sister carrie

Chapter 18 (2)

Chapter 10 Winter Advice: The Envoy of Wealthy Life Visits (2)
"Oh, we'll make it," said he, "as soon as I get that little business done."

What he meant was what he called property, which required a great deal of care, adjustment, and so on, and which more or less prevented him from going about his morally private affairs with no encumbrance.

"As long as I get back from a business trip in Denver by January, we'll do it."

Carrie accepted this as a basis of hope--a comfort to her conscience, a comfortable outlet.If they get married, things make up.There was a justification for her behavior.

She didn't really love Drouet, she was smarter than him.She dimly began to realize where his shortcomings were.If it were not for this reason, and if she had not been able to make some assessment and judgment about him, she would be in a worse position than she is now.Then she must worship him.For fear of losing his favor, for losing his interest, for fear of being thrown aside, for fear of losing her safe haven, she would be miserable.What happened was that at first she struggled to get a firm grip on him, but then decided she might as well wait and see.She wasn't really sure what she thought about him--nor what she wanted to do.

When Hurstwood came to visit, she met a man a hundred times wiser than Drouet.He was especially courteous to women, which every woman appreciates.He is not too timid, not too bold, and his greatest charm is thoughtfulness.He had been well trained in winning the favor of the well-dressed among his contemporaries, that is, the merchants and men of all professions who patronized their hotels.As for the ones he is infatuated with, he can show more clever tricks to please them.He is particularly enthusiastic about a refined beauty.He was gentle, composed, confident, and gave the impression of being merely serving—just doing something to make the lady happier.

Drouet was capable of it, in his way, if it was worth it.However, he was simply too self-centered to approach Hurstwood's level of adeptness.He was too flamboyant, lived too much vulgarity, was too pretentious.For many people who lack training in the art of love, he is successful, but when he meets a woman with a little experience but a beautiful nature, he fails miserably.In the case of Carrie, for example, she had all the traits of the latter and none of the former.He was lucky, as if a good opportunity fell from the sky.A few years later, with more experience, the wave of success had begun a little, and by then he would not be able to approach Carrie at all.

"You ought to have a piano here, Drouet," Hurstwood said that evening, smiling at Carrie, "so your wife can play."

This did not occur to Drouet.

"We should have one," he said without hesitation.

"Oh, I don't know how to play," said Carrie.

"Oh, it's not too hard," replied Hurstwood, "you'll learn it in a few weeks."

He entertained very well tonight.His clothes are very new and look beautiful.The jacket had a stiff collar, which is characteristic of the finest materials, and the waistcoat was of Scottish tartan, with two rows of mother-of-pearl buttons.The tie was a shiny silk, not too fresh or plain.His clothes were not as conspicuous as Drouet's, but Carrie could see that the material was good.Hurstwood's shoes were of soft calfskin, only half-polished.Drouet had patent leather shoes, but Carrie could not help feeling that she would prefer the soft ones, while the others were too bright.She noticed these things almost unconsciously.These things manifest naturally from the present situation.She was used to seeing Drouet.

"Let's play three-handed poker, shall we?" said Hurstwood, after a little rambling.He avoided, quite deftly, anything that would reveal his knowledge of Carrie's parentage.He also doesn't talk about other people's affairs, and is limited to talking about things that don't involve anyone personally.In this way he reassured Carrie, and cheered her up by showing her respect and telling jokes.He pretended to be interested in everything she had to say.

"I don't know how to play it," said Carrie.

"Charlie, that is your negligence of your duty," he said to Drouet, very amiably. "We two can teach you together."

By this artifice he made Drouet feel that he had admiration for his choice.His expression showed that he was willing to come here.Drouet felt himself closer to him than ever before.He respected him more for Carrie's sake.Under Hurstwood's admiration, Carrie's features were given a new coloration.So the scene looked very angry.

"Oh, let me see," said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder with great respect, "what's in your hand?" He studied for a moment. "That's great," he said.

"You're in luck. Well, I'll show you how to beat your husband. Take my advice."

"Well," said Drouet, "if you two conspire together, I'll quit the trick. Hurstwood's a man of the trade."

"No, your wife is a real connoisseur, and she brought me luck. Why shouldn't she win?"

Carrie looked gratefully at Hurstwood, and smiled again at Drouet.The former put on the air of being just a friend.He came here only to please himself.He was pleased with whatever Carrie did, that was all.

"Ah," he said, withholding one of his good cards, and giving Carrie the chance to win. "I think beginners are good at playing like this."

Carrie smiled very happily when she saw that she was going to win the game.It seemed that she was always invincible when Hurstwood helped her.

He didn't keep looking at her.And every time he looked at it, his eyes always shone slightly.Nothing but kindness.He withdrew his slightly flickering sly look and replaced it with an innocent one.Carrie did not find it pleasant to be with him now.She sensed that he thought she was playing well.

"It's not fair that you can't win much at cards like this," he said after a while, putting his hand into the little money pocket of his coat. "Let's bet a few cents."

"Very well," said Drouet, feeling for the notes.

Hurstwood moved faster, his hands full of new twenty cents. "Okay," he said, giving everyone a small pile.

"Oh, it's gambling," laughed Carrie. "It's not good."

"No," said Drouet, "it's just for fun. If you've never played for more than that, you're eligible for heaven."

"Stop preaching," said Hurstwood politely to Carrie, "and we'll see where the money goes."

Drouet smiled.

"If your husband wins money, he'll tell you what's wrong with it."

Drouet laughed out loud.

There was a tinge of flattery in Hurstwood's voice, a taste of subtly ingratiating, which Carrie found amused.

"When are you going?" Hurstwood asked Drouet.

"Oh, Wednesday," he replied.

"It's hard to keep your husband so busy, is it?" said Hurstwood to Carrie.

"She went out with me this time," said Drouet.

"Before you leave, you two must go to a play with me."

"Of course," said Drouet. "Hello, Carrie?"

"I'm very happy," she replied.

Hurstwood tries to make Carrie win money.She won, and he kept counting the money she won, and finally put it in her outstretched hand.He was very happy about it.They also had supper, and he took out the wine.After this, he took his leave gracefully.

"Well," he said, looking first at Carrie and then at Drouet, "you must be ready at seven-thirty, and I will fetch you."

They sent him to the gate, where his carriage waited, lit red, and twinkling merrily in the shadows.

"Well," he said to Drouet in the tone of a good friend, "when your wife is alone after you go out, you must allow me to go out and see with her. It will relieve her loneliness. "

"Of course," said Drouet, pleased with the kindness of his care.

"You are too kind," said Carrie.

"That's all right," said Hurstwood, "I want your husband to take care of my family in the same way."

He smiled and walked away briskly.Carrie was very impressed.She had never been in contact with such a personable person before.As for Drouet, he was equally pleased.

"What a nice fellow," he said to Carrie when they were back in their comfortable room. "A good friend of mine too."

"It seems so," said Carrie.

(End of this chapter)