_Burl._ Gone in town to trip in the mazy. _Rand._ The habitual dude! Oh, of course, the first Harvard Assembly comes off to-night. If it was not for this rehearsal I would go in and do the butterfly myself. What would hire you to go there, Charlie? _Burl._ Give me back that ten dollars and I will go. _Rand._ I don't believe you would; but I'd give you the ten dollars if I could be there to see you. _Burl._ Well, if it will please you to know it, I _am_ going in. _Rand._ What! You going to a party! What has happened? _Burl._ [_with dignity_]. Nothing. It is a duty that I owe to myself and society. If a man never goes to balls he will never know how to behave in a ballroom. _Rand._ [_with derisive laughter_]. That is pretty good from you. Steve has evidently been giving you a lecture. Come now, Ned, choke that off and tell me honestly what is up. _Burl._ Nothing, I tell you. If a man shuns all polite society, he will become an unmitigated boor. _Rand._ If you don't drop that second-hand stuff of Hudson's, and tell me who the girl is, by Jove, I'll tell every man in college about it, and it shall be a very amusing story before I get through with it, I promise you. _Burl._ Well, you see--er--Steve's mother is going to be there and he wants me to meet her. _Rand._ Oho! That is it, is it? Steve's _mother_ is going to be there. Ha-ha-ha, that is pretty weak, old fox. I suppose, of course, there is no chance of _Miss_ Hudson being there too. Well, if she is half as pretty as her photograph, I don't blame you for going in. Egad, though, Ned, I would like to see you talking to her. _Burl._ I have no doubt you would, sweet me child, but you won't. That is just where the best point of this funny joke comes in. While I am talking to Miss Hudson, you will be out here, at the rehearsal, getting sworn at. "Go over that chorus again." "Randolph, you're out of step." _Rand._ Damn the rehearsal. Never mind, Miss Hudson will probably be on here for some time, and I shall get another chance of meeting her. When I do, I will make a particular point of cutting you out. You won't be in it, even if you are her brother's chum. _Burl._ [_getting up_]. You are talking too much. Come now, run along. I have got to dress. _Rand._ I wish I had time to watch you do it. I don't believe you have put on a claw-hammer coat since you've been up here, except for club dinners. _Burl._ Oh, go round to your rehearsal. You will be late. _Rand._ [_going to hall door_]. If it doesn't begin on time, I'll come back here and help you untangle your neck-tie. Don't make yourself too pretty. Leave me some chance with Miss H. [_Exit._] _Burl._ Jack is too fresh to-night. Come, pup. [_Picks up Topsy and exits into bedroom._] [_Enter a certain Prof. Shreedy (unattached to the University.) He softly closes door after him, and knocks on inside_]. _Burl._ [_from bedroom_]. Come in. _Shreedy_ [_aside_]. I will. [_Calls_] Is Mr. Hudson in, I dunno?