Chapter XIV

by Theodore Dreiser

　　WITH EYES AND NOT SEEING--ONE INFLUENCE WANESCarrie in her rooms that evening was in a fine glow, physicallyand mentally. She was deeply rejoicing in her affection forHurstwood and his love, and looked forward with fine fancy totheir next meeting Sunday night. They had agreed, without anyfeeling of enforced secrecy, that she should come down town andmeet him, though, after all, the need of it was the cause.Mrs. Hale, from her upper window, saw her come in."Um," she thought to herself, "she goes riding with another manwhen her husband is out of the city. He had better keep an eyeon her."The truth is that Mrs. Hale was not the only one who had athought on this score. The housemaid who had welcomed Hurstwoodhad her opinion also. She had no particular regard for Carrie,whom she took to be cold and disagreeable. At the same time, shehad a fancy for the merry and easy-mannered Drouet, who threw hera pleasant remark now and then, and in other ways extended herthe evidence of that regard which he had for all members of thesex. Hurstwood was more reserved and critical in his manner. Hedid not appeal to this bodiced functionary in the same pleasantway. She wondered that he came so frequently, that Mrs. Drouetshould go out with him this afternoon when Mr. Drouet was absent.She gave vent to her opinions in the kitchen where the cook was.As a result, a hum of gossip was set going which moved about thehouse in that secret manner common to gossip.Carrie, now that she had yielded sufficiently to Hurstwood toconfess her affection, no longer troubled about her attitudetowards him. Temporarily she gave little thought to Drouet,thinking only of the dignity and grace of her lover and of hisconsuming affection for her. On the first evening, she didlittle but go over the details of the afternoon. It was thefirst time her sympathies had ever been thoroughly aroused, andthey threw a new light on her character. She had some power ofinitiative, latent before, which now began to exert itself. Shelooked more practically upon her state and began to seeglimmerings of a way out. Hurstwood seemed a drag in thedirection of honour. Her feelings were exceedingly creditable,in that they constructed out of these recent developmentssomething which conquered freedom from dishonour. She had noidea what Hurstwood's next word would be. She only took hisaffection to be a fine thing, and appended better, more generousresults accordingly.As yet, Hurstwood had only a thought of pleasure withoutresponsibility. He did not feel that he was doing anything tocomplicate his life. His position was secure, his home-life, ifnot satisfactory, was at least undisturbed, his personal libertyrather untrammelled. Carrie's love represented only so muchadded pleasure. He would enjoy this new gift over and above hisordinary allowance of pleasure. He would be happy with her andhis own affairs would go on as they had, undisturbed.On Sunday evening Carrie dined with him at a place he hadselected in East Adams Street, and thereafter they took a cab towhat was then a pleasant evening resort out on Cottage GroveAvenue near 39th Street. In the process of his declaration hesoon realised that Carrie took his love upon a higher basis thanhe had anticipated. She kept him at a distance in a ratherearnest way, and submitted only to those tender tokens ofaffection which better become the inexperienced lover. Hurstwoodsaw that she was not to be possessed for the asking, and deferredpressing his suit too warmly.Since he feigned to believe in her married state he found that hehad to carry out the part. His triumph, he saw, was still at alittle distance. How far he could not guess.They were returning to Ogden Place in the cab, when he asked:"When will I see you again?""I don't know," she answered, wondering herself."Why not come down to The Fair," he suggested, "next Tuesday?"She shook her head."Not so soon," she answered."I'll tell you what I'll do," he added. "I'll write you, care ofthis West Side Post-office. Could you call next Tuesday?"Carrie assented.The cab stopped one door out of the way according to his call."Good-night," he whispered, as the cab rolled away.Unfortunately for the smooth progression of this affair, Drouetreturned. Hurstwood was sitting in his imposing little officethe next afternoon when he saw Drouet enter."Why, hello, Charles," he called affably; "back again?""Yes," smiled Drouet, approaching and looking in at the door.Hurstwood arose."Well," he said, looking the drummer over, "rosy as ever, eh?"They began talking of the people they knew and things that hadhappened."Been home yet?" finally asked Hurstwood."No, I am going, though," said Drouet."I remembered the little girl out there," said Hurstwood, "andcalled once. Thought you wouldn't want her left quite alone.""Right you are," agreed Drouet. "How is she?""Very well," said Hurstwood. "Rather anxious about you though.You'd better go out now and cheer her up.""I will," said Drouet, smilingly."Like to have you both come down and go to the show with meWednesday," concluded Hurstwood at parting."Thanks, old man," said his friend, "I'll see what the girl saysand let you know."They separated in the most cordial manner."There's a nice fellow," Drouet thought to himself as he turnedthe corner towards Madison."Drouet is a good fellow," Hurstwood thought to himself as hewent back into his office, "but he's no man for Carrie."The thought of the latter turned his mind into a most pleasantvein, and he wandered how he would get ahead of the drummer.When Drouet entered Carrie's presence, he caught her in his armsas usual, but she responded to his kiss with a tremour ofopposition."Well," he said, "I had a great trip.""Did you? How did you come out with that La Crosse man you weretelling me about?""Oh, fine; sold him a complete line. There was another fellowthere, representing Burnstein, a regular hook-nosed sheeny, buthe wasn't in it. I made him look like nothing at all."As he undid his collar and unfastened his studs, preparatory towashing his face and changing his clothes, he dilated upon histrip. Carrie could not help listening with amusement to hisanimated descriptions."I tell you," he said, "I surprised the people at the office.I've sold more goods this last quarter than any other man of ourhouse on the road. I sold three thousand dollars' worth in LaCrosse."He plunged his face in a basin of water, and puffed and blew ashe rubbed his neck and ears with his hands, while Carrie gazedupon him with mingled thoughts of recollection and presentjudgment. He was still wiping his face, when he continued:"I'm going to strike for a raise in June. They can afford to payit, as much business as I turn in. I'll get it too, don't youforget.""I hope you do," said Carrie."And then if that little real estate deal I've got on goesthrough, we'll get married," he said with a great show ofearnestness, the while he took his place before the mirror andbegan brushing his hair."I don't believe you ever intend to marry me, Charlie," Carriesaid ruefully. The recent protestations of Hurstwood had givenher courage to say this."Oh, yes I do--course I do--what put that into your head?"He had stopped his trifling before the mirror now and crossedover to her. For the first time Carrie felt as if she must moveaway from him."But you've been saying that so long," she said, looking with herpretty face upturned into his."Well, and I mean it too, but it takes money to live as I wantto. Now, when I get this increase, I can come pretty near fixingthings all right, and I'll do it. Now, don't you worry, girlie."He patted her reassuringly upon the shoulder, but Carrie felt howreally futile had been her hopes. She could clearly see thatthis easy-going soul intended no move in her behalf. He wassimply letting things drift because he preferred the free roundof his present state to any legal trammellings.In contrast, Hurstwood appeared strong and sincere. He had noeasy manner of putting her off. He sympathised with her andshowed her what her true value was. He needed her, while Drouetdid not care."Oh, no," she said remorsefully, her tone reflecting some of herown success and more of her helplessness, "you never will.""Well, you wait a little while and see," he concluded. "I'llmarry you all right."Carrie looked at him and felt justified. She was looking forsomething which would calm her conscience, and here it was, alight, airy disregard of her claims upon his justice. He hadfaithfully promised to marry her, and this was the way hefulfilled his promise."Say," he said, after he had, as he thought, pleasantly disposedof the marriage question, "I saw Hurstwood to-day, and he wantsus to go to the theatre with him."Carrie started at the name, but recovered quickly enough to avoidnotice."When?" she asked, with assumed indifference."Wednesday. We'll go, won't we?""If you think so," she answered, her manner being so enforcedlyreserved as to almost excite suspicion. Drouet noticed somethingbut he thought it was due to her feelings concerning their talkabout marriage."He called once, he said.""Yes," said Carrie, "he was out here Sunday evening.""Was he?" said Drouet. "I thought from what he said that he hadcalled a week or so ago.""So he did," answered Carrie, who was wholly unaware of whatconversation her lovers might have held. She was all at seamentally, and fearful of some entanglement which might ensue fromwhat she would answer."Oh, then he called twice?" said Drouet, the first shade ofmisunderstanding showing in his face."Yes," said Carrie innocently, feeling now that Hurstwood musthave mentioned but one call.Drouet imagined that he must have misunderstood his friend. Hedid not attach particular importance to the information, afterall."What did he have to say?" he queried, with slightly increasedcuriosity."He said he came because he thought I might be lonely. Youhadn't been in there so long he wondered what had become of you.""George is a fine fellow," said Drouet, rather gratified by hisconception of the manager's interest. "Come on and we'll go outto dinner."When Hurstwood saw that Drouet was back he wrote at once toCarrie, saying:"I told him I called on you, dearest, when he was away. I didnot say how often, but he probably thought once. Let me know ofanything you may have said. Answer by special messenger when youget this, and, darling, I must see you. Let me know if you can'tmeet me at Jackson and Throop Streets Wednesday afternoon at twoo'clock. I want to speak with you before we meet at thetheatre."Carrie received this Tuesday morning when she called at the WestSide branch of the post-office, and answered at once."I said you called twice," she wrote. "He didn't seem to mind.I will try and be at Throop Street if nothing interferes. I seemto be getting very bad. It's wrong to act as I do, I know."Hurstwood, when he met her as agreed, reassured her on thisscore."You mustn't worry, sweetheart," he said. "Just as soon as hegoes on the road again we will arrange something. We'll fix itso that you won't have to deceive any one."Carrie imagined that he would marry her at once, though he hadnot directly said so, and her spirits rose. She proposed to makethe best of the situation until Drouet left again."Don't show any more interest in me than you ever have,"Hurstwood counselled concerning the evening at the theatre."You mustn't look at me steadily then," she answered, mindful ofthe power of his eyes."I won't," he said, squeezing her hand at parting and giving theglance she had just cautioned against."There," she said playfully, pointing a finger at him."The show hasn't begun yet," he returned.He watched her walk from him with tender solicitation. Suchyouth and prettiness reacted upon him more subtly than wine.At the theatre things passed as they had in Hurstwood's favour.If he had been pleasing to Carrie before, how much more so was henow. His grace was more permeating because it found a readiermedium. Carrie watched his every movement with pleasure. Shealmost forgot poor Drouet, who babbled on as if he were the host.Hurstwood was too clever to give the slightest indication of achange. He paid, if anything, more attention to his old friendthan usual, and yet in no way held him up to that subtle ridiculewhich a lover in favour may so secretly practise before themistress of his heart. If anything, he felt the injustice of thegame as it stood, and was not cheap enough to add to it theslightest mental taunt.Only the play produced an ironical situation, and this was due toDrouet alone.The scene was one in "The Covenant," in which the wife listenedto the seductive voice of a lover in the absence of her husband."Served him right," said Drouet afterward, even in view of herkeen expiation of her error. "I haven't any pity for a man whowould be such a chump as that.""Well, you never can tell," returned Hurstwood gently. "Heprobably thought he was right.""Well, a man ought to be more attentive than that to his wife ifhe wants to keep her."They had come out of the lobby and made their way through theshowy crush about the entrance way."Say, mister," said a voice at Hurstwood's side, "would you mindgiving me the price of a bed?"Hurstwood was interestedly remarking to Carrie."Honest to God, mister, I'm without a place to sleep."The plea was that of a gaunt-faced man of about thirty, wholooked the picture of privation and wretchedness. Drouet was thefirst to see. He handed over a dime with an upwelling feeling ofpity in his heart. Hurstwood scarcely noticed the incident.Carrie quickly forgot.