_Burl._ [_putting his head out of his bedroom_]. Hullo, is that you, Shreedy? No, Mr. Hudson is not in, and he won't take any sparring lesson to-night any way. _Shreedy_. Well, I just come to see him about a little matter of business, see? Maybe you might---- _Burl._ No I mightn't. There is not a dollar in the firm, Shreedy, anywhere. Hudson has gone in town. I can't give you a cent, and if you don't get out of here pretty quickly, I may have to borrow a car fare from you. Call again next week. Good evening, and get out. [_Slams door._] _Shr._ Ain't he getting pretty flip? The lippy dude! Maybe he thinks he can put me off that way. Hudson gone in town, ah, rats! What an old gag. I'll wait round awhile, 'cause I got to have that money to-night. I'll lay for him in this other room, that's what I'll do, and nab him when he comes in. [_Helps himself to two or three cigars and goes into Hudson's bedroom._] [_A soft knock on door, then enter Mrs. and Miss Hudson._] _Mrs. Hudson._ Well, this is strange, I should think Steve would have taken more care to meet us here. _Miss Hudson._ Perhaps he has just gone out for a minute. _Mrs. H._ He ought to have been on the lookout for the carriage, and not compelled us to come up here after waiting twenty minutes at the door. _Miss. H._ He may not have received your telegram. _Mrs. H._ And has gone in town to meet us there? Good gracious! I hope not. Well, we will wait a little while and see. But it is rather awkward for two ladies to be visiting a college room in the evening in this way, even if I am the mother of the occupant. _Miss H._ I think it is lots of fun. What a jolly room he has. I wish I were a boy. _Mrs. H._ Under the present circumstances, my dear, I wish so too. He _has_ arranged his room pretty well for a man. _Miss H._ Now, let us look at all his things. We will begin with the mantel-piece. [_They both turn toward mantel, backs to room._] [_Enter Burleigh from his bedroom in evening trousers, no coat or waistcoat, and four or five white cravats in his hand. Without seeing the visitors, he crosses the room to the looking-glass, which hangs on the wall opposite the fireplace, where the visitors are standing._] _Burl._ [_to himself_]. Now for the great agony. Oh, life is very short for this sort of thing. If Steve's family could only see me tying my cravat, they would realize what devotion--[_Suddenly sees women in the glass and starts._] Good Lord! [_Turns head slowly and looks at Mrs. and Miss H. whose backs are still turned._] Oh, what in Heaven's name shall I do? I can't get back to my room. Ha! the screen! [_Dives behind a tall screen near the glass._] _Miss H._ Look at all these pipes! And what a horrid smell of tobacco! _Mrs. H._ I see that Steve's chum, Mr. Burleigh, smokes. _Burl._ [_aside over screen_]. And Jack Randolph just made the horrid smell with one of Steve's weeds.