Marty had been scouting a little, and he answered:  “No, to both questions, I should say.  Some have come just to be coming, and others seem to be here for business.  But I saw Joe Carbrook just now, and if he is an Epworth Leaguer I am the Prince of Puget Sound.  You know how he stands at home.  Wonder what he came for.”

Just then Joe Carbrook himself came up.  He was from Delafield too, member of the same League chapter as the two chums, but he had rarely condescended to league affairs.  Having had two rather variegated years at college, he felt he must show his sophistication by holding himself above some of those simple old observances.

“S’pose you are here for solemn and serious work, you two,” he remarked mockingly, as he saw the boys.  “I just met Marcia Dayne, and she told me you were registering.  Well, I’m here too—­drove up in my car—­but you don’t catch me tying myself down to all that study stuff.  I’m looking for fun, not work.”

“Nothing new for you in that, Joe,” said Marty.  “But I should think you might try the study stuff, if only for a change, after you have spent good money on gas and tires.  And you have to pay for your meals, you know.”

“Well, I studied hard enough last month in college cramming for the final exams, so I could get within gunshot of enough sophomore credits, and I’m through; with study for a while.  If I find a few live ones in this crowd, I guess we can enjoy ourselves without interfering with any of you grinds, if you must study,” and Joe Carbrook went off in search of his live ones.

J.W. and Marty were in no hurry to register.  The crowd milling around in the office was interesting, and J.W. was still wondering how many of them, himself included, would get enough Institute long before the week was over.  Besides, it was yet an hour before supper.

“Think of it, Marty.  All these people come from Epworth Leagues just like ours, from Springfield, and Wolf Prairie and Madison and all over this part of the State.  What for, I’d like to know?  Will you look at those pennants?  Wish we had brought one or two of ours; we could add to the display, anyway.”

“I have two in my suitcase,” said Marty.  “We’ll have them out this evening at the introduction meeting.  And maybe you’ll find out ’what for’ by that time.”

The introduction meeting in the chapel after supper was for the most part informal.  Yells and songs and the waving of pennants punctuated the proceedings, as is quite the proper thing in an Epworth League gathering.  Some people, who see only what is on the surface, cannot wholly understand the exuberance of an Epworth League crowd.  But it has roots in something very real.

The dean of the Institute managed, amid the roystering and the intervals of attention, to set things up for the week.  A few regulations would need to be laid down; and these would be fixed, not by the faculty or by the dean, but by the Student Council.  Would each district group please get together at once, and select some one to represent the group on this council?