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they know have high standards and high ideals. Now, to my way of thinking, it's only logical to want to date that kind of guy."
    "But," the girl persisted, "may we date an independent if we find that his standards are high and —" She stopped and wrung her hands and blurted out finally, "My boy friend is an independent. He can't af-afford a fraternity."
    Jane said, "I'll talk to you after the meeting. We'll have a chat about it, O.K.?"
    "Wait a minute," Robin said, getting up and resting her hand on the large oak table before her. "I think this is pretty silly. You mean to tell me we have to ask you before we can date an independent?"
    There was a stir among the gathering and Jane Bell rapped for order. "You can go out with independents if you want —on weekdays. Week ends, we'd prefer you to be with fraternity men."
    "What a laugh!" Robin exclaimed. "You're serious!"
    Anger swept through the Texan's whole body and settled in her eyes, black as night. "That's a demerit for you, Robin Maurer," she thundered, "and it'll be wise for you to learn how to talk to an active member of Tri Epsilon."
    Robin turned and walked from the room after she said, "Hooray for the team spirit we've all got! Three big cheers for our team spirit!"
    It was difficult for Jane to continue. She uttered a few remarks about hours on week ends, and special permission for out-of-town week ends. Then she assigned the pledge lesson (learn the first three songs in the songbook, and the names of the official alumnae officers) and dismissed the group.
    * * *
    "Here you are," Leda said, pulling Mitch aside as she came from the Pledge Room. "I've been looking for you. How about my fixing you up tonight with a date? Not Bud Roberts, spare your soul, but someone else."
    They walked toward the stairs while Mitch explained that Marsha had advised her to take a blind date.
    "Marsha!" Leda cried. "She's from hunger, honey. No kidding. You can do what you want as long as he's a fraternity boy. Never mind Kitten's blind dates. Look, I'm sorry Roberts was such a mess. I never should have left you, kid. Tonight it'll be different."
    "I think I'd better do what Marsha asked. All the other pledges are. You know —I don't want to be an exception."
    Leda put her arm around Mitch. "I understand, honey," she said. "I shouldn't have suggested it Let's go upstairs and catch thirty winks before dinner."
    Robin Maurer was waiting outside Marsha's door on the second floor when Mitch and Leda passed by.
    "I'm going in for my fifty lashes," she said to Mitch. "Care to join me?"
    Mitch grinned. She liked Robin. She admired the way Robin spoke up and said what she thought What Mitch thought too.
    "That kid's a little too cocky," Leda commented. "She'd better tone down if she wants to keep those ribbons."
    "What happens when you get a demerit?"
    "Oh, you get some horrible duty like taking Nessy to a movie on a Sunday afternoon. Sometimes to church too." Leda sighed. "Nessy is a peach, really, but who wants to cart her around?"
    When they reached the room, Leda flopped down and kicked off her loafers. "Say, honey," she said, "is everything going O. K. with you? I mean, I don't want you to be a stranger around here too much longer."
    "I don't feel like one," Mitch said. "Sometimes I just don't catch on right away."
    "You don't say much, that's why I wondered. When you want to unload, just open up, Mitch. That's what I'm here for."
    Mitch kicked her shoes off and stretched out on the bed. "I used to talk a lot in boarding school. College is different. The girls are more grown up, and I'm not used to talking about dates and boys and stuff."
    "You'll get used to it… Your mother is dead, isn't she, Mitch?"
    "Yes. When I was real young."
    Watching the girl lie there, Leda had an odd feeling, like that of a protector who must guard an object carefully, less to keep it from harm than to keep it as a possession. The word "mother" floated around there somewhere and Leda could not catch it and