Chapter 37

THESPIRITAWAKENS—NEWSEARCHFORTHEGATE

Itwouldbeuselesstoexplainhowinduetimethelastfiftydollarswasinsight.Thesevenhundred,byhisprocessofhandling,hadonlycarriedthemintoJune.Beforethefinalhundredmarkwasreachedhebegantoindicatethatacalamitywasapproaching.

「Idon』tknow,」hesaidoneday,takingatrivialexpenditureformeatasatext,「itseemstotakeanawfullotforustolive.」

「Itdoesn』tseemtome,」saidCarrie,「thatwespendverymuch.」

「Mymoneyisnearlygone,」hesaid,「andIhardlyknowwhereit』sgoneto.」

「Allthatsevenhundreddollars.」askedCarrie.

「Allbutahundred.」

Helookedsodisconsolatethatitscaredher.Shebegantoseethatsheherselfhadbeendrifting.Shehadfeltitallthetime.

「Well,George,」sheexclaimed,「whydon』tyougetoutandlookforsomething.Youcouldfindsomething.」

「Ihavelooked,」hesaid.「Youcantmakepeoplegiveyouaplace.」

Shegazedweaklyathimandsaid:「Well,whatdoyouthinkyouwilldo.Ahundreddollarswon』tlastlong.」

「Idon』tknow,」hesaid.「Ican』tdoanymorethanlook.」

Carriebecamefrightenedoverthisannouncement.Shethoughtdesperatelyuponthesubject.Frequentlyshehadconsideredthestageasadoorthroughwhichshemightenterthatgildedstatewhichshehadsomuchcraved.Now,asinChicago,itcameasalastresourceindistress.Somethingmustbedoneifhedidnotgetworksoon.Perhapsshewouldhavetogooutandbattleagainalone.

Shebegantowonderhowonewouldgoaboutgettingaplace.HerexperienceinChicagoprovedthatshehadnottriedtherightway.Theremustbepeoplewhowouldlistentoandtryyou—menwhowouldgiveyouanopportunity.

Theyweretalkingatthebreakfasttable,amorningortwolater,whenshebroughtupthedramaticsubjectbysayingthatshesawthatSarahBernhardtwascomingtothiscountry.Hurstwoodhadseenit,too.

「Howdopeoplegetonthestage,George.」shefinallyasked,innocently.

「Idon』tknow,」hesaid.「Theremustbedramaticagents.」

Carriewassippingcoffee,anddidnotlookup.

「Regularpeoplewhogetyouaplace.」

「Yes,Ithinkso,」heanswered.

Suddenlytheairwithwhichsheaskedattractedhisattention.

「You』renotstillthinkingaboutbeinganactress,areyou.」heasked.

「No,」sheanswered,「Iwasjustwondering.」

Withoutbeingclear,therewassomethinginthethoughtwhichheobjectedto.Hedidnotbelieveanymore,afterthreeyearsofobservation,thatCarriewouldeverdoanythinggreatinthatline.Sheseemedtoosimple,tooyielding.Hisideaoftheartwasthatitinvolvedsomethingmorepompous.Ifshetriedtogetonthestageshewouldfallintothehandsofsomecheapmanagerandbecomeliketherestofthem.Hehadagoodideaofwhathemeantbythem.Carriewas

pretty.Shewouldgetalongallright,butwherewouldhebe.

「I』dgetthatideaoutofmyhead,ifIwereyou.It』salotmoredifficultthanyouthink.」

Carriefeltthistocontain,insomeway,anaspersionuponherability.

「YousaidIdidrealwellinChicago,」sherejoined.

「Youdid,」heanswered,seeingthathewasarousingopposition,「butChicagoisn』tNewYork,byabigjump.」

Carriedidnotanswerthisatall.Ithurther.

「Thestage,」hewenton,「isallrightifyoucanbeoneofthebigguns,butthere』snothingtotherestofit.Ittakesalongwhiletogetup.」

「Oh,Idon』tknow,」saidCarrie,slightlyaroused.

Inaflash,hethoughtheforesawtheresultofthisthing.Now,whentheworstofhissituationwasapproaching,shewouldgetonthestageinsomecheapwayandforsakehim.Strangely,hehadnotconceivedwellofhermentalability.Thatwasbecausehedidnotunderstandthenatureofemotionalgreatness.Hehadneverlearnedthatapersonmightbeemotionally—insteadofintellectually—great.AveryHallwastoofarawayforhimtolookbackandsharplyremember.Hehadlivedwiththiswomantoolong.

「Well,Ido,」heanswered.「IfIwereyouIwouldn』tthinkofit.It』snotmuchofaprofessionforawoman.」

「It』sbetterthangoinghungry,」saidCarrie.「Ifyoudon』twantmetodothat,whydon』tyougetworkyourself.」

Therewasnoanswerreadyforthis.Hehadgotusedtothesuggestion.

「Oh,letup,」heanswered.

Theresultofthiswasthatshesecretlyresolvedtotry.Itdidn』tmatterabouthim.Shewasnotgoingtobedraggedintopovertyandsomethingworsetosuithim.Shecouldact.Shecouldgetsomethingandthenworkup.Whatwouldhesaythen.ShepicturedherselfalreadyappearinginsomefineperformanceonBroadway;ofgoingeveryeveningtoherdressing-roomandmakingup.Thenshewouldcomeoutateleveno』clockandseethecarriagesrangedabout,waitingforthepeople.Itdidnotmatterwhethershewasthestarornot.Ifshewereonlyoncein,gettingadecentsalary,wearingthekindofclothessheliked,havingthemoneytodowith,goinghereandthereasshepleased,howdelightfulitwouldallbe.Hermindranoverthispictureallthedaylong.Hurstwood』sdrearystatemadeitsbeautybecomemoreandmorevivid.

CuriouslythisideasoontookholdofHurstwood.Hisvanishingsumsuggestedthathewouldneedsustenance.WhycouldnotCarrieassisthimalittleuntilhecouldgetsomething.

Hecameinonedaywithsomethingofthisideainhismind.

「ImetJohnB.Draketo-day,」hesaid.「He』sgoingtoopenahotelhereinthefall.Hesaysthathecanmakeaplaceformethen.」

「Whoishe.」askedCarrie.

「He』sthemanthatrunstheGrandPacificinChicago.」

「Oh,」saidCarrie.

「I』dgetaboutfourteenhundredayearoutofthat.」

「Thatwouldbegood,wouldn』tit.」shesaid,sympathetically.

「IfIcanonlygetoverthissummer,」headded,「IthinkI』llbeallright.I』mhearingfromsomeofmyfriendsagain.」

Carrieswallowedthisstoryinallitspristinebeauty.Shesincerelywishedhecouldgetthroughthesummer.Helookedsohopeless.

「Howmuchmoneyhaveyouleft.」

「Onlyfiftydollars.」

「Oh,mercy,」sheexclaimed,「whatwillwedo.It』sonlytwentydaysuntiltherentwillbedueagain.」

Hurstwoodrestedhisheadonhishandsandlookedblanklyatthefloor.

「Maybeyoucouldgetsomethinginthestageline.」heblandlysuggested.

「MaybeIcould,」saidCarrie,gladthatsomeoneapprovedoftheidea.

「I』lllaymyhandtowhateverIcanget,」hesaid,nowthathesawherbrightenup.「Icangetsomething.」

Shecleanedupthethingsonemorningafterhehadgone,dressedasneatlyasherwardrobepermitted,andsetoutforBroadway.Shedidnotknowthatthoroughfareverywell.Toheritwasawonderfulconglomerationofeverythinggreatandmighty.Thetheatreswerethere—theseagenciesmustbesomewhereabout.

ShedecidedtostopinattheMadisonSquareTheatreandaskhowtofindthetheatricalagents.Thisseemedthesensibleway.Accordingly,whenshereachedthattheatresheappliedtotheclerkattheboxoffice.

「Eh.」hesaid,lookingout.「Dramaticagents.Idon』tknow.You』llfindtheminthe『Clipper,』though.Theyalladvertiseinthat.」

「Isthatapaper.」saidCarrie.

「Yes,」saidtheclerk,marvelingatsuchignoranceofacommonfact.「Youcangetitatthenews-stands,」headdedpolitely,seeinghowprettytheinquirerwas.

Carrieproceededtogetthe「Clipper,」andtriedtofindtheagentsbylookingoveritasshestoodbesidethestand.Thiscouldnotbedonesoeasily.ThirteenthStreetwasanumberofblocksoff,butshewentback,carryingthepreciouspaperandregrettingthewasteoftime.

Hurstwoodwasalreadythere,sittinginhisplace.

「Wherewereyou.」heasked.

「I』vebeentryingtofindsomedramaticagents.」

Hefeltalittlediffidentaboutaskingconcerning

hersuccess.Thepapershebegantoscanattractedhisattention.

「Whathaveyougotthere.」heasked.

「The『Clipper.』ThemansaidI』dfindtheiraddressesinhere.」

「HaveyoubeenallthewayovertoBroadwaytofindthatout.Icouldhavetoldyou.」

「Whydidn』tyou.」sheasked,withoutlookingup.

「Youneveraskedme,」hereturned.

Shewenthuntingaimlesslythroughthecrowdedcolumns.Hermindwasdistractedbythisman』sindifference.Thedifficultyofthesituationshewasfacingwasonlyaddedtobyallhedid.Selfcommiserationbrewedinherheart.Tearstrembledalonghereyelidsbutdidnotfall.Hurstwoodnoticedsomething.

「Letmelook.」

Torecoverherselfshewentintothefrontroomwhilehesearched.Presentlyshereturned.Hehadapencil,andwaswritinguponanenvelope.

「Here』rethree,」hesaid.

CarrietookitandfoundthatonewasMrs.Bermudez,anotherMarcusJenks,athirdPercyWeil.Shepausedonlyamoment,andthenmovedtowardthedoor.

「Imightaswellgorightaway,」shesaid,withoutlookingback.

Hurstwoodsawherdepartwithsomefaintstirringsofshame,whichweretheexpressionofamanhoodrapidlybecomingstultified.Hesatawhile,andthenitbecametoomuch.Hegotupandputonhishat.

「IguessI』llgoout,」hesaidtohimself,andwent,strollingnowhereinparticular,butfeelingsomehowthathemustgo.

Carrie』sfirstcallwasuponMrs.Bermudez,whoseaddresswasquitethenearest.Itwasanold-fashionedresidenceturnedintooffices.Mrs.Bermudez』sofficesconsistedofwhatformerlyhadbeenabackchamber

andahallbedroom,marked「Private.」

AsCarrieenteredshenoticedseveralpersonsloungingabout-men,whosaidnothinganddidnothing.

Whileshewaswaitingtobenoticed,thedoorofthehallbedroomopenedandfromitissuedtwoverymannish-lookingwomen,verytightlydressed,andwearingwhitecollarsandcuffs.Afterthemcameaportlyladyofaboutforty-five,light-haired,sharp-eyed,andevidentlygood-natured.Atleastshewassmiling.

「Now,don』tforgetaboutthat,」saidoneofthemannishwomen.

「Iwon』t,」saidtheportlywoman.「Let』ssee,」sheadded,「whereareyouthefirstweekinFebruary.」「Pittsburgh,」saidthewoman.

「I』llwriteyouthere.」

「Allright,」saidtheother,andthetwopassedout.

Instantlytheportlylady』sfacebecameexceedinglysoberandshrewd.SheturnedaboutandfixedonCarrieaverysearchingeye.

「Well,」shesaid,「youngwoman,whatcanIdoforyou.」

「AreyouMrs.Bermudez.」

「Yes.」

「Well,」saidCarrie,hesitatinghowtobegin,「doyougetplacesforpersonsuponthestage.」

「Yes.」

「Couldyougetmeone.」

「Haveyoueverhadanyexperience.」

「Averylittle,」saidCarrie.

「Whomdidyouplaywith.」

「Oh,withnoone,」saidCarrie.「Itwasjustashowgotten—」

「Oh,Isee,」saidthewoman,interruptingher.「No,Idon』tknowofanythingnow.」

Carrie』scountenancefell.

「YouwanttogetsomeNewYorkexperience,」

concludedtheaffableMrs.Bermudez.「We』lltakeyourname,though.」

Carriestoodlookingwhiletheladyretiredtoheroffice.

「Whatisyouraddress.」inquiredayoungladybehindthecounter,takingupthecurtailedconversation.

「Mrs.GeorgeWheeler,」saidCarrie,movingovertowhereshewaswriting.Thewomanwroteheraddressinfullandthenallowedhertodepartatherleisure.

SheencounteredaverysimilarexperienceintheofficeofMr.Jenks,onlyhevarieditbysayingattheclose:「Ifyoucouldplayatsomelocalhouse,orhadaprogramwithyournameonit,Imightdosomething.」

Inthethirdplacetheindividualasked:

「Whatsortofworkdoyouwanttodo.」

「Whatdoyoumean.」saidCarrie.

「Well,doyouwanttogetinacomedyoronthevaudevilleorinthechorus.」

「Oh,I』dliketogetapartinaplay,」saidCarrie.

「Well,」saidtheman,「it』llcostyousomethingtodothat.」「Howmuch.」saidCarrie,who,ridiculousasitmayseem,hadnotthoughtofthisbefore.

「Well,that』sforyoutosay,」heansweredshrewdly.

Carrielookedathimcuriously.Shehardlyknewhowtocontinuetheinquiry.

「CouldyougetmeapartifIpaid.」

「Ifwedidn』tyou』dgetyourmoneyback.」

「Oh,」shesaid.

Theagentsawhewasdealingwithaninexperiencedsoul,andcontinuedaccordingly.

「You』dwanttodepositfiftydollars,anyway.Noagentwouldtroubleaboutyouforlessthanthat.」

Carriesawalight.

「Thankyou,」shesaid.「I』llthinkaboutit.」

Shestartedtogo,andthenbethoughtherself.

「HowsoonwouldIgetaplace.」sheasked.

「Well,that』shardtosay,」saidtheman.「Youmight

getoneinaweek,oritmightbeamonth.You』dgetthefirstthingthatwethoughtyoucoulddo.」

「Isee,」saidCarrie,andthen,half-smilingtobeagreeable,shewalkedout.

Theagentstudiedamoment,andthensaidtohimself:

「It』sfunnyhowanxiousthesewomenaretogetonthestage.」

Carriefoundamplefoodforreflectioninthefifty-dollarproposition.「Maybethey』dtakemymoneyandnotgivemeanything,」shethought.Shehadsomejewelry—adiamondringandpinandseveralotherpieces.Shecouldgetfiftydollarsforthoseifshewenttoapawnbroker.

Hurstwoodwashomebeforeher.Hehadnotthoughtshewouldbesolongseeking.

「Well.」hesaid,notventuringtoaskwhatnews.

「Ididn』tfindoutanythingto-day,」saidCarrie,takingoffhergloves.「Theyallwantmoneytogetyouaplace.」

「Howmuch.」askedHurstwood.

「Fiftydollars.」

「Theydon』twantanything,dothey.」

「Oh,they』relikeeverybodyelse.Youcan』ttellwhetherthey』devergetyouanythingafteryoudidpaythem.」

「Well,Iwouldn』tputupfiftyonthatbasis,」saidHurstwood,asifheweredeciding,moneyinhand.

「Idon』tknow,」saidCarrie.「IthinkI』lltrysomeofthemanagers.」

Hurstwoodheardthis,deadtothehorrorofit.Herockedalittletoandfro,andchewedathisfinger.Itseemedallverynaturalinsuchextremestates.Hewoulddobetterlateron.