sister carrie

Chapter 11 (2)

Chapter 6 The Machine and the Maiden: A Knight Today (2)
"I don't know what to do with my clothes," she said one evening when they were together. "I need a hat."

Minnie's face was serious.

"Why don't you keep some of your money and go and buy one yourself?" she said, worrying about what would happen to Carrie when her money was deducted.

"I'd like to do this for a week or two, if you don't mind."

"Can you pay two dollars?" Minnie asked.

Carrie hastened to agree, glad to be out of her predicament, and relieved to have found a way out.She began to count vigorously.First you have to buy a hat.As for how Minnie explained it to Han Sheng, she didn't know.He didn't make a sound at all, but he always had some thoughts, which showed that he was in a bad mood, and although he didn't say it, he could feel it.

The arrangement might have been manageable had it not been for the illness.One afternoon, when the weather turned cold after the rain, Carrie had no coat.At six o'clock, she walked out of the warm shop, and the cold wind hit her along the way, making her shiver with cold.In the morning, she kept sneezing, and going to the downtown area made it even worse.On this day, her bones ached and her head felt light.By evening she was very ill.When I got home, I still didn't feel hungry.Minnie saw

She looked downcast and asked her what was wrong.

"I don't know," said Carrie. "I really don't feel well."

She sat by the stove with chattering teeth, and finally went to bed sick.

The next morning, the fever came back violently.

Minnie did worry about it, but she was kind.Han Sheng said she had better go home for a while.Three days later, she got up, and of course her place was lost.Winter is coming, she has no winter clothes yet, and now she has lost her job.

"I don't know," said Carrie. "I'll go out on Monday and see if I can find anything."

She looked for work this time, and was less successful than the last time.The clothes on her body are not suitable for the autumn weather.The last of her money had been spent on hats.For three days, she wandered around, depressed.The atmosphere in my sister's house soon became unbearable.Every evening, she hated the thought of having to go back there.Han Sheng is so cold.She knew it wouldn't last long.Before long, she would have to give up everything and go home.

On the fourth day, she wandered around the city all day and borrowed a dime from Minnie for lunch.She tried unsuccessfully to find work in the lowest places.In a small restaurant, she saw a card pasted on the window for a waitress. She applied for it, but they wanted an experienced female worker.It was frustrating for her to move around in crowds of strangers.Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her around.

"Ah, ah," cried a voice.She recognized Drouet at first sight.He is not only ruddy, but also full of spring breeze, he is really the embodiment of sunshine and happiness. "Oh, it's you, Carrie?" he said. "You're a beauty. Where have you been these days?"

Carrie smiled under his genial air.

"I'm going for a walk from home," she said.

"Ah," he said, "I saw you crossing the street just now, and I thought it was you. I just came out to see you. How are you?"

"Very well," said Carrie, smiling.

Drouet looked at her, and felt that something was different.

"Ah," he said, "I want to talk to you. You're not going somewhere, are you?"

"Not now," said Carrie.

"Let's go up there and get something to eat. My God, it's a pleasure to see you again."

In the presence of such a radiant person as him, and someone who took care of her and cared about her so much, she felt relieved, so she happily agreed, although she was still a little reserved.

"Ah." As he said, he held her arm, and his voice was full of friendship, which made her feel warm.

They walked across Monroe Street to this old restaurant in Windsor, a spacious, comfortable place, with good cooking and good hospitality.Drouet took a table by the window, from which he had a view of the bustle of the street.He loves the ever-changing variety on the street—eating, watching, and being watched.

"Ah," he said, making sure Carrie and himself were comfortable, "what would you like?"

Carrie looked over the large menu which the waiter handed her, without really thinking about her choice.She was hungry, and what she saw whetted her appetite, but the high price also caught her attention. "Chicken stewed—[-] cents. Beef loin with mushrooms—[-] cents." She seemed to have heard these words, but she felt a little strange ordering from the menu.

"I'll do it," said Drouet. "Hello, waiter."

A black man with a straight chest and a round face came over and leaned over his ear.

"Beef loin with mushrooms," said Drouet, "wrapped in tomato."

"Yes, sir," replied the negro, nodding his head.

"Fried potato chips."

"Yes, sir."

"Add a pot of coffee."

Drouet turned towards Carrie. "I haven't eaten anything since I had breakfast. I just got back from Rock Island and was thinking of going to lunch when I saw you."

Carrie smiled, and smiled again.

"What are you doing these days?" he continued. "Tell me about yourself. How is your sister?"

"Hello," answered Carrie, in answer to his subsequent question.

He looked at her carefully.

"Well," he said, "you haven't been sick, have you?"

Carrie nodded.

"Oh, it's really bad, isn't it? You don't look very well. I think you're a little pale. What have you been doing?"

"Work," said Carrie.

"Really? For what?"

She told him.

"Rogers, Morgenthau, and Scott—oh, I know that one. It's down here on Fifth Street, isn't it? A tight one. How did you get there?"

"I can't find anything else," said Carrie honestly.

"Oh, that's a shame," said Drouet. "You shouldn't be doing it for these people. The factory is right behind the shop, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Carrie.

"The family is outrageous," said Drouet. "Anyway, you needn't be there."

He talked on and on, asking questions, explaining his events, and telling her how wonderful the restaurant was, until the waiter brought a large tray with some steaming and delicious dishes ordered. vegetable.Drouet appears to be excellent in caring.Among the white napkins and silver dishes on the table, he seemed to be at his fingertips, swinging his arms with a knife and a fork.He carves, his ring glistens.His new suit groaned as he reached for the basin, tore the bread, poured the coffee.He helped Carrie pick up a big pot full of vegetables.His enthusiasm had such an effect on her that it made her almost a new girl.He was a truly remarkable man, and carried Carrie into a state of complete fascination and a certain ease.She felt that she was out of place here, but she felt comfortable in such a hall, and with the group of well-dressed people outside, this scene was really extraordinary.Ah, how bad it is to have no money! How wonderful it is to be here, to dine! Drouet must be lucky.To come and go by train, to dress so well, to be so strong, to eat in such beautiful places.He seemed like a big shot.She really didn't understand a little about his friendship and his concern for her.

"So you got sick and lost your job, didn't you?" he said. "What do you want to do now?"

"Look around," she said, with a look in her eyes, as if a thought of the poverty outside the pretty restaurant was stalking her like a hungry dog.

"Oh, no," said Drouet, "that's not the way. How long have you been looking for it?"

"Four days," she replied.

"Think about it!" he said, as if addressing someone with a problem. "You shouldn't be doing things like that. Those girls," he said with a wave of his Women workers are all included, "You don't make any money. Ah, you can't live on this, can you?"

He looked like a big brother.After he inquired clearly about the situation of that hard work, he began to think about another kind of thing.Carrie was indeed very handsome, and apparently not in a bad shape, even in her usual clothes.What's more, the eyes are big and gentle.Drouet looked at her, and his thoughts were felt by the other.She felt his admiration.Coupled with his generous and cheerful demeanor, he is particularly attractive.She felt that she liked him--and would like him very much in the future.In the depths of the undercurrent in her heart, there are richer feelings flowing than this.After a while, her eyes will meet his, so that the exchange of feelings is very active.

"Why don't you stay downtown and go to the theater with me?" he said, moving the chairs closer together.That table is not very wide.

"Oh, I can't," she said.

"What do you want to do tonight?"

"Nothing," she replied, a little sadly.

"You don't like where you are, do you?"

"Oh, I do not know."

"What are you going to do if you can't find a job?"

"I'll go home after watching."

She trembled a little when she said that.Still, his influence on her was powerful.There was an unspoken mutual understanding between them--he understood her situation; she knew that he understood it.

"No," he said, "you can't go home!" and his heart was filled with sympathy. "Let me help you, take some of my money."

"Oh, no," she said, leaning back.

"What are you going to do?" he said.

She just shook her head as she sat there thinking.

He looked at her very tenderly according to his routine.There was some change in his pocket—bills, soft and silent, which he squeezed and kneaded with his fingers.

"Come on," he said, "I'm going to help you out tonight. Go buy some clothes."

This was the first time the question had been brought up, and by this time she realized how poor she was.Her lips quivered a little.

Her hands rest on the table in front of her body.They sat in a corner with no one around.He pressed his big, hot hand onto hers.

"Oh, come on, Carrie," he said, "what can you do by yourself? Let me help you."

He pressed her hand tenderly, and she wanted to shrink back, but he pressed it tightly, and she stopped moving.Then he stuffed the money into her palm, and when she was about to refuse, he whispered:
"I lent it to you—it's nothing. I lent it to you."

He let her take it down.Now, she felt a strange thread bound her to him.They went out, and he walked with her all the way south toward Bourke Street, talking.

"You don't want to live with these people, do you?" He walked to a place and said in general.Carrie had heard it, but was only slightly impressed.

"Come downtown and meet me tomorrow," he said, "and we'll see a Japanese show. OK?"

Carrie declined for a while, and finally agreed.

"You don't have to do anything. Buy yourself a nice pair of shoes and a coat."

She didn't think about the troubles she would encounter after he was gone.When he was with her, her heart was as elated and carefree as he was.

"You don't have to worry about those people over there," he said as they parted. "I'll help you."

Carrie said good-bye to him, feeling as if a great reliever arm had been drawn away from her face.The money she took was two limp, green, pretty ten-dollar bills.

(End of this chapter)