Sister Carrie 22 страница

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days looking up these and finding them disagreeable. He did, however,

gain considerable knowledge by talking, for he discovered the influence

of Tammany Hall and the value of standing in with the police. The most

profitable and flourishing places he found to be those which conducted

anything but a legitimate business, such as that controlled by

Fitzgerald and Moy. Elegant back rooms and private drinking booths on

the second floor were usually adjuncts of very profitable places. He

saw by portly keepers, whose shirt fronts shone with large diamonds,

and whose clothes were properly cut, that the liquor business here, as

elsewhere, yielded the same golden profit. At last he found an

individual who had a resort in Warren Street, and susceptible of

improvement. The owner claimed the business to be excellent, and it

certainly looked so.

" We deal with a very good class of people, " he told Hurstwood.

" Merchants, salesmen, and professionals. It's a well-dressed class.

No bums. We don't allow 'em in the place. "

Hurstwood listened to the cash-register ring, and watched the trade for

a while.

" It's profitable enough for two, is it? " he asked.

" You can see for yourself if you're any judge of the liquor trade, "

said the owner. " This is only one of the two places I have. The other

is down in Nassau Street. I can't tend to them both alone. If I had

some one who knew the business thoroughly I wouldn't mind sharing with

him in this one and letting him manage it. "

" I've had experience enough, " said Hurstwood blandly, but he felt a

little diffident about referring to Fitzgerald and Moy.

" Well, you can suit yourself, Mr. Wheeler, " said the proprietor.

He only offered a third interest in the stock, fixtures, and good-will,

and this in return for a thousand dollars and managerial ability on the

part of the one who should come in. There was no property involved,

because the owner of the saloon merely rented from an estate.

The offer was genuine enough, but it was a question with Hurstwood

whether a third interest in that locality could be made to yield one

hundred and fifty dollars a month, which he figured he must have in

order to meet the ordinary family expenses and be comfortable. It was

not the time, however, after many failures to find what he wanted, to

hesitate. It looked as though a third would pay a hundred a month now.

By judicious management and improvement, it might be made to pay more.

Accordingly he agreed to enter into partnership, and made over his

thousand dollars, preparing to enter the next day.

His first inclination was to be elated, and he confided to Carrie that

he thought he had made an excellent arrangement. Time, however,

introduced food for reflection. He found his partner to be very

disagreeable. Frequently he was the worse for liquor, which made him

surly. This was the last thing which Hurstwood was used to in

business. Besides, the business varied. It was nothing like the class

of patronage which he had enjoyed in Chicago. He found that it would

take a long time to make friends. These people hurried in and out

without seeking the pleasures of friendship. It was no gathering or

lounging place. Whole days and weeks passed without one such hearty

greeting as he had been wont to enjoy every day in Chicago.

For another thing, Hurstwood missed the celebrities--those well

dressed, elite individuals who lend grace to the average bars and bring

news from far-off and exclusive circles. He did not see one such in a

month. Evenings, when still at his post, he would occasionally read in

the evening papers incidents concerning celebrities whom he knew--whom

he had drunk a glass with many a time. They would visit a bar like

Fitzgerald and Moy's in Chicago, or the Hoffman House, uptown, but he

knew that he would never see them down here. Again, the business did

not pay as well as he thought. It increased a little, but he found he

would have to watch his household expenses, which was humiliating.

In the very beginning it was a delight to go home late at night, as he

did, and find Carrie. He managed to run up and take dinner with her

between six and seven, and to remain home until nine o'clock in the

morning, but the novelty of this waned after a time, and he began to

feel the drag of his duties.

The first month had scarcely passed before Carrie said in a very

natural way: " I think I'll go down this week and buy a dress. '

" What kind? " said Hurstwood.

" Oh, something for street wear. "

" All right, " he answered, smiling, although he noted mentally that it

would be more agreeable to his finances if she didn't. Nothing was said

about it the next day, but the following morning he asked:

" Have you done anything about your dress? "

" Not yet, " said Carrie.

He paused a few moments, as if in thought, and then said:

" Would you mind putting it off a few days? "

" No, " replied Carrie, who did not catch the drift of his remarks. She

had never thought of him in connection with money troubles before.

" Why? "

" Well, I'll tell you, " said Hurstwood. " This investment of mine is

taking a lot of money just now. I expect to get it all back shortly,

but just at present I am running close. "

" Oh! " answered Carrie. " Why, certainly, dear. Why didn't you tell me

before? "

" It wasn't necessary, " said Hurstwood.

For all her acquiescence, there was something about the way Hurstwood

spoke which reminded Carrie of Drouet and his little deal which he was

always about to put through. It was only the thought of a second, but

it was a beginning. It was something new in her thinking of Hurstwood.

Other things followed from time to time, little things of the same

sort, which in their cumulative effect were eventually equal to a full

revelation. Carrie was not dull by any means. Two persons cannot long

dwell together without coming to an understanding of one another. The

mental difficulties of an individual reveal themselves whether he

voluntarily confesses them or not. Trouble gets in the air and

contributes gloom, which speaks for itself. Hurstwood dressed as

nicely as usual, but they were the same clothes he had in Canada.

Carrie noticed that he did not install a large wardrobe, though his own

was anything but large. She noticed, also, that he did not suggest

many amusements, said nothing about the food, seemed concerned about

his business. This was not the easy Hurstwood of Chicago-not the

liberal, opulent Hurstwood she had known. The change was too obvious

to escape detection.

In time she began to feel that a change had come about, and that she

was not in his confidence. He was evidently secretive and kept his own

counsel. She found herself asking him questions about little things.

This is a disagreeable state to a woman. Great love makes it seem

reasonable, sometimes plausible, but never satisfactory. Where great

love is not, a more definite and less satisfactory conclusion is

reached.

As for Hurstwood, he was making a great fight against the difficulties

of a changed condition. He was too shrewd not to realize the

tremendous mistake he had made, and appreciate that he had done well in

getting where he was, and yet he could not help contrasting his present

state with his former, hour after hour, and day after day.

Besides, he had the disagreeable fear of meeting old-time friends, ever

since one such encounter which he made shortly after his arrival in the

city. It was in Broadway that he saw a man approaching him whom he

knew. There was no time for simulating non-recognition. The exchange

of glances had been too sharp, the knowledge of each other too

apparent. So the friend, a buyer for one of the Chicago wholesale

houses, felt, perforce, the necessity of stopping.

" How are you? " he said, extending his hand with an evident mixture of

feeling and a lack of plausible interest.

" Very well, " said Hurstwood, equally embarrassed. " How is it with

you? "

" All right; I'm down here doing a little buying. Are you located here

now? "

" Yes, " said Hurstwood, " I have a place down in Warren Street. "

" Is that so? " said the friend. " Glad to hear it. I'll come down and

see you. "

" Do, " said Hurstwood.

" So long, " said the other, smiling affably and going on.

" He never asked for my number, " thought Hurstwood; " he wouldn't think

of coming. " He wiped his forehead, which had grown damp, and hoped

sincerely he would meet no one else.

These things told upon his good-nature, such as it was. His one hope

was that things would change for the better in a money way.

He had Carrie. His furniture was being paid for. He was maintaining

his position. As for Carrie, the amusements he could give her would

have to do for the present. He could probably keep up his pretensions

sufficiently long without exposure to make good, and then all would be

well. He failed therein to take account of the frailties of human

nature--the difficulties of matrimonial life. Carrie was young. With

him and with her varying mental states were common. At any moment the

extremes of feeling might be anti-polarized at the dinner table. This

often happens in the best regulated families. Little things brought

out on such occasions need great love to obliterate them afterward.

Where that is not, both parties count two and two and make a problem

after a while.

Chapter XXXI

A PET OF GOOD FORTUNE--BROADWAY FLAUNTS ITS JOYS

The effect of the city and his own situation on Hurstwood was

paralleled in the case of Carrie, who accepted the things which fortune

provided with the most genial good-nature. New York, despite her first

expression of disapproval, soon interested her exceedingly. Its clear

atmosphere, more populous thoroughfares, and peculiar indifference

struck her forcibly. She had never seen such a little flat as hers,

and yet it soon enlisted her affection. The new furniture made an

excellent showing, the sideboard which Hurstwood himself arranged

gleamed brightly. The furniture for each room was appropriate, and in

the so-called parlor, or front room, was installed a piano, because

Carrie said she would like to learn to play. She kept a servant and

developed rapidly in household tactics and information. For the first

time in her life she felt settled, and somewhat justified in the eyes

of society as she conceived of it. Her thoughts were merry and

innocent enough. For a long while she concerned herself over the

arrangement of New York flats, and wondered at ten families living in

one building and all remaining strange and indifferent to each other.

She also marveled at the whistles of the hundreds of vessels in the

harbor--the long, low cries of the Sound steamers and ferry-boats when

fog was on. The mere fact that these things spoke from the sea made

them wonderful. She looked much at what she could see of the Hudson

from her west windows and of the great city building up rapidly on

either hand. It was much to ponder over, and sufficed to entertain her

for more than a year without becoming stale.

For another thing, Hurstwood was exceedingly interesting in his

affection for her. Troubled as he was, he never exposed his

difficulties to her. He carried himself with the same self-important

air, took his new state with easy familiarity, and rejoiced in Carrie's

proclivities and successes. Each evening he arrived promptly to

dinner, and found the little dining-room a most inviting spectacle. In

a way, the smallness of the room added to its luxury. It looked full

and replete. The white covered table was arrayed with pretty dishes

and lighted with a four-armed candelabra, each light of which was

topped with a red shade. Between Carrie and the girl the steaks and

chops came out all right, and canned goods did the rest for a while.

Carrie studied the art of making biscuit, and soon reached the stage

where she could show a plate of light, palatable morsels for her labor.

In this manner the second, third, and fourth months passed. Winter

came, and with it a feeling that indoors was best, so that the

attending of theatres was not much talked of. Hurstwood made great

efforts to meet all expenditures without a show of feeling one way or

the other. He pretended that he was reinvesting his money in

strengthening the business for greater ends in the future. He

contented himself with a very moderate allowance of personal apparel,

and rarely suggested anything for Carrie. Thus the first winter

passed.

In the second year, the business which Hurstwood managed did increase

somewhat. He got out of it regularly the $150 per month which he had

anticipated. Unfortunately, by this time Carrie had reached certain

conclusions, and he had scraped up a few acquaintances.

Being of a passive and receptive rather than an active and aggressive

nature, Carrie accepted the situation. Her state seemed satisfactory

enough. Once in a while they would go to a theatre together,

occasionally in season to the beaches and different points about the

city, but they picked up no acquaintances. Hurstwood naturally

abandoned his show of fine manners with her and modified his attitude

to one of easy familiarity. There were no misunderstandings, no

apparent differences of opinion. In fact, without money or visiting

friends, he led a life which could neither arouse jealousy nor comment.

Carrie rather sympathized with his efforts and thought nothing upon her

lack of entertainment such as she had enjoyed in Chicago. New York as

a corporate entity and her flat temporarily seemed sufficient.

However, as Hurstwood's business increased, he, as stated, began to

pick up acquaintances. He also began to allow himself more clothes.

He convinced himself that his home life was very precious to him, but

allowed that he could occasionally stay away from dinner. The first

time he did this he sent a message saying that he would be detained.

Carrie ate alone, and wished that it might not happen again. The

second time, also, he sent word, but at the last moment. The third

time he forgot entirely and explained afterwards. These events were

months apart, each.

" Where were you, George? " asked Carrie, after the first absence.

" Tied up at the office, " he said genially. " There were some accounts I

had to straighten. "

" I'm sorry you couldn't get home, " she said kindly. " I was fixing to

have such a nice dinner. "

The second time he gave a similar excuse, but the third time the

feeling about it in Carrie's mind was a little bit out of the ordinary.

" I couldn't get home, " he said, when he came in later in the evening,

" I was so busy. "

" Couldn't you have sent me word? " asked Carrie.

" I meant to, " he said, " but you know I forgot it until it was too late

to do any good. "

" And I had such a good dinner! " said Carrie.

Now, it so happened that from his observations of Carrie he began to

imagine that she was of the thoroughly domestic type of mind. He really

thought, after a year, that her chief expression in life was finding

its natural channel in household duties. Notwithstanding the fact that

he had observed her act in Chicago, and that during the past year he

had only seen her limited in her relations to her flat and him by

conditions which he made, and that she had not gained any friends or

associates, he drew this peculiar conclusion. With it came a feeling

of satisfaction in having a wife who could thus be content, and this

satisfaction worked its natural result. That is, since he imagined he

saw her satisfied, he felt called upon to give only that which

contributed to such satisfaction. He supplied the furniture, the

decorations, the food, and the necessary clothing. Thoughts of

entertaining her, leading her out into the shine and show of life, grew

less and less. He felt attracted to the outer world, but did not think

she would care to go along. Once he went to the theatre alone.

Another time he joined a couple of his new friends at an evening game

of poker. Since his money-feathers were beginning to grow again he

felt like sprucing about. All this, however, in a much less imposing

way than had been his wont in Chicago. He avoided the gay places where

he would be apt to meet those who had known him. Now, Carrie began to

feel this in various sensory ways. She was not the kind to be

seriously disturbed by his actions. Not loving him greatly, she could

not be jealous in a disturbing way. In fact, she was not jealous at

all. Hurstwood was pleased with her placid manner, when he should have

duly considered it. When he did not come home it did not seem anything

like a terrible thing to her. She gave him credit for having the usual

allurements of men--people to talk to, places to stop, friends to

consult with. She was perfectly willing that he should enjoy himself

in his way, but she did not care to be neglected herself. Her state

still seemed fairly reasonable, however. All she did observe was that

Hurstwood was somewhat different.

Some time in the second year of their residence in Seventy-eighth

Street the flat across the hall from Carrie became vacant, and into it

moved a very handsome young woman and her husband, with both of whom

Carrie afterwards became acquainted. This was brought about solely by

the arrangement of the flats, which were united in one place, as it

were, by the dumb-waiter. This useful elevator, by which fuel,

groceries, and the like were sent up from the basement, and garbage and

waste sent down, was used by both residents of one floor; that is, a

small door opened into it from each flat.

If the occupants of both flats answered to the whistle of the janitor

at the same time, they would stand face to face when they opened the

dumb-waiter doors. One morning, when Carrie went to remove her paper,

the newcomer, a handsome brunette of perhaps twenty-three years of age,

was there for a like purpose. She was in a night-robe and dressing-

gown, with her hair very much tousled, but she looked so pretty and

good-natured that Carrie instantly conceived a liking for her. The

newcomer did no more than smile shamefacedly, but it was sufficient.

Carrie felt that she would like to know her, and a similar feeling

stirred in the mind of the other, who admired Carrie's innocent face.

" That's a real pretty woman who has moved in next door, " said Carrie to

Hurstwood at the breakfast table.

" Who are they? " asked Hurstwood.

" I don't know, " said Carrie. " The name on the bell is Vance. Some one

over there plays beautifully. I guess it must be she. "

" Well, you never can tell what sort of people you're living next to in

this town, can you? " said Hurstwood, expressing the customary New York

opinion about neighbors.

" Just think, " said Carrie, " I have been in this house with nine other

families for over a year and I don't know a soul. These people have

been here over a month and I haven't seen any one before this morning. "

" It's just as well, " said Hurstwood. 'You never know who you're going

to get in with. Some of these people are pretty bad company. "

" I expect so, " said Carrie, agreeably.

The conversation turned to other things, and Carrie thought no more

upon the subject until a day or two later, when, going out to market,

she encountered Mrs. Vance coming in. The latter recognized her and

nodded, for which Carrie returned a smile. This settled the probability

of acquaintanceship. If there had been no faint recognition on this

occasion, there would have been no future association.

Carrie saw no more of Mrs. Vance for several weeks, but she heard her

play through the thin walls which divided the front rooms of the flats,

and was pleased by the merry selection of pieces and the brilliance of

their rendition. She could play only moderately herself, and such

variety as Mrs. Vance exercised bordered, for Carrie, upon the verge of

great art. Everything she had seen and heard thus far--the merest

scraps and shadows-indicated that these people were, in a measure,

refined and in comfortable circumstances. So Carrie was ready for any

extension of the friendship which might follow.

One day Carrie's bell rang and the servant, who was in the kitchen,

pressed the button which caused the front door of the general entrance

on the ground floor to be electrically unlatched. When Carrie waited

at her own door on the third floor to see who it might be coming up to

call on her, Mrs. Vance appeared.

" I hope you'll excuse me, " she said. " I went out a while ago and

forgot my outside key, so I thought I'd ring your bell. "

This was a common trick of other residents of the building, whenever

they had forgotten their outside keys. They did not apologize for it,

however.

" Certainly, " said Carrie. " I'm glad you did. I do the same thing

sometimes. "

" Isn't it just delightful weather? " said Mrs. Vance, pausing for a

moment.

Thus, after a few more preliminaries, this visiting acquaintance was

well launched, and in the young Mrs. Vance Carrie found an agreeable

companion.

On several occasions Carrie visited her and was visited. Both flats

were good to look upon, though that of the Vances tended somewhat more

to the luxurious.

" I want you to come over this evening and meet my husband, " said Mrs.

Vance, not long after their intimacy began. " He wants to meet you.

You play cards, don't you? "

" A little, " said Carrie.

" Well, we'll have a game of cards. If your husband comes home bring

him over. "

" He's not coming to dinner to-night, " said Carrie.

" Well, when he does come we'll call him in. "

Carrie acquiesced, and that evening met the portly Vance, an individual

a few years younger than Hurstwood, and who owed his seemingly

comfortable matrimonial state much more to his money than to his good

looks. He thought well of Carrie upon the first glance and laid

himself out to be genial, teaching her a new game of cards and talking

to her about New York and its pleasures. Mrs. Vance played some upon

the piano, and at last Hurstwood came.

" I am very glad to meet you, " he said to Mrs. Vance when Carrie

introduced him, showing much of the old grace which had captivated

Carrie. " Did you think your wife had run away? " said Mr. Vance,

extending his hand upon introduction.

" I didn't know but what she might have found a better husband, " said

Hurstwood.

He now turned his attention to Mrs. Vance, and in a flash Carrie saw

again what she for some time had subconsciously missed in Hurstwood--

the adroitness and flattery of which he was capable. She also saw that

she was not well dressed--not nearly as well dressed--as Mrs. Vance.

These were not vague ideas any longer. Her situation was cleared up for

her. She felt that her life was becoming stale, and therein she felt

cause for gloom. The old helpful, urging melancholy was restored. The

desirous Carrie was whispered to concerning her possibilities.

There were no immediate results to this awakening, for Carrie had

little power of initiative; but, nevertheless, she seemed ever capable

of getting herself into the tide of change where she would be easily

borne along. Hurstwood noticed nothing. He had been unconscious of

the marked contrasts which Carrie had observed.

He did not even detect the shade of melancholy which settled in her

eyes. Worst of all, she now began to feel the loneliness of the flat

and seek the company of Mrs. Vance, who liked her exceedingly.

" Let's go to the matinee this afternoon, " said Mrs. Vance, who had

stepped across into Carrie's flat one morning, still arrayed in a soft

pink dressing-gown, which she had donned upon rising. Hurstwood and

Vance had gone their separate ways nearly an hour before.

" All right, " said Carrie, noticing the air of the petted and well-

groomed woman in Mrs. Vance's general appearance. She looked as though

she was dearly loved and her every wish gratified. " What shall we

see? "

" Oh, I do want to see Nat Goodwin, " said Mrs. Vance. " I do think he is

the jolliest actor. The papers say this is such a good play. "

" What time will we have to start? " asked Carrie.

" Let's go at once and walk down Broadway from Thirty-fourth Street, "

said Mrs. Vance. " It's such an interesting walk. He's at the Madison

Square. "

" I'll be glad to go, " said Carrie. " How much will we have to pay for

seats? "

" Not more than a dollar, " said Mrs. Vance.

The latter departed, and at one o'clock reappeared, stunningly arrayed

in a dark-blue walking dress, with a nobby hat to match. Carrie had

gotten herself up charmingly enough, but this woman pained her by

contrast. She seemed to have so many dainty little things which Carrie

had not. There were trinkets of gold, an elegant green leather purse

set with her initials, a fancy handkerchief, exceedingly rich in

design, and the like. Carrie felt that she needed more and better

clothes to compare with this woman, and that any one looking at the two

would pick Mrs. Vance for her raiment alone. It was a trying, though

rather unjust thought, for Carrie had now developed an equally pleasing

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