Sister Carrie 5 страница

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better if she had not secured a position so quickly, and had seen more

of the city which she constantly troubled to know about.

On the first morning it rained she found that she no umbrella. Minnie

loaned her one of hers, which was worn and faded. There was the kind of

vanity in Carrie that troubled at this. She went to one of the great

department stores and bought herself one, using a dollar and a quarter

of her small store to pay for it.

" What did you do that for, Carrie? " asked Minnie, when she saw it.

" Oh, I need one, " said Carrie.

" You foolish girl. "

Carrie resented this, though she did not reply. She was not going to

be a common shop-girl, she though; they need not think it, either.

One the first Saturday night Carrie paid her board, four dollars.

Minnie had a quaver of conscience as she took it, but did not know how

to explain to Hanson if she took less. That worthy gave up just four

dollar less toward the household expenses with a smile of satisfaction.

He contemplated increasing his Building and Loan payments. As for

Carrie, she studied over the problem of finding clothes and amusement

on fifty cents a week. She brooded over this until she was in a state

of mental rebellion.

" I'm going up the street for a walk, " she said after supper.

" Not alone, are you? asked Hanson.

" Yes, " returned Carrie.

" I wouldn't, " said Minnie.

" I want to see something, " said Carrie, and by the tone she put into

the last word they realized for the first time she was not pleased with

them.

" What's the matter with her? " asked Hanson, when she went into the

front room to get her hat.

" I don't know, " said Minnie.

" Well, she ought to know better than to want to go out alone. "

Carrie did not go very far, after all. She returned and stood in the

door. The next day they went out to Garfield Park, but it did not

please her. She did not look well enough. In the shop next day she

heard the highly colored reports which girls give of their trivial

amusements. They had been happy. On several days it rained and she used

up car fare. One night she got thoroughly that evening she sat alone in

the front room looking out upon the street, where the lights were

reflected on the wet pavements, thinking. She had imagination enough to

be moody.

On Saturday she paid another four dollars and pocketed her fifty cents

in despair. The speaking acquaintanceship which she formed with some of

the girls at the shop discovered to her the fact that they had more of

their earnings to use for themselves than she did. They had young men

of the kind whom she, since her experience with Drouet, felt above, who

took them about. She came to thoroughly dislike the light-headed young

fellows of the shop. Not one of them had a show of refinement. She saw

only their workday side.

There came a day when the first premonitory blast of winter swept over

the city. It scudded the fleecy clouds in the heavens, trailed long,

thin streamers of smoke from the tall stacks, and raced about the

streets and corners in sharp and sudden puffs. Carrie now felt the

problem of winter clothes. What was she to do? She had no winter

jacket, no hat, no shoes. It was difficult to speak to Minnie about

this, but at last she summoned the courage.

" I don't know what I'm going to do about clothes, " she said one

evening when they were together. " I need a hat. "

Minnie looked serious.

" Why don't you keep part of your money and buy yourself one? " she

suggested, worried over the situation which the withholding of Carrie's

money would create.

" I'd like to for a week or so, if you don't mind, " ventured Carrie.

" Could you pay two dollars? " asked Minnie.

Carrie readily acquiesced, glad to escape the trying situation, and

liberal now that she saw a way out. She was elated and began figuring

at once. She needed a hat first of all. How Minnie explained to Hanson

she never knew. He said nothing at all, but there were thoughts in the

air which left disagreeable impressions.

The new arrangement might have worked if sickness had not intervened.

It blew up cold after a rain one afternoon when Carrie was still

without a jacket. She came out of the warm shop at six and shivered as

the wind struck her. In the morning she was sneezing, and going down

town made it worse. That day her bones ached and she felt light-headed.

Towards evening she felt very ill, and when she reached home was not

hungry. Minnie noticed her drooping actions and asked her about

herself.

" I don't know, " said Carrie. " I feel real bad. "

She hung about the stove, suffered a chattering chill, and went to bed

sick. The next morning she was thoroughly feverish.

Minnie was truly distressed at this, but maintained a kindly demeanor.

Hanson said perhaps she had better go back home for a while. When she

got up after three days, it was taken for granted that her position was

lost. The winter was near at hand, she had no clothes, and now she was

out of work.

" I don't know, " said Carrie; " I'll go down Monday and see if I can't

get something. "

If anything, her efforts were more poorly rewarded on this trail than

the last. Her clothes were nothing suitable for fall wearing. Her last

money she had spent for a hat. For three days she wandered about,

utterly dispirited. The attitude of the flat was fast becoming

unbearable. She hated to think of going back there each evening. Hanson

was so cold. She knew it could not last much longer. Shortly she would

have to give up and go home.

On the fourth day she was down town all day, having borrowed ten cents

for lunch from Minnie. She had applied in the cheapest kind of places

without success. She even answered for a waitress in a small restaurant

where she saw a card in the window, but they wanted an experienced

girl. She moved through the thick throng of strangers, utterly subdued

in spirit. Suddenly a hand pulled her arm and turned her about.

" Well, well! " said a voice. In the first glance she beheld Drouet. He

was not only rosy-cheeked, but radiant. He was the essence of sunshine

and good-humor.

" Why, how are you, Carrie? " he said. " You're a daisy

Where have been? "

Carrie smiled under his irresistible flood of geniality.

" I've been out home, " she said.

" Well, " he said, " I saw you across the street there. I thought it was

you. I was just coming out to your place.

How are you, anywhere? "

" I'm all right, " said Carrie, smiling.

Drouet looked her over and saw something different.

" Well, " he said, " I want to talk to you. You're not going anywhere in

particular, are you? "

" Not just now, " said Carrie.

" Let's go up here and have something to eat. George! but I'm glad to

see you again. "

She felt so relieved in his radiant presence, so much though with the

slightest air of holding back.

" Well, " he said, as he took her arm-and there was an exuberance of

good-fellowship in the word which fairly warmed the cockles of her

heart.

They went through Monroe Street to the old Windson dining-room, which

was then a large, comfortable place with an excellent cuisine and

substantial service. Drouet selected a table close by the window, where

the busy route of the street could be seen. He loved the changing

panorama of the street-to see and be seen as he dined.

" Now, " he said, getting Carrie and himself comfortably settled, " what

will you have? "

Carrie looked over the large bill of fare which the waiter handed her

without really considering it. She was very hungry, and the things she

saw there awakened her desires, but the high prices held her attention.

" Half broiled spring chicken-seventy-five. Sirloin steak with

mushrooms-one twenty-five. " She had dimly heard of these things, but

it seemed strange to be called to order from the list.

" I'll fix this, " exclaimed Drouet. " Sst! waiter. "

That officer of the board, a full-chested, round-faced negro,

approached, and inclined his ear.

" Sirloin with mushrooms, " said Drouet. " Stuffed tomatoes. "

" Yassah, " assented the negro, nodding his head.

" Hashed brown potatoes. "

" Yassah. "

" Asparagus. "

" Yassah. "

" And a pot of coffee. "

Drouet turned to Carrie. " I haven't had a thing since breakfast. Just

got in from Rock Island. I was going off to dine when I saw you. "

Carrie smiled and smiled.

" What have you been doing? " he went on. " Tell me all about yourself.

How is your sister? "

" She's well, " returned Carrie, answering the last query.

He looked at her hard.

" Say, " he said, " you haven't been sick, have you? "

Carrie nodded.

" Well, now that's a blooming shame, isn't it? You don't look very

well. I thought you looked a little pale.

What have you been doing? "

" Working, " said Carrie.

" You don't say so! At what? "

She told him.

" Rhodes, Morgenthua and Scott-why I know that house. Over here on

Fifth Avenue, isn't it? They're a close-fisted concern. What made you

go there? "

" I couldn't get anything else, " said Carrie frankly.

" Well, that's an outrage, " said Drouet. " You oughtn't to be working

for those people. Have the factory right back of the store, don't

they? "

" Yes, " said Carrie.

" That isn't a good house, " said Drouet. " You don't want to work at

anything like that, anyhow. "

He chattered on at a great rate, asking questions, explaining things

about himself, telling her what a good restaurant it was, until the

waiter returned with an immense tray, bearing the hot savory dished

which had been ordered. Drouet fairly shone in the matter of serving.

He appeared to great advantage behind the white napery and silver

platters of the table and displaying his arms with a knife and fork. As

he cut the meat his rings almost spoke. His new suit creaked as he

stretched to helped Carrie to a rousing plateful and contributed the

warmth of his spirit to her body until she was a new girl. He was a

splendid fellow in the true popular understanding of the term, and

captivated Carrie completely.

That little soldier of fortune took her good turn in an easy way. She

felt a little out of place, but the great room soothed her and the view

of the well-dressed throng outside seemed a splendid thing. Ah, what

was it not to have money! What a thing it was to be able to come in

here and dine! Drouet must be fortunate. He rod on trains, dressed in

such nice clothes, was so strong, and ate in these fine places. He

seemed quite a figure of a man, and she wondered at his friendship and

regard for her.

" So you lost your place because you got sick, eh? " he said. " What are

you going to do now? "

" Look around, " she said, a thought of the need that hung outside this

fine restaurant like a hungry dog at her wheels passing into her eyes.

" Oh, no, " said Drouet, " that won't do. How long have you been

looking? "

" Four days, " she answered.

" Think of that! " he said, addressing some problematical individual. "

You oughtn't to be doing anything like that. These girls, " and he waved

an inclusion of all shop and factory girls, " don't get anything. Why,

you can't live on it, can you? "

He was a brotherly sort of creature in his demeanor. When he had

scouted the idea of that kind of toil, he took another tack. Carrie was

really very pretty. Even then in her commonplace garb, her figure was

evidently not bad, and her eyes were large and gentle. Drouet looked at

her and his thoughts reached home. She felt his admiration. It was

powerfully backed by his liberality and good-humor. She felt that she

liked him-that she could continue to like him ever so much. There was

something even richer than that, running as a hidden strain, in her

mind. Every little while her eyes would meet his, and by that means the

interchanging current of feeling would be fully connected.

" Why don't you stay down town and go to the theatre with me? " he said,

hitching his chair closer. The table was not very wide.

" Oh, I can't, " she said.

" What are you going to do to-night? "

" Nothing, " she answered, a little drearily.

" You don't like out there where you are, do you? "

" Oh I don't know. "

" What are you going to do if you don't get work? "

" Go back home, I guess. "

There was least quaver in her voice as she said this. Somehow, the

influence he was exerting was powerful. They came to an understanding

of each other without words-he of her situation. she of the fact that

he realized it.

" No, " he said, " you can't make it! " genuine sympathy filling his mind

for the time. " Let me help you. You take some of my money"

" Oh, no! she said, leaning back.

" What are you going to do? " he said.

She sat meditating, merely shaking her head.

He looked at her quite tenderly for his kind. There were some loose

bills in his vest pocket-greenbacks They were soft and noiseless, and

he got his fingers about them and crumpled them up in his hand.

" Carrie on, " he said, " I'll see you through all right. Get yourself

some clothes. "

It was the first reference he had made to that subject, and now she

realized how bad off she was. In his crude way he had struck the key-

note. Her lips trembled a little.

She had her hand out on the table before her. They were quite alone in

their corner, and he put his larger, warmer hand over it.

" Aw, come, Carrie, " he said, " what can you do alone? Let me help

you. "

He pressed her hand gently and she tried to withdraw it. At this he

held it fast, and she no longer protested. Then he slipped the

greenbacks he had into her palm, and when she began to protest, he

whispered:

" I'll loan to you-that's all right. I'll loan it to you. "

He made her take it. She felt bound to him by a strange tie of

affection now. They went out, and he walked with her take it. She felt

bound to him by a walked with her far out south toward Polk Street,

talking.

" You don't want to live with those people? " he said in one place,

abstractedly. Carrie heard it, but it made only a slight impression.

" Could down and meet me to-morrow, " he said, " and we'll go to the

matinee. Will you?

Carrie protested a while, but acquiesced.

" You're not doing anything. Get yourself a nice pair of shoes and a

jacket. "

She scarcely gave a though to the complication which would trouble her

when he was gone. In his presence, she was of his own hopeful, easy-

way-out mood.

" Don't you bother about those people out there, " he said at parting. "

I'll help you. "

Carrie left him, feeling as though a great arm had slipped out before

her to draw off trouble. The money she had accepted was two soft,

green, handsome ten dollar bills.

Chapter VII

THE LURE OF THE MATERIAL: BEAUTY SPEAKS FORITSELF

The true meaning of money yet remains to be popularly explained and

comprehended. When each individual realizes for himself that this thing

primarily stands for and should only be accepted as a moral due-that it

should be paid out as honestly stored energy, and not as a usurped

privilege-many of our social, religious, and political troubles will

have permanently passed. As for Carrie, her understanding of the moral

significance of money was the popular understanding, nothing more. The

old definition: " Money: something everybody else has had and I must

get, " would have expressed her understanding of it thoroughly. Some of

it she now held in her hand-two soft, green ten-dollar bills-and she

felt that she was immensely better off for the having of them. It was

something that was power in itself. One of her order of mind would have

been content to be cast away upon a desire island with a bundle of

money, and only the long strain of starvation would have taught her

that in some cases it could have no value. Even then she would have had

no conception of the relative value of the thing; her one thought

would, undoubtedly, have concerned the pity of having so much power and

the inability to use it.

The poor girl thrilled as she walked away from Drouet. She felt ashamed

in part because she had been weak enough to take it, but her need was

so dire, she was still glad. Now she would have a nice jacket! Now she

would buy a nice pair button shoes. She would get stockings too, and

skirts, and, and-until already, as in matter of her desires, twice the

purchasing power of her bills. She conceived a true estimate of Drouet.

To her, and indeed to all the world, he was a nice, good-hearted, as in

the matter of her prospective salary, she had got beyond, in her

desires, twice the purchasing power of her bills.

She conceived a true estimate of Drouet. To her, and indeed to all the

world, he was a nice, good-hearted man. There was nothing evil in the

fellow. He gave her the want. He would not have given the same amount

to a poor young man, but we must not forget that a poor young man could

not, in the nature of things, have appealed to him like a poor young

girl. Femininity affected his feelings. He was the creature of an

inborn desire. Yet no beggar could have caught his eye and said, " My

God, mister, I'm starving, " but he would gladly have handed out what

was considered the proper portion to give beggars and though no more

about it. There would have been no speculation, no philosophizing. He

had no mental process in him worthy the dignity of either of those

terms. In his good clothes and fine health, he was a merry, unthinking

moth of the lamp. Deprived of his position, and struck by a few of the

involved and baffling forces which sometimes play upon man, he would

have been as helpless as Carrie-as helpless, as nonunderstanding, as

pitiable, if you will, as she.

Now, in regard to his pursuit of women, he meant them no harm, because

he did not conceive of the relation which he hoped to hold with them as

being harmful. He loved to make advances to women, to have them succumb

to his charms, not because his inborn desire urged him to that as a

chief delight. He was vain, he was boastful, he was as deluded by fine

clothes as any silly-headed girl. As truly deep-dyed villain could have

hornswaggled him as readily as he could have flattered a pretty shop-

girl. His fine success as a salesman lay in his geniality and the

thoroughly reputable standing of his house. He bobbed about among men,

a veritable bundle of enthusiasm-no power worthy the name of intellect,

no thoughts worthy the adjectives noble, no feelings long continued in

one strain. A Madame Sappho would have called him a pig; a Shakespeare

would have said " my merry child; " old, drinking Caryoe thought him a

clever, successful business man. In short, he was as good as his

intellect conceived.

The best proof that there was something open and commendable about the

man was the fact that Carrie took the money. No deep, sinister soul

with ulterior motives could have given her fifteen cents under the

guise of friendship. The unintellectual are not so helpless. Nature has

taught the beasts of the field to fly when some, unheralded danger

threatens. She has put into the small, unwise head of the chipmunk the

untutored dear of poisons. " He keepeth His creatures whole, " was not

written of beasts alone. Carrie was unwise, and, therefore, like the

sheep in its unwisdom, strong in feeling. The instinct of self-

protection, strong in all such natures, was roused but feebly, if at

all, by the overtures of Drouet.

When Carrie had gone, he felicitated himself upon her good opinion. By

George, it was shame young girls had to be knocked around like that.

Cold weather coming on and no clothes. Tough. He would go around to

Fitzgerald and Moy's and get a cigar. It made him feel light of foot as

he thought about her.

Carrie reached home in high good spirits, which she could scarcely

conceal. The possession of the money involved a number of points which

perplexed her seriously. He should she buy any clothes when Minnie knew

that she had no money? She had no sooner entered the flat than this

point was settled for her. It could not be done. She could think of no

way of explaining.

" How did you come out? " asked Minnie, referring to the day.

Carrie had none of the small deception which could feel one thing and

say something directly opposed. She would prevaricate, but it would be

in the line of her feelings, at least. So instead of complaining when

she felt so good, she said:

" I have the promise of something. "

" Where? "

" At the Boston Store. "

" Is it sure promised? " questioned Minnie.

" Well, I'm to find out to-morrow, " returned Carrie disliked to draw

out a lie any longer than was necessary.

Minnie felt the atmosphere of good feeling which Carrie brought with

her. She felt now was the time to express to Carrie the state of

Hanson's feeling about her entire Chicago venture.

" If you shouldn't get it-" she paused, troubled for an easy way.

" If I don't get something pretty soon, I think I'll go home. "

Minnie saw her chance.

" Sven thinks it might be best for the winter, anyhow. "

The situation flashed on Carrie at once. They were unwilling to keep

her any longer, out of work. She did not blame Minnie, she did not

blame Hanson very much. Now, as she sat there digesting the remark, she

was glad she had Drouet's money.

" Yes, " she said after a few moments, " I thought of doing that. "

She did not explain that the though, however, had aroused all the

antagonism of her nature. Columbia City, what was there for her? She

knew its dull little round by heart. Here was the great, mysterious

city which was still a magnet for her. What she had seen only suggested

its possibilities. Now to turn back on it and live the little old life

out there-she almost exclaimed against the thought.

She had reached home early and went in the front room to think. What

could she do? She could not buy new shoes and wear them here. She would

need to save part of the twenty to pay her fare home. She did not want

to borrow of Minnie for that. And yet how could she explain where she

even got that money? If she could only get enough to let her out easy.

She went over the tangle again and again. Here, in the morning, Drouet

would expect to see her in a new jacket, and that couldn't be. The

Hansons expected her to go home, and she wanted to get away, and yet

she did not want to go home. In the light of the way they would look on

her getting money without work, the taking of it now seemed dreadful.

She began to be ashamed. The whole situation depressed her. It was all

so clear when she was with Drouet. Now it was all so tangled, so

hopeless-much worse than it was before, because she had the semblance

of aid in her hand which she could not use.

Her spirits sank so that at supper Minnie felt that she must have had

another hard day. Carrie finally decided that she would give the money

back. It was wrong to take it. She would go down in the morning and

hunt for work. At noon she would meet Drouet as agreed and tell him. At

this decision her heart sank, until she was the old Carrie of

distress.

Curiously, she could not hold the money in her hand without feeling

some relief. Even after all her depressing conclusions, she could sweep

away all thought about the matter and then the twenty dollars seemed a

wonderful and delightful thing. Ah, money, money, money! What a thing

it was to have. How plenty of it would clear away all these troubles.

In the morning she got up and started out a little early. Her decision

to hunt for work was moderately strong, but the money in her pocket,

after all her troubling over it, made the work question the least shade

less terrible. She walked into the wholesale district, but as the

thought of applying came with each passing concern, her heart shrank.

What a coward she was, she thought to herself. Yet she had applied so

often. It would be the same old story. She walked on and on, and

finally did go into one place, with the old result. She came out

feeling that luck was against her. It was no use.

Without much thinking, she reached Dearborn Street. Here was the great

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