule. True, the
fraternity men were constantly visiting eligible freshmen, chatting with
them, discussing everything with them except fraternities. That subject
was barred.

Hugh and Carl received a great many calls from upper-classmen the first
term, and Hugh had been astonished at Carl's reticence and silence.
Carl, the flippant, the voluble, the "wise-cracker," lost his tongue the
minute a man wearing a fraternity pin entered the room. Hugh was forced
to entertain the all-important guest. Carl never explained how much he
wanted to make a good fraternity, not any fraternity, only a _good_ one;
nor did he explain that his secret studying the first term had been
inspired by his eagerness to be completely eligible. A good fraternity
would put the seal of aristocracy on him; it would mean everything to
the "old lady."

For the first three nights of the rushing season the fraternities held
open house for all freshmen, but during the last three nights no
freshman was supposed to enter a fraternity house unless Invited.

The first three nights found the freshmen traveling in scared groups
from fraternity house to fraternity house, sticking close together
unless rather vigorously pried apart by their hosts. Everybody was
introduced to everybody else; everybody tried rather hopelessly to make
conversation, and nearly everybody smoked too much, partly because they
were nervous and partly because the "smokes" were free.

It was the last three nights that counted. Both Hugh and Ca