hat has the
fellows that you like best, no matter what its standing on the campus
is. Be sure that you like the fellows; that is all-important. We want
you to come to us. I think that you would fit in here, but I am not
going to urge you. Think us over. If you like us, accept our bid; if you
don't, go some fraternity where you do like the fellows. And that's my
warning about the Nu Delts. Be sure that you like the fellows, or most
of them, anyway, before you accept their bid. Have you thought them
over?"

"No," Hugh admitted, "I haven't."

He didn't like Graham's talk; he thought that it was merely very clever
rushing. He did Graham an injustice. Graham had been strongly attracted
to Hugh and felt sure that he would be making a serious mistake if he
joined Nu Delta. Hugh's reaction, however, was natural. He had been
rushed in dozens of ingenious ways for a week; he had little reason,
therefore, to trust Graham or anybody else.

Graham stood up. "I have a feeling, Carver," he said slowly, "that I
have flubbed this talk. I am sure that you'll know some day that I was
really disinterested and wanted to do my best for you."

Hugh was softened--and smiled shyly as he lifted himself out of his
chair. "I know you did," he said with more gratitude in his voice than
he quite felt, "and I'm very grateful, but I'm so woozy now that I
don't know what to think."

"I don't wonder. To tell you the truth, I am, too. I haven't got to bed
earlier than three o'clock any night this week, and right now I hardly
care if we pledge anybody to-morrow night." He continued talking as they
walked slowly down the stairs. "One more bit of advice. Don't go
anywhere else to-night. Go home to bed, and to-morrow think over what
I've told you. And," he added, holding out his hand, "even if you don't
come our way, I hope I see a lot of you before the end of the term."

Hugh clasped his hand. "You sure will. Thanks a lot. Good night."

"Good night."

Hugh did go straight to his room and tried to think, but the effort met
with little success. He wanted desperately to receive a bid from Nu
Delta, and if he didn't--well, nothing else much mattered. Graham's
assertion that Nu Delta would bid him no longer brought him any comfort.
Why should Graham know what Nu Delta was going to do?

Shortly after eleven Carl came in and threw himself wearily into a
chair. For a few minutes neither boy said anything; they stared into the
fire and frowned. Finally Ca