sister carrie

Chapter 42

Chapter 25 Embers of Tinder: Six Gods and No Master
(Referring to the aftermath of family quarrels (embers of fire), Hurstwood is besieged and bewildered. - Translator)
When Hurstwood returned to his office, he was even worse off than before.He thought, God, God, what kind of trouble has he gotten into? How could it have suddenly turned sour, and so fast? How it could have happened, he couldn't figure it out.It seemed that an inexplicable disaster suddenly fell from the sky, making him unable to stop it.

At the same time, he thought of Carrie now and then.What kind of trouble could she be? No letter, no words, and it was already evening, but she agreed to meet him in the morning.Tomorrow they were going to meet and go away—where to? He realized that he hadn't been able to make a plan about it when the situation had been tense lately.He was in love and had a good chance of winning her under normal circumstances, so now—what now? What if she finds out? If she writes to him too, and says she knows all about it What if she said that she would never have anything to do with him again? Well, what happened now was bound to explode again.Besides, he hasn't sent the money yet.

He walked up and down the polished floor of the hotel with his hands in his pockets, his brow furrowed and his mouth pursed.He got some comfort from a good cigar, but it was no panacea for the ailments he had now.After a while, he would pinch his fingers and stamp his feet.His whole body and mind were completely shaken, and he found that his soul could hardly bear it.He drank some brandy-soda again, he hadn't had so much in an evening in months.He was indeed a wonderful example of mental confusion.

Despite his repeated research, there was still no result this night, except for sending the money.This was decided very reluctantly after two or three hours of intense mental struggle for and against.At last he fetched an envelope, put the money he wanted into it, and slowly sealed it.

Then he called Harry, a kid who worked as a handyman there.

"You send this to the address given," he said, handing him the envelope, "to Mrs. Hurstwood."

"Yes, sir," said the kid.

"If she's not here, bring this back."

"Okay, sir."

"Have you seen my wife?" he asked just in case, as the child turned to leave.

"Oh, yes, sir. I know her."

"That's good, go and come back quickly."

"Want to reply?"

"No more."

The kid hurried away, and the manager thought again.Now that he has done so, it is not worth thinking about it again.He had lost the battle tonight, but maybe he did the best he could.But how miserable it would be to be cornered like this.He could imagine how she greeted the child at the door, and how she grinned.She would accept that envelope knowing she had won the battle.It would be great if he could get that letter back instead of sending it! He breathed heavily and wiped the sweat from his face.

In order to relieve his boredom, he stood up and chatted with a few friends who were drinking.He wanted to try to see if he could have some interest in the things around him, but he couldn't, his mind kept going to his home, and he saw scenes there.He kept wondering what she would say when the kid handed her the envelope.

About an hour and a quarter of an hour later, the boy returned.He had evidently delivered the letter, for he did not appear to be taking anything from his pocket when he returned.

"Well," said Hurstwood.

"I gave it to her."

"My wife?"

"Yes, sir."

"Any reply?"

"She said it was just in time."

Hurstwood was furious.

There was nothing more to do about it this evening.He thought silently until midnight, and then went to the Balmer Hotel for the night.He wondered what it would be like tomorrow morning.I tossed and turned all night and couldn't sleep well.

The next day I went to work again, opened the mailbox, and was both doubtful and hopeful about the letter.There were no letters from Carrie, nor from his wife, which was a joy.

He sent the money, and she accepted it. This fact relieved him a little, because the idea of ​​finally doing this receded from his mind gradually, and his troubles became more and more diluted. His hopes grew bigger and bigger.He sat at his desk, fantasizing about a week or two that would be all right, while he'd have time to think.

Such a (thought of thought) began to come back to Carrie, and how he would arrange to get her out of Drouet's way.What was to be done about it? The more he devoted himself to the question, the more he suffered from her failure to see him and write him.He decided to write her a letter to the West End Post Office, asking her to explain why, and asking her to come and see him.It pained him to think that the letter might not reach her before next Monday.He had to find a quicker way - but how?
He thought about this for half an hour, but he didn't consider sending someone to go there, or sending a carriage to the residence, because he was afraid of being exposed.But finding that time was passing by in vain, he wrote at last, and thought again.

Time slipped away hour by hour, and the results and possibilities he considered in his mind also slipped away.He had thought of helping Carrie just now, so that they might be married, but now it was afternoon and nothing could be done.It's three o'clock, four o'clock, five o'clock, six o'clock, and still no letter.The bewildered manager walked up and down the floor, struggling with the bleak picture of failure.He saw a busy Saturday pass, and Sunday came, but still nothing.The shop was closed all day, he thought in silence, alone, driven out of the house, with nothing to do with the bustle of the tavern, with nothing to do with Carrie and nothing to do about it.It was really the worst Sunday of his life.

In the second batch of mail on Monday, he received a very official letter, which held his attention for a while.The envelope was marked with the name of McGregor James Hay Law Firm and began with a very public format: "Mr. So-and-so" and "Your Honor" and the like.He was then briefly informed that they had been entrusted by Mrs. Hurstwood to coordinate certain matters concerning her life and property rights, and that he should come to the office at once to confer with them and so on.

He read it several times carefully, shaking his head at the same time, it seems that the family dispute is just the beginning.

"Well," he said loudly after a while, "I don't know."

Then he folded the letter and put it in his pocket.

To this was enough to add to his misfortune: there was no letter from Carrie.He was sure now that she must have known he was married and was angry at him for his infidelity.Now is the time when she is needed most, so he is all the more bitter.He thought that if she did not write to him soon, he would go out and insist on seeing her.To abandon him in this way was, indeed, the worst blow of all.He loved her so sincerely that he found her all the more lovable now that the possibility of losing her seemed real.He waited with great anxiety to see a word.In his mind's eye, he longed desperately to find her.No matter what she thought, he had no intention of losing her.He was going to go to her and tell her all about his family troubles.He also explained to her where he was now and how much he needed her.Of course, she must not let him down now! This is absolutely impossible.He would keep pleading until her anger subsided - until she could forgive him.

Suddenly he thought again: "What if she's not there—what if she's gone?"

He had to go there himself, he couldn't just sit still and think about it.

Still, it didn't help that he stood up.

On Tuesday, it was the same.He did cheer up, and went to Carrie, but at Ogton Flats he seemed to see someone watching him, and he went away.He didn't go near the house.

One of the annoyances that had been caused by this trip was that when he came back in the Randolph Streetcar, he inadvertently turned diagonally across from the building where his son worked, which caused him heartache. extremely.He has visited his son several times, but now his son doesn't even tell him any information.None of the children seemed to notice his absence.Ah, ah, what a trick of fate.He went back to the office and chatted with his friends.Gossip seems to numb the pain.

This night he had dinner at Lecter Hotel, and immediately went back to the office after the meal.The hustle and bustle in the office is the only way out for him to relieve his worries.He took care of the minutiae and chatted with everyone.After everyone had left, he remained in the office, but the night watchman patrolled the front door to see if it was securely locked, and then he left.

By Wednesday, he received another polite letter from McGregor, James, and Hay.The letter said:

"Dear Sir: We have the honor to inform you that we, on behalf of Mrs. Julia Hurstwood, will file a lawsuit against you tomorrow (Wednesday) at [-]:[-] p.m. for divorce and post-divorce maintenance. If at this time In the absence of any previous indication from you, we shall assume that you have no intention of a settlement of any nature and act accordingly.

Sincerely, so and so"

"Reconciliation!" cried Hurstwood angrily. "Reconciliation!"

He shook his head again.

At this moment, the situation was in front of him, and he should be clear about the future.If he doesn't meet them, they're going to sue him right away.If he went, conditions would be made of him, and conditions would make his blood boil.He folded the letter and put it with the other.Then he put on his hat and went out for a walk in the neighborhood.

(End of this chapter)