Page:The plastic age, (IA plasticage00mark).pdf/129

 =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. Phere was excitement in the air; the college was beginning to stew and boil again. Fraternity rush¬ ing was scheduled for the second week of the new term.

The administration strictly prohibited the rush¬ ing of freshmen the first term; and, in general, the fraternities respected the rule. True, the frater¬ nity 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 enter¬ tain 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 ex¬ plain that his secret studying the first term had been