Chapter 35

THEPASSINGOFEFFORT—THEVISAGEOFCARE

Thenestmorninghelookedoverthepapersandwadedthroughalonglistofadvertisements,makingafewnotes.Thenheturnedtothemale-help-wantedcolumn,butwithdisagreeablefeelings.Thedaywasbeforehim—alongdayinwhichtodiscoversomething—andthiswashowhemustbegintodiscover.Hescannedthelongcolumn,whichmostlyconcernedbakers,bushelmen,cooks,compositors,drivers,andthelike,findingtwothingsonlywhicharrestedhiseye.Onewasacashierwantedinawholesalefurniturehouse,andtheotherasalesmanforawhiskeyhouse.Hehadneverthoughtofthelatter.Atoncehedecidedtolookthatup.

ThefirminquestionwasAlsbery&Co.,whiskeybrokers.

Hewasadmittedalmostatoncetothemanageronhisappearance.

「Good-morning,sir,」saidthelatter,thinkingatfirstthathewasencounteringoneofhisout-of-towncustomers.

「Good-morning,」saidHurstwood.「Youadvertised,Ibelieve,forasalesman.」

「Oh,」saidtheman,showingplainlytheenlightenmentwhichhadcometohim.「Yes.Yes,Idid.」

「IthoughtI』ddropin,」saidHurstwood,withdignity.「I』vehadsomeexperienceinthatline

myself.」

「Oh,haveyou.」saidtheman.「Whatexperiencehaveyouhad.」

「Well,I』vemanagedseveralliquorhousesinmytime.RecentlyIownedathird-interestinasaloonatWarrenandHudsonstreets.」

「Isee,」saidtheman.

Hurstwoodceased,waitingforsomesuggestion.

「Wedidwantasalesman,」saidtheman.「Idon』tknowasit』sanythingyou』dcaretotakeholdof,though.」

「Isee,」saidHurstwood.「Well,I』minnopositiontochoose,justatpresent.Ifitwereopen,Ishouldbegladtogetit.」

Themandidnottakekindlyatalltohis「Nopositiontochoose.」Hewantedsomeonewhowasn』tthinkingofachoiceorsomethingbetter.Especiallynotanoldman.Hewantedsomeoneyoung,active,andgladtoworkactivelyforamoderatesum.Hurstwooddidnotpleasehimatall.Hehadmoreofanairthanhisemployers.

「Well,」hesaidinanswer,「we』dbegladtoconsideryourapplication.Weshan』tdecideforafewdaysyet.Supposeyousendusyourreferences.」

「Iwill,」saidHurstwood.

Henoddedgood-morningandcameaway.Atthecornerhelookedatthefurniturecompany』saddress,andsawthatitwasinWestTwenty-thirdStreet.Accordingly,hewentupthere.Theplacewasnotlargeenough,however.Itlookedmoderate,themeninitidleandsmallsalaried.Hewalkedby,glancingin,andthendecidednottogointhere.

「Theywantagirl,probably,attenaweek,」hesaid.

Atoneo』clockhethoughtofeating,andwenttoarestaurantinMadisonSquare.Thereheponderedoverplaceswhichhemightlookup.Hewastired.Itwasblowingupgrayagain.Acrosstheway,throughMadisonSquarePark,stoodthegreathotels,looking

downuponabusyscene.Hedecidedtogoovertothelobbyofoneandsitawhile.Itwaswarminthereandbright.HehadseennooneheknewattheBroadwayCentral.Inalllikelihoodhewouldencounternoonehere.FindingaseatononeoftheredplushdivansclosetothegreatwindowswhichlookoutonBroadway』sbusyrout,hesatmusing.Hisstatedidnotseemsobadinhere.Sittingstillandlookingout,hecouldtakesomeslightconsolationinthefewhundreddollarshehadinhispurse.Hecouldforget,inameasure,thewearinessofthestreetandhistiresomesearches.Still,itwasonlyescapefromaseveretoalessseverestate.Hewasstillgloomyanddisheartened.There,minutesseemedtogoveryslowly.Anhourwasalong,longtimeinpassing.Itwasfilledforhimwithobservationsandmentalcommentsconcerningtheactualguestsofthehotel,whopassedinandout,andthosemoreprosperouspedestrianswhosegoodfortuneshowedintheirclothesandspiritsastheypassedalongBroadway,outside.Itwasnearlythefirsttimesincehehadarrivedinthecitythathisleisureaffordedhimampleopportunitytocontemplatethisspectacle.Now,being,perforce,idlehimself,hewonderedattheactivityofothers.Howgayweretheyouthshesaw,howprettythewomen.Suchfineclothestheyallwore.Theyweresointentupongettingsomewhere.Hesawcoquettishglancescastbymagnificentgirls.Ah,themoneyitrequiredtotrainwithsuch—howwellheknew!Howlongithadbeensincehehadhadtheopportunitytodoso!

Theclockoutsideregisteredfour.Itwasalittleearly,buthethoughthewouldgobacktotheflat.

ThisgoingbacktotheflatwascoupledwiththethoughtthatCarriewouldthinkhewassittingaroundtoomuchifhecamehomeearly.Hehopedhewouldn』thaveto,butthedayhungheavilyonhishands.Overtherehewasonhisownground.Hecouldsitinhisrocking-chairandread.Thisbusy,distracting,suggestivescenewasshutout.Hecouldreadhispapers.Accordingly,hewenthome.Carriewasreading,quitealone.Itwasratherdarkintheflat,shutinasitwas.

「You』llhurtyoureyes,」hesaidwhenhesawher.

Aftertakingoffhiscoat,hefeltitincumbentuponhimtomakesomelittlereportofhisday.

「I』vebeentalkingwithawholesaleliquorcompany,」hesaid.「Imaygoontheroad.」

「Wouldn』tthatbenice!」saidCarrie.「Itwouldn』tbesuchabadthing,」heanswered.

Alwaysfromthemanatthecornernowheboughttwopapers—the「EveningWorld」and「EveningSun.」Sonowhemerelypickedhispapersup,ashecameby,withoutstopping.

Hedrewuphischairneartheradiatorandlightedthegas.Thenitwasastheeveningbefore.Hisdifficultiesvanishedintheitemshesowelllovedtoread.

Thenextdaywasevenworsethantheonebefore,becausenowhecouldnotthinkofwheretogo.Nothinghesawinthepapershestudied—tillteno』clock—appealedtohim.Hefeltthatheoughttogoout,andyethesickenedatthethought.Whereto,whereto.

「Youmustn』tforgettoleavememymoneyforthisweek,」saidCarrie,quietly.

Theyhadanarrangementbywhichheplacedtwelvedollarsaweekinherhands,outofwhichtopaycurrentexpenses.Heheavedalittlesighasshesaidthis,anddrewouthispurse.Againhefeltthedreadofthething.Herehewastakingoff,takingoff,andnothingcomingin.

「Lord!」hesaid,inhisownthoughts,「thiscan』tgoon.」

ToCarriehesaidnothingwhatsoever.Shecouldfeelthatherrequestdisturbedhim.Topayherwouldsoon

becomeadistressingthing.

「Yet,whathaveIgottodowithit.」shethought.「Oh,whyshouldIbemadetoworry.」

HurstwoodwentoutandmadeforBroadway.Hewantedtothinkupsomeplace.Beforelong,though,hereachedtheGrandHotelatThirty-firstStreet.Heknewofitscomfortablelobby.Hewascoldafterhistwentyblocks』walk.

「I』llgointheirbarbershopandgetashave,」hethought.

Thushejustifiedhimselfinsittingdowninhereafterhistonsorialtreatment.

Again,timehangingheavilyonhishands,hewenthomeearly,andthiscontinuedforseveraldays,eachdaytheneedtohuntpaininghim,andeachdaydisgust,depression,shamefacednessdrivinghimintolobbyidleness.

Atlastthreedayscameinwhichastormprevailed,andhedidnotgooutatall.Thesnowbegantofalllateoneafternoon.Itwasaregularflurryoflarge,soft,whiteflakes.Inthemorningitwasstillcomingdownwithahighwind,andthepapersannouncedablizzard.Fromoutthefrontwindowsonecouldseeadeep,softbedding.

「IguessI』llnottrytogooutto-day,」hesaidtoCarrieatbreakfast.「It』sgoingtobeawfulbad,sothepaperssay.」

「Themanhasn』tbroughtmycoal,either,」saidCarrie,whoorderedbythebushel.

「I』llgooverandseeaboutit,」saidHurstwood.Thiswasthefirsttimehehadeversuggesteddoinganerrand,but,somehow,thewishtositaboutthehouseprompteditasasortofcompensationfortheprivilege.

Alldayandallnightitsnowed,andthecitybegantosufferfromageneralblockadeoftraffic.Greatattentionwasgiventothedetailsofthestormbythenewspapers,whichplayedupthedistressofthepoorinlargetype.

Hurstwoodsatandreadbyhisradiatorinthecorner.Hedidnottrytothinkabouthisneedofwork.Thisstormbeingsoterrific,andtyingupallthings,robbedhimoftheneed.Hemadehimselfwhollycomfortableandtoastedhisfeet.

Carrieobservedhiseasewithsomemisgiving.Forallthefuryofthestormshedoubtedhiscomfort.Hetookhissituationtoophilosophically.

Hurstwood,however,readonandon.HedidnotpaymuchattentiontoCarrie.Shefulfilledherhouseholddutiesandsaidlittletodisturbhim.

Thenextdayitwasstillsnowing,andthenext,bittercold.Hurstwoodtookthealarmofthepaperandsatstill.Nowhevolunteeredtodoafewotherlittlethings.Onewastogotothebutcher,anothertothegrocery.Hereallythoughtnothingoftheselittleservicesinconnectionwiththeirtruesignificance.Hefeltasifhewerenotwhollyuseless—indeed,insuchastressofweather,quiteworthwhileaboutthehouse.

Onthefourthday,however,itcleared,andhereadthatthestormwasover.Now,however,heidled,thinkinghowsloppythestreetswouldbe.

Itwasnoonbeforehefinallyabandonedhispapersandgotunderway.Owingtotheslightlywarmertemperaturethestreetswerebad.HewentacrossFourteenthStreetonthecarandgotatransfersouthonBroadway.Onelittleadvertisementhehad,relatingtoasaloondowninPearlStreet.WhenhereachedtheBroadwayCentral,however,hechangedhismind.

「What』stheuse.」hethought,lookingoutupontheslopandsnow.「Icouldn』tbuyintoit.It』sathousandtoonenothingcomesofit.IguessI』llgetoff,」andoffhegot.Inthelobbyhetookaseatandwaitedagain,wonderingwhathecoulddo.

Whilehewasidlypondering,satisfiedtobeinside,awelldressedmanpassedupthelobby,stopped,lookedsharply,asifnotsureofhismemory,andthenapproached.HurstwoodrecognizedCargill,theownerofthelargestablesinChicagoofthesamename,whomhehadlastseenatAveryHall,thenightCarrieappearedthere.Theremembranceofhowthisindividualbroughtuphiswifetoshakehandsonthatoccasionwasalsoontheinstantclear.

Hurstwoodwasgreatlyabashed.Hiseyesexpressedthedifficultyhefelt.

「Why,it』sHurstwood!」saidCargill,rememberingnow,andsorrythathehadnotrecognizedhimquicklyenoughinthebeginningtohaveavoidedthismeeting.

「Yes,」saidHurstwood.「Howareyou.」

「Verywell,」saidCargill,troubledforsomethingtotalkabout.「Stoppinghere.」

「No,」saidHurstwood,「justkeepinganappointment.」「IknewyouhadleftChicago.Iwaswonderingwhathadbecomeofyou.」「Oh,I』mherenow,」answeredHurstwood,anxioustogetaway.

「Doingwell,Isuppose.」

「Excellent.」

「Gladtohearit.」

Theylookedatoneanother,ratherembarrassed.

「Well,Ihaveanengagementwithafriendupstairs.I』llleaveyou.Solong.」

Hurstwoodnoddedhishead.

「Damnitall,」hemurmured,turningtowardthedoor.「Iknewthatwouldhappen.」

Hewalkedseveralblocksupthestreet.Hiswatchonlyregistered

1.30.Hetriedtothinkofsomeplacetogoorsomethingtodo.Thedaywassobadhewantedonlytobeinside.Finallyhisfeetbegantofeelwetandcold,andheboardedacar.ThistookhimtoFifty-ninthStreet,whichwasasgoodasanywhereelse.Landedhere,heturnedtowalkbackalongSeventhAvenue,buttheslushwastoomuch.Themiseryofloungingaboutwithnowheretogobecameintolerable.Hefeltasifhewerecatchingcold.Stoppingatacorner,hewaitedforacarsouthbound.Thiswasnodaytobeout;hewouldgohome.

Carriewassurprisedtoseehimataquarterofthree.

「It』samiserabledayout,」wasallhesaid.Thenhetookoffhiscoatandchangedhisshoes.Thatnighthefeltacoldcomingonandtookquinine.Hewasfeverishuntilmorning,andsataboutthenextdaywhileCarriewaitedonhim.Hewasahelplesscreatureinsickness,notveryhandsomeinadull-coloredbathgownandhishairuncombed.Helookedhaggardabouttheeyesandquiteold.Carrienoticedthis,anditdidnotappealtoher.Shewantedtobegood-naturedandsympathetic,butsomethingaboutthemanheldheraloof.

Towardeveninghelookedsobadlyintheweaklightthatshesuggestedhegotobed.

「You』dbettersleepalone,」shesaid,「you』llfeelbetter.I』llopenyourbedforyounow.」

「Allright,」hesaid.

Asshedidallthesethings,shewasinamostdespondentstate.

「Whatalife!Whatalife!」washeronethought.

Onceduringtheday,whenhesatneartheradiator,hunchedupandreading,shepassedthrough,andseeinghim,wrinkledherbrows.Inthefrontroom,whereitwasnotsowarm,shesatbythewindowandcried.Thiswasthelifecutoutforher,wasit.Tolivecoopedupinasmallflatwithsomeonewhowasoutofwork,idle,andindifferenttoher.Shewasmerelyaservanttohimnow,nothingmore.

Thiscryingmadehereyesred,andwhen,inpreparinghisbed,shelightedthegas,and,havingpreparedit,calledhimin,henoticedthefact.

「What』sthematterwithyou.」heasked,lookingintoherface.Hisvoicewashoarseandhisunkemptheadonlyaddedtoitsgruesomequality.

「Nothing,」saidCarrie,weakly.

「You』vebeencrying,」hesaid.

「Ihaven』t,either,」sheanswered.

Itwasnotforloveofhim,thatheknew.

「Youneedn』tcry,」hesaid,gettingintobed.「Thingswillcomeoutallright.」

Inadayortwohewasupagain,butroughweatherholding,hestayedin.TheItaliannewsdealernowdeliveredthemorningpapers,andthesehereadassiduously.Afewtimesafterthatheventuredout,butmeetinganotherofhisold-timefriends,hebegantofeeluneasysittingabouthotelcorridors.

Everydayhecamehomeearly,andatlastmadenopretenceofgoinganywhere.Winterwasnotimetolookforanything.

Naturally,beingaboutthehouse,henoticedthewayCarriedidthings.Shewasfarfromperfectinhouseholdmethodsandeconomy,andherlittledeviationsonthisscorefirstcaughthiseye.Not,however,beforeherregulardemandforherallowancebecameagrievousthing.Sittingaroundashedid,theweeksseemedtopassveryquickly.EveryTuesdayCarrieaskedforhermoney.

「Doyouthinkweliveascheaplyaswemight.」heaskedoneTuesdaymorning.

「IdothebestIcan,」saidCarrie.

Nothingwasaddedtothisatthemoment,butthenextdayhesaid:

「DoyouevergototheGansevoortMarketoverhere.」

「Ididn』tknowtherewassuchamarket,」saidCarrie.

「Theysayyoucangetthingslotscheaperthere.」

Carriewasveryindifferenttothesuggestion.Thesewerethingswhichshedidnotlikeatall.

「Howmuchdoyoupayforapoundofmeat.」heaskedoneday.

「Oh,therearedifferentprices,」saidCarrie.「Sirloinsteakistwenty-twocents.」

「That』ssteep,isn』tit.」heanswered.

Soheaskedaboutotherthings,untilfinally,with

thepassingdays,itseemedtobecomeamaniawithhim.Helearnedthepricesandrememberedthem.Hiserrand-runningcapacityalsoimproved.Itbeganinasmallway,ofcourse.Carrie,goingtogetherhatonemorning,wasstoppedbyhim.

「Whereareyougoing,Carrie.」heasked.

「Overtothebaker』s,」sheanswered.

「I』djustasleavegoforyou,」hesaid.

Sheacquiesced,andhewent.Eachafternoonhewouldgotothecornerforthepapers.

「Isthereanythingyouwant.」hewouldsay.

Bydegreesshebegantousehim.Doingthis,however,shelosttheweeklypaymentoftwelvedollars.

「Youwanttopaymeto-day,」shesaidoneTuesday,aboutthistime.

「Howmuch.」heasked.

Sheunderstoodwellenoughwhatitmeant.

「Well,aboutfivedollars,」sheanswered.「Iowethecoalman.」

Thesamedayhesaid:

「IthinkthisItalianuphereonthecornersellscoalattwenty-fivecentsabushel.I』lltradewithhim.」

Carrieheardthiswithindifference.

「Allright,」shesaid.

Thenitcametobe:

「George,Imusthavesomecoalto-day,」or,「Youmustgetsomemeatofsomekindfordinner.」

Hewouldfindoutwhatsheneededandorder.

Accompanyingthisplancameskimpiness.

「Ionlygotahalf-poundofsteak,」hesaid,cominginoneafternoonwithhispapers.「Weneverseemtoeatverymuch.」

ThesemiserabledetailsatetheheartoutofCarrie.Theyblackenedherdaysandgrievedhersoul.Oh,howthismanhadchanged!Alldayandallday,herehesat,readinghispapers.Theworldseemedtohavenoattraction.Onceinawhilehewouldgoout,infineweather,itmightbefourorfivehours,betweenelevenandfour.Shecoulddonothingbutviewhimwithgnawingcontempt.

ItwasapathywithHurstwood,resultingfromhisinabilitytoseehiswayout.Eachmonthdrewfromhissmallstore.Now,hehadonlyfivehundreddollarsleft,andthishehugged,halffeelingasifhecouldstaveoffabsolutenecessityforanindefiniteperiod.Sittingaroundthehouse,hedecidedtowearsomeoldclotheshehad.Thiscamefirstwiththebaddays.Onlyonceheapologizedintheverybeginning:

「It』ssobadto-day,I』lljustwearthesearound.」Eventuallythesebecamethepermanentthing.

Also,hehadbeenwonttopayfifteencentsforashave,andatipoftencents.Inhisfirstdistress,hecutdownthetiptofive,thentonothing.Later,hetriedaten-centbarbershop,and,findingthattheshavewassatisfactory,patronizedregularly.Laterstill,heputoffshavingtoeveryotherday,thentoeverythird,andsoon,untilonceaweekbecametherule.OnSaturdayhewasasighttosee.

Ofcourse,ashisownself-respectvanished,itperishedforhiminCarrie.Shecouldnotunderstandwhathadgottenintotheman.Hehadsomemoney,hehadadecentsuitremaining,hewasnotbadlookingwhendressedup.ShedidnotforgetherowndifficultstruggleinChicago,butshedidnotforgeteitherthatshehadneverceasedtrying.Henevertried.Hedidnotevenconsulttheadsinthepapersanymore.

Finally,adistinctimpressionescapedfromher.

「Whatmakesyouputsomuchbutteronthesteak.」heaskedheroneevening,standingaroundinthekitchen.

「Tomakeitgood,ofcourse,」sheanswered.

「Butterisawfuldearthesedays,」hesuggested.

「Youwouldn』tminditifyouwereworking,」sheanswered.

Heshutupafterthis,andwentintohispaper,but

theretortrankledinhismind.Itwasthefirstcuttingremarkthathadcomefromher.

Thatsameevening,Carrie,afterreading,wentofftothefrontroomtobed.Thiswasunusual.WhenHurstwooddecidedtogo,heretired,asusual,withoutalight.ItwasthenthathediscoveredCarrie』sabsence.

「That』sfunny,」hesaid;「maybeshe』ssittingup.」

Hegavethematternomorethought,butslept.Inthemorningshewasnotbesidehim.Strangetosay,thispassedwithoutcomment.

Nightapproaching,andaslightlymoreconversationalfeelingprevailing,Carriesaid:

「IthinkI』llsleepaloneto-night.Ihaveaheadache.」

「Allright,」saidHurstwood.

Thethirdnightshewenttoherfrontbedwithoutapologies.

ThiswasagrimblowtoHurstwood,buthenevermentionedit.

「Allright,」hesaidtohimself,withanirrepressiblefrown,「lethersleepalone.」