sister carrie

Chapter 47 (1)

Chapter 28 A journey, a gangster who slipped through the net: an elf was detained (1)
The carriage hadn't walked a few steps, and Carrie, who was very awake in the night, sat down and asked:

"What's the matter with him? Was he hurt?"

"Not too serious," said Hurstwood, solemnly.He was very troubled by his own situation, and now that Carrie was by his side, he just wanted to escape from the law as soon as possible.Therefore, he has no intention of saying anything other than what will greatly benefit his own plan.

Carrie did not forget that she and Hurstwood had business to settle, but she dismissed the thought in her agitation.The first thing to tackle is to complete this weird journey.

"where is he?"

"On the outskirts of the South End," said Hurstwood, "we must go by train. It's the quickest way."

Carrie said nothing, and the horse galloped on.The strange sight of the city at night caught her attention.She looked at the long series of street lamps receding swiftly on either side, and at the dark, silent houses.

"How did he hurt himself?" she asked—meaning about the condition of the injury.Hurstwood understood.He also didn't want to lie any more than necessary, though he didn't want to hear complaints until he was out of danger.

"I don't know exactly," he said. "They just called me up and came to find you and take you out. They said don't panic, but I must take you."

The seriousness of the man's manner convinced Carrie, and she fell silent, thinking.

Hurstwood looked at his watch and urged the driver to hurry.For a man in such a difficult situation, he was very calm.All he could think about was how to catch the train and get away quietly.Carrie seemed to be quite manageable, which was to his satisfaction.

They arrived at the station in time.He helped Carrie out of the carriage, gave the coachman a five-dollar bill, and hurried to the station.

"You wait here," he said to Carrie when they were in the waiting-room, "and I'll buy a ticket."

"Can I get on this Detroit-bound bus?" he asked the conductor.

"Four more minutes," said the conductor.

He paid for both tickets as carefully as possible.

"Is it far?" asked Carrie as he hurried back.

At the door he pushed her ahead of him, stood between her and the conductor, who checked the tickets so that she could not see, and hurried on.

There was a long train of express trains, passenger cars and a two-car regular passenger car.Since the car had only been compiled recently, there were not many passengers expected, so there were only one or two brakes waiting on the side.They walked into an ordinary passenger car at the back and sat down. "Passengers, please get in the car." A low voice sounded outside the carriage almost at the same time, and the car started.

Carrie began to think that something was wrong--this way at the station--but said nothing.The whole thing was so abnormal that she didn't take anything she imagined seriously.

"How do you feel?" asked Hurstwood tenderly, breathing easier now at last.

"Very well," said Carrie, who was so disturbed that she did not know what to do.To go to Drouet to see what was going on still made her a little flustered.Hurstwood looked her over, and felt it in her.He was not displeased by this, nor did he think it strange, for she had shown sympathy in Drouet's injury, which was one aspect of her character which he particularly liked.All he was thinking about now was how he should explain it.However, even this is not the biggest thing in his heart.What he had done himself and his escape now were the biggest shadows that weighed on his heart.

"What a fool I was," he said over and over again, "what a mistake!"

When he was sober, he could hardly comprehend what he had done.He couldn't imagine himself as a fugitive trying to escape the law.He used to read about things like this and think how terrible they must be, but now it happened to him and he just sat and thought about it.As for the future, that is the border between Canada and the United States, and he will rush to that side.Besides, he reviewed his various actions one by one at night, and thought that they were just aspects of a big mistake.

"But," he said, "what else can I do?"

Then he will make up his mind to try to redeem it, and start by going over the whole thing all over again.It was a useless and irritating set of repetitions, which only allowed myself to ponder matters with strange emotions in Carrie's presence.

The train rumbles along the parking lot by the lake, heading slowly towards No.20 Shijo Street.The brakes and lights were visible from outside, the engine whined and the bell rang now and then.A few brakemen came over with lights. They were locking the doors of the train and tidying up the carriages for a long journey.

The car accelerated for a moment, and Carrie saw the quiet streets flash past.The engine also began to whistle four times in a row, as a danger signal at an important intersection.

"Soon?" asked Carrie.

"Not too far," said Hurstwood.He couldn't help laughing at her innocence.He wanted to explain to her and calm her down, but he also hoped to get out of Chicago safely.

After another half hour passed, it also seemed obvious to Carrie that it was a long way to go where he was taking her.

"Is it in Chicago?" she asked uneasily. They were far away from the city now, and the car was flying over the Indiana River at high speed.

"No," he said, "that's not where we're going."

Something between his words immediately aroused her vigilance.

Her beautiful forehead began to wrinkle.

"We're going to see Charlie, aren't we?" she asked.

He felt that the time had come, and it was no worse to explain now than to explain later.Therefore, he shook his head in the most gentle manner in the negative.

"What?" said Carrie.The purpose of this trip may be different from what she thought, and such a thought surprised her.

He just looked at her with a very kind and reassuring look.

"Well, where are you taking me then?" she asked, with panic in her voice.

"If you will keep quiet, Carrie, I will tell you. I want you to come with me to another city."

"Oh," said Carrie, raising her voice in a weak cry, "let me down, I don't want to go with you."

She was horrified by the audacity of this man, something that had never crossed her mind.Her only thought now was to leave as soon as possible.If only the speeding train would stop, so that this terrible trick would be broken.

She stood up, trying to escape into the passage—anywhere, anyway.She knew she had to find a way.But Hurstwood held her with a tender hand.

"Sit still, Carrie," he said. "Sit still and stand up. Listen to me. I'll tell you what I've done. Wait a minute."

She pushed him away, but he pulled her back.No one saw the quarrel, because there were not many people in the carriage, and they were all dozing off.

"I don't," said Carrie, but yielded again against her will. "Let me go," she said. "How dare you?" Big tears began to flow.

Hurstwood now saw his difficulties clearly, and no longer thought only of his own situation.He had to deal with this girl first, otherwise he would get into trouble.He used all his skills to persuade.

"Listen, Carrie," he said, "don't do it. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I don't want to do anything to displease you."

"Oh," sobbed Carrie, "oh-oh-oh!"

"Okay, okay," he said, "don't you cry. Listen to me, okay? Listen to me for a minute, and I'll tell you why I did it. There's nothing I can do, I just have to. You Listen to it, will you?"

Her sobbing made him very irritable, and he was sure she didn't hear a word he had to say.

"Listen here, will you?" he asked.

"No, I don't want to hear it," said Carrie, furiously. "I want you to let me out of here or I'm going to tell the driver. It's a disgrace that I won't go with you." Then there was another sob, and she wishes cannot be expressed.

Hurstwood was astonished.He felt that she had her legitimate reasons for thinking this way, and he just wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible.It won't be long before the ticket inspector is coming to check the ticket.He didn't want any quarrels, any troubles.Above all, she must be quieted.

"You can't get out until the train arrives," said Hurstwood, "and it won't be long before you get to the next station. Then, if you want to get off, you can get off. I won't stop you. My only My request is that you listen. Let me tell you, shall I?"

Carrie didn't seem to want to listen, but she just turned her head and looked out of the window.It was pitch black outside the window.The train was moving at normal speed across the fields and through the bushes, and the long whistle blew a mournful note as it approached a wild woodland crossroads.

At this moment the conductor came into the car and checked a ticket or two for the Chicago boarding.They approached Hurstwood, who handed him the ticket.Carrie seemed to want to move, but she did not.She did not look around.

Hurstwood was relieved when the conductor left.

"You're angry with me because I lied to you," he said. "I didn't mean to, Carrie, I really didn't mean to. It happened to me. Since I first saw you, I never I can't live without you."

He didn't think the last lie wouldn't work.He wanted to convince her that her wife was no longer a factor in their relationship.As for the money he stole, he would drive it from his heart.

"Don't talk to me," said Carrie. "I hate you. I want you to go away, and I'll be off at the next stop."

When she said it, she was very excited and disgusted.

"Okay," he said, "but hear me out, okay? Since you said you loved me, you can listen to me. I don't want to hurt you, and I can Here's to you. I just wanted to tell you, Carrie. Whatever you think, you can't keep me from loving you."

He looked at her with great tenderness, but received no answer.

(End of this chapter)