Chapter 42

ATOUCHOFSPRING—THEEMPTYSHELL

ThosewholookuponHurstwood』sBrooklynventureasanerrorofjudgmentwillnonethelessrealizethenegativeinfluenceonhimofthefactthathehadtriedandfailed.Carriegotawrongideaofit.Hesaidsolittlethatsheimaginedhehadencounterednothingworsethantheordinaryroughness—quittingsosooninthefaceofthisseemedtrifling.Hedidnotwanttowork.

Shewasnowoneofagroupoforientalbeautieswho,inthesecondactofthecomicopera,wereparadedbythevizierbeforethenewpotentateasthetreasuresofhisharem.Therewasnowordassignedtoanyofthem,butontheeveningwhenHurstwoodwashousinghimselfintheloftofthestreet-carbarn,theleadingcomedianandstar,feelingexceedinglyfacetious,saidinaprofoundvoice,whichcreatedarippleoflaughter:

「Well,whoareyou.」

ItmerelyhappenedtobeCarriewhowascurtsyingbeforehim.Itmightaswellhavebeenanyoftheothers,sofarashewasconcerned.Heexpectednoanswerandadullonewouldhavebeenreproved.ButCarrie,whoseexperienceandbeliefinherselfgaveherdaring,curtsiedsweetlyagainandanswered:

「Iamyourstruly.」

Itwasatrivialthingtosay,andyetsomethinginthewayshediditcaughttheaudience,whichlaughed

heartilyatthemockfiercepotentatetoweringbeforetheyoungwoman.Thecomedianalsolikedit,hearingthelaughter.

「IthoughtyournamewasSmith,」hereturned,endeavoringtogetthelastlaugh.

Carriealmosttrembledforherdaringaftershehadsaidthis.Allmembersofthecompanyhadbeenwarnedthattointerpolatelinesor「business」meantafineorworse.Shedidnotknowwhattothink.

Asshewasstandinginherproperpositioninthewings,awaitinganotherentry,thegreatcomedianmadehisexitpastherandpausedinrecognition.

「Youcanjustleavethatinhereafter,」heremarked,seeinghowintelligentsheappeared.「Don』taddanymore,though.」

「Thankyou,」saidCarrie,humbly.Whenhewentonshefoundherselftremblingviolently.

「Well,you』reinluck,」remarkedanothermemberofthechorus.「Thereisn』tanotheroneofushasgotaline.」

Therewasnogainsayingthevalueofthis.Everybodyinthecompanyrealizedthatshehadgotastart.Carriehuggedherselfwhennexteveningthelinesgotthesameapplause.Shewenthomerejoicing,knowingthatsoonsomethingmustcomeofit.ItwasHurstwoodwho,byhispresence,causedhermerrythoughtstofleeandreplacedthemwithsharplongingsforanendofdistress.

Thenextdaysheaskedhimabouthisventure.

「They』renottryingtorunanycarsexceptwithpolice.Theydon』twantanybodyjustnow—notbeforenextweek.」

Nextweekcame,butCarriesawnochange.Hurstwoodseemedmoreapatheticthanever.Hesawheroffmorningstorehearsalsandthelikewiththeutmostcalm.Hereadandread.Severaltimeshefoundhimselfstaringatanitem,butthinkingofsomethingelse.Thefirstoftheselapsesthathesharplynoticed

concernedahilariouspartyhehadonceattendedatadrivingclub,ofwhichhehadbeenamember.Hesat,gazingdownward,andgraduallythoughtheheardtheoldvoicesandtheclinkofglasses.

「You』readandy,Hurstwood,」hisfriendWalkersaid.Hewasstandingagainwelldressed,smiling,good-natured,therecipientofencoresforagoodstory.

Allatoncehelookedup.Theroomwassostillitseemedghostlike.Heheardtheclocktickingaudiblyandhalfsuspectedthathehadbeendozing.Thepaperwassostraightinhishands,however,andtheitemshehadbeenreadingsodirectlybeforehim,thatheridhimselfofthedozeidea.Still,itseemedpeculiar.Whenitoccurredasecondtime,however,itdidnotseemquitesostrange.

Butcherandgroceryman,bakerandcoalman—notthegroupwithwhomhewasthendealing,butthosewhohadtrustedhimtothelimit—called.Hemetthemallblandly,becomingdeftinexcuse.Atlasthebecamebold,pretendedtobeout,orwavedthemoff.

「Theycan』tgetbloodoutofaturnip,」hesaid.「ifIhaditI』dpaythem.」

Carrie』slittlesoldierfriend,MissOsborne,seeinghersucceeding,hadbecomeasortofsatellite.LittleOsbornecouldneverofherselfamounttoanything.Sheseemedtorealizeitinasortofpussy-likewayandinstinctivelyconcludedtoclingwithhersoftlittleclawstoCarrie.

「Oh,you』llgetup,」shekepttellingCarriewithadmiration.「You』resogood.」

TimidasCarriewas,shewasstrongincapability.Therelianceofothersmadeherfeelasifshemust,andwhenshemustshedared.Experienceoftheworldandofnecessitywasinherfavor.Nolongerthelightestwordofamanmadeherheaddizzy.Shehadlearnedthatmencouldchangeandfail.Flatteryinitsmostpalpableformhadlostitsforcewithher.Itrequiredsuperiority—kindlysuperior-ity—tomoveher—thesuperiorityofageniuslikeAmes.

「Idon』tliketheactorsinourcompany,」shetoldLolaoneday.「They』reallsostruckonthemselves.」

「Don』tyouthinkMr.Barclay』sprettynice.」inquiredLola,whohadreceivedacondescendingsmileortwofromthatquarter.

「Oh,he』sniceenough,」answeredCarrie;「butheisn』tsincere.Heassumessuchanair.」

LolafeltforherfirstholduponCarrieinthefollowingmanner:

「Areyoupayingroom-rentwhereyouare.」

「Certainly,」answeredCarrie.「Why.」

「IknowwhereIcouldgettheloveliestroomandbath,cheap.It』stoobigforme,butitwouldbejustrightfortwo,andtherentisonlysixdollarsaweekforboth.」

「Where.」saidCarrie.

「InSeventeenthStreet.」

「Well,Idon』tknowasI』dcaretochange,」saidCarrie,whowasalreadyturningoverthethree-dollarrateinhermind.Shewasthinkingifshehadonlyherselftosupportthiswouldleaveherseventeenforherself.

NothingcameofthisuntilaftertheBrooklynadventureofHurstwood』sandhersuccesswiththespeakingpart.Thenshebegantofeelasifshemustbefree.ShethoughtofleavingHurstwoodandthusmakinghimactforhimself,buthehaddevelopedsuchpeculiartraitsshefearedhemightresistanyefforttothrowhimoff.Hemighthuntheroutattheshowandhoundherinthatway.Shedidnotwhollybelievethathewould,buthemight.This,sheknew,wouldbeanembarrassingthingifhemadehimselfconspicuousinanyway.Ittroubledhergreatly.

Thingswereprecipitatedbytheofferofabetterpart.OneoftheactressesplayingthepartofamodestsweetheartgavenoticeofleavingandCarriewasselected.

「Howmuchareyougoingtoget.」askedMissOsborne,onhearingthegoodnews.

「Ididn』taskhim,」saidCarrie.

「Well,findout.Goodness,you』llnevergetanythingifyoudon』task.Tellthemyoumusthavefortydollars,anyhow.」

「Oh,no,」saidCarrie.

「Certainly!」exclaimedLola.「Ask『em,anyway.」

Carriesuccumbedtothisprompting,waiting,however,untilthemanagergavehernoticeofwhatclothingshemusthavetofitthepart.

「HowmuchdoIget.」sheinquired.

「Thirty-fivedollars,」hereplied.

Carriewastoomuchastonishedanddelightedtothinkofmentioningforty.Shewasnearlybesideherself,andalmosthuggedLola,whoclungtoheratthenews.

「Itisn』tasmuchasyououghttoget,」saidthelatter,「especiallywhenyou』vegottobuyclothes.」

Carrierememberedthiswithastart.Wheretogetthemoney.Shehadnonelaidupforsuchanemergency.Rentdaywasdrawingnear.

「I』llnotdoit,」shesaid,rememberinghernecessity.「Idon』tusetheflat.I』mnotgoingtogiveupmymoneythistime.I』llmove.」

FittingintothiscameanotherappealfromMissOsborne,moreurgentthanever.

「Comelivewithme,won』tyou.」shepleaded.「Wecanhavetheloveliestroom.Itwon』tcostyouhardlyanythingthatway.」

「I』dliketo,」saidCarrie,frankly.

「Oh,do,」saidLola.「We』llhavesuchagoodtime.」

Carriethoughtawhile.

「IbelieveIwill,」shesaid,andthenadded:「I』llhavetoseefirst,though.」Withtheideathusgrounded,rentdayapproaching,andclothescallingforinstantpurchase,shesoonfoundexcuseinHurstwood』slassitude.Hesaidlessanddroopedmorethanever.

Asrentdayapproached,anideagrewinhim.Itwasfosteredbythedemandsofcreditorsandtheimpossibilityofholdingupmanymore.Twenty-eightdollarswastoomuchforrent.「It』shardonher,」hethought.「Wecouldgetacheaperplace.」

Stirredwiththisidea,hespokeatthebreakfasttable.

「Don』tyouthinkwepaytoomuchrenthere.」heasked.

「IndeedIdo,」saidCarrie,notcatchinghisdrift.

「Ishouldthinkwecouldgetasmallerplace,」hesuggested.「Wedon』tneedfourrooms.」

Hercountenance,hadhebeenscrutinizingher,wouldhaveexhibitedthedisturbanceshefeltatthisevidenceofhisdeterminationtostaybyher.Hesawnothingremarkableinaskinghertocomedownlower.

「Oh,Idon』tknow,」sheanswered,growingwary.

「Theremustbeplacesaroundherewherewecouldgetacoupleofrooms,whichwoulddojustaswell.」

Herheartrevolted.「Never!」shethought.Whowouldfurnishthemoneytomove.Tothinkofbeingintworoomswithhim!Sheresolvedtospendhermoneyforclothesquickly,beforesomethingterriblehappened.Thatverydayshedidit.Havingdoneso,therewasbutoneotherthingtodo.

「Lola,」shesaid,visitingherfriend,「IthinkI』llcome.」

「Oh,jolly!」criedthelatter.

「Canwegetitrightaway.」sheasked,meaningtheroom.

「Certainly,」criedLola.

Theywenttolookatit.Carriehadsavedtendollarsfromherexpenditures—enoughforthisandherboardbeside.Herenlargedsalarywouldnotbeginfortendaysyet—wouldnotreachherforseventeen.Shepaidhalfofthesixdollarswithherfriend.

「Now,I』vejustenoughtogetontotheendoftheweek,」sheconfided.

「Oh,I』vegotsome,」saidLola.「I』vegottwenty-fivedollars,ifyouneedit.」

「No,」saidCarrie.「IguessI』llgetalong.」

TheydecidedtomoveFriday,whichwastwodaysaway.Nowthatthethingwassettled,Carrie』sheartmisgaveher.Shefeltverymuchlikeacriminalinthematter.EachdaylookingatHurstwood,shehadrealizedthat,alongwiththedisagreeablenessofhisattitude,therewassomethingpathetic.

Shelookedathimthesameeveningshehadmadeuphermindtogo,andnowheseemednotsoshiftlessandworthless,butrundownandbeatenuponbychance.Hiseyeswerenotkeen,hisfacemarked,hishandsflabby.Shethoughthishairhadatouchofgray.Allunconsciousofhisdoom,herockedandreadhispaper,whilesheglancedathim.

Knowingthattheendwassonear,shebecamerathersolicitous.

「Willyougooverandgetsomecannedpeaches.」sheaskedHurstwood,layingdownatwo-dollarbill.

「Certainly,」hesaid,lookinginwonderatthemoney.

「Seeifyoucangetsomeniceasparagus,」sheadded.「I』llcookitfordinner.」

Hurstwoodroseandtookthemoney,slippingonhisovercoatandgettinghishat.Carrienoticedthatbothofthesearticlesofapparelwereoldandpoorlookinginappearance.Itwasplainenoughbefore,butnowitcamehomewithpeculiarforce.Perhapshecouldn』thelpit,afterall.HehaddonewellinChicago.Sherememberedhisfineappearancethedayshehadmetherinthepark.Thenhewassosprightly,soclean.Haditbeenallhisfault.

Hecamebackandlaidthechangedownwiththefood.

「You』dbetterkeepit,」sheobserved.「We』llneedotherthings.」

「No,」hesaid,withasortofpride;「youkeepit.」

「Oh,goonandkeepit,」shereplied,rather

unnerved.「There』llbeotherthings.」

Hewonderedatthis,notknowingthepatheticfigurehehadbecomeinhereyes.Sherestrainedherselfwithdifficultyfromshowingaquaverinhervoice.

Tosaytruly,thiswouldhavebeenCarrie』sattitudeinanycase.ShehadlookedbackattimesuponherpartingfromDrouetandhadregrettedthatshehadservedhimsobadly.Shehopedshewouldnevermeethimagain,butshewasashamedofherconduct.Notthatshehadanychoiceinthefinalseparation.Shehadgonewillinglytoseekhim,withsympathyinherheart,whenHurstwoodhadreportedhimill.Therewassomethingcruelsomewhere,andnotbeingabletotrackitmentallytoitslogicallair,sheconcludedwithfeelingthathewouldneverunderstandwhatHurstwoodhaddoneandwouldseehard-hearteddecisioninherdeed;hencehershame.Notthatshecaredforhim.Shedidnotwanttomakeanyonewhohadbeengoodtoherfeelbadly.

Shedidnotrealizewhatshewasdoingbyallowingthesefeelingstopossessher.Hurstwood,noticingthekindness,conceivedbetterofher.「Carrie』sgood-natured,anyhow,」hethought.

GoingtoMissOsborne』sthatafternoon,shefoundthatlittleladypackingandsinging.

「Whydon』tyoucomeoverwithmetoday.」sheasked.

「Oh,Ican』t,」saidCarrie.「I』llbethereFriday.Wouldyoumindlendingmethetwenty-fivedollarsyouspokeof.」

「Why,no,」saidLola,goingforherpurse.

「Iwanttogetsomeotherthings,」saidCarrie.

「Oh,that』sallright,」answeredthelittlegirl,good-naturedly,gladtobeofservice.IthadbeendayssinceHurstwoodhaddonemorethangotothegroceryortothenews-stand.Nowthewearinessofindoorswasuponhim—hadbeenfortwodays—butchill,grayweatherhadheldhimback.Fridaybrokefair

andwarm.Itwasoneofthoselovelyharbingersofspring,givenasasignindrearywinterthatearthisnotforsakenofwarmthandbeauty.Theblueheaven,holdingitsonegoldenorb,poureddownacrystalwashofwarmlight.Itwasplain,fromthevoiceofthesparrows,thatallwashalcyonoutside.Carrieraisedthefrontwindows,andfeltthesouthwindblowing.

「It』slovelyoutto-day,」sheremarked.

「Isit.」saidHurstwood.

Afterbreakfast,heimmediatelygothisotherclothes.

「Willyoubebackforlunch.」askedCarrienervously.

「No,」hesaid.

Hewentoutintothestreetsandtrampednorth,alongSeventhAvenue,idlyfixingupontheHarlemRiverasanobjectivepoint.Hehadseensomeshipsupthere,thetimehehadcalleduponthebrewers.Hewonderedhowtheterritorythereaboutswasgrowing.

PassingFifty-ninthStreet,hetookthewestsideofCentralPark,whichhefollowedtoSeventy-eighthStreet.Thenherememberedtheneighborhoodandturnedovertolookatthemassofbuildingserected.Itwasverymuchimproved.Thegreatopenspaceswerefillingup.Comingback,hekepttotheParkuntil110thStreet,andthenturnedintoSeventhAvenueagain,reachingtheprettyriverbyoneo』clock.

Thereitranwindingbeforehisgaze,shiningbrightlyintheclearlight,betweentheundulatingbanksontherightandthetall,tree-coveredheightsontheleft.Thespring-likeatmospherewokehimtoasenseofitsloveliness,andforafewmomentshestoodlookingatit,foldinghishandsbehindhisback.Thenheturnedandfollowedittowardtheeastside,idlyseekingtheshipshehadseen.Itwasfouro』clockbeforethewaningday,withitssuggestionofacoolerevening,causedhimtoreturn.Hewashungryandwouldenjoyeatinginthewarmroom.

Whenhereachedtheflatbyhalf-pastfive,itwasstilldark.HeknewthatCarriewasnotthere,notonlybecausetherewasnolightshowingthroughthetransom,butbecausetheeveningpaperswerestuckbetweentheoutsideknobandthedoor.Heopenedwithhiskeyandwentin.Everythingwasstilldark.Lightingthegas,hesatdown,preparingtowaitalittlewhile.EvenifCarriedidcomenow,dinnerwouldbelate.Hereaduntilsix,thengotuptofixsomethingforhimself.

Ashedidso,henoticedthattheroomseemedalittlequeer.Whatwasit.Helookedaround,asifhemissedsomething,andthensawanenvelopenearwherehehadbeensitting.Itspokeforitself,almostwithoutfurtheractiononhispart.

Reachingover,hetookit,asortofchillsettlinguponhimevenwhilehereached.Thecrackleoftheenvelopeinhishandswasloud.Greenpapermoneylaysoftwithinthenote.

「DearGeorge,」heread,crunchingthemoneyinonehand,「I』mgoingaway.I』mnotcomingbackanymore.It』snousetryingtokeepuptheflat;Ican』tdoit.Iwouldn』tmindhelpingyou,ifIcould,butIcan』tsupportusboth,andpaytherent.IneedwhatlittleImaketopayformyclothes.I』mleavingtwentydollars.It』sallIhavejustnow.Youcandowhateveryoulikewiththefurniture.Iwon』twantit.—CARRIE.

Hedroppedthenoteandlookedquietlyround.Nowheknewwhathemissed.Itwasthelittleornamentalclock,whichwashers.Ithadgonefromthemantelpiece.Hewentintothefrontroom,hisbedroom,theparlor,lightingthegasashewent.Fromthechiffonierhadgonetheknick-knacksofsilverandplate.Fromthetabletop,thelacecoverings.Heopenedthewardrobe—noclothesofhers.Heopenedthedrawers—nothingofhers.Hertrunkwasgonefromitsaccustomedplace.Backinhisownroomhunghisoldclothes,justashehadleftthem.Nothing

elsewasgone.

Hesteppedintotheparlorandstoodforafewmomentslookingvacantlyatthefloor.Thesilencegrewoppressive.Thelittleflatseemedwonderfullydeserted.Hewhollyforgotthathewashungry,thatitwasonlydinner-time.Itseemedlaterinthenight.

Suddenly,hefoundthatthemoneywasstillinhishands.Thereweretwentydollarsinall,asshehadsaid.Nowhewalkedback,leavingthelightsablaze,andfeelingasiftheflatwereempty.

「I』llgetoutofthis,」hesaidtohimself.

Thenthesheerlonelinessofhissituationrusheduponhiminfull.

「Leftme!」hemuttered,andrepeated,「leftme!」

Theplacethathadbeensocomfortable,wherehehadspentsomanydaysofwarmth,wasnowamemory.Somethingcolderandchillierconfrontedhim.Hesankdowninhischair,restinghischininhishand—meresensation,withoutthought,holdinghim.

Thensomethinglikeabereavedaffectionandself-pitysweptoverhim.

「Sheneedn』thavegoneaway,」hesaid.「I』dhavegotsomething.」

Hesatalongwhilewithoutrocking,andaddedquiteclearly,outloud:

「Itried,didn』tI.」

Atmidnighthewasstillrocking,staringatthefloor.