sister carrie

Chapter 52 (2)

Chapter 30 In the Kingdom of Great Things: A Pilgrim's Dream (2)
"It can be profitable for the two of you to work together, right?" he asked.

"If you're an expert in the hotel business, you can judge for yourself," said the proprietor. "This is only one of two stores I own, the other is on Nassau Street. I can't take care of both by myself. If someone really knows this business, I don't care to start this family with him and let him run it."

"I've got quite a bit of experience," said Hurstwood graciously, though he was a little ashamed to mention the hotel owned by Fitzgerald and Moai.

"Well, take your respects, Mr. Wheeler," said the innkeeper.

He is only willing to sell one-third of the stock, equipment and reputation. Those who are willing to buy shares must pay 1000 yuan. In addition to his management skills, this transaction does not involve real estate, because the owner rented it from a real estate company. of.

It's a good deal, but for Hurstwood, it's a question of whether a one-third stake in this lot, a monthly income of $150, can support the usual household and a comfortable life. question.However, after so many failures, now that I have finally found what I need, there is no time to hesitate.Therefore, he decided to agree to a joint venture, paid 1000 yuan, and prepared to enter the store the next day.

His initial reaction was one of complacency.He told Carrie that, in his opinion, he had accomplished a remarkable arrangement.Restless, time offers room for further introspection.He found his partner very annoying.This person often gets drunk and loses his temper after drinking.This was one of the things Hurstwood was least accustomed to doing in business.Moreover, the business is still changing.The people who come here are not the same as the regular customers in Chicago.He found that it took a long time here to make friends.People were hurrying in and out, not looking for the pleasure of friendship, this was not a place for parties or small talk, days and weeks passed, and there was never a warm greeting every day like in Chicago.

Also, Hurstwood felt deeply that he had lost the acquaintance of the famous--the well-dressed elite enough to grace the average bar and bring news from far-flung high-ranking circles here and there. those people.For a whole month, not even one such person could be seen.By evening, he was still on duty, and he occasionally read in the evening papers about famous people he knew—people with whom he had drunk many times.These people would patronize bars like the Fitzgerald and the Moai, or the Hoffman's.However, he knew very well that these people would not patronize here.

Besides, the income from the business was not as good as he had thought.The income had increased a bit, but he found it annoying that he had to account for household expenses.

At first it was a pleasure to come home at night and find Carrie at home.He always managed to get home, eat with her at six or seven o'clock, and then stay at home until nine o'clock the next morning.However, after a while, the novelty wore off, and he began to feel burdened.

The first month was not over yet, and Carrie said in a very natural tone, "I think I'm going to the streets this week, to buy a dress."

"What kind?" said Hurstwood.

"Oh, it's for the street."

"Okay," he replied, smiling, though thinking that it was best for his economy if she didn't buy it.The matter was not mentioned the next day, and on the third morning he asked:

"Are you ready to go shopping for clothes?"

"Not yet," said Carrie.He hesitated for a moment, as if thinking of something, and then said:
"You don't mind a few days' delay, do you?"

"No," replied Carrie, who had not yet grasped the meaning of what he said.Regarding him, she never thought that he would be short of money, "Why?"

"Well, I tell you," said Hurstwood, "I'm going to spend a lot of money on this investment right now. I expect to get it all back in a short time, but money is tight right now."

"Oh!" said Carrie. "Of course, my dear. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's unnecessary," said Hurstwood.

In spite of her consent, there was, however, something in Hurstwood's words that reminded Carrie of Drouet and his favorite tricks.It was just a thought that flashed for a moment, but it was a start.It was a new feeling in her thoughts about Hurstwood.

Other things follow from time to time, they are all trivial things, and when they accumulate, they are equal to full exposure in the end.Carrie was by no means dull.Two people have lived together for a long time, it is impossible not to understand each other.A person's spiritual problems will always show up, whether he admits it or not.The difficulties a person encounters always show up and make people melancholy, which cannot be concealed.Hurstwood was well dressed, as usual, but that had been acquired in Canada.Carrie noticed that he had not acquired many clothes, though he had few.She also noticed that he rarely talked about playing outside.He never talked about food and only focused on business.This was not the dashing Hurstwood in Chicago--not the well-off Hurstwood she knew.The changes are too great to escape the detection of others.

Just at this time, she began to notice another change, that is, he didn't tell her everything.Obviously, he likes to sneak around and think about everything by himself.She found herself asking him only little things.For a woman, this is an unpleasant situation.Great love justifies it, sometimes makes it justifiable, but never satisfies.When there is not even a great love, a more definite conclusion will naturally be drawn, and it is also an unsatisfactory conclusion.

As for Hurstwood, he was making a heroic struggle against the hardships of changing circumstances.He was too shrewd to fail to realize that he had made a great mistake.He also realized that today's current situation is all due to hard work.But he could not help comparing his present state with his past state, hour by hour, day by day.

In addition, he is particularly afraid of meeting old friends from the past.Not long after he came to this city, he encountered such a situation once.He has been wary ever since.It was on Broadway, and he saw a man he knew walking towards him.It was too late for him to pretend not to know each other, the eyes they exchanged were too sharp, and each other's details were too clear.So the friend, a wholesale agent in Chicago, felt compelled to stop.

"How are you?" he said, holding out his hand, obviously showing such a complex state of mind that he felt it and didn't even have an expression of superficial happiness.

"Very well," said Hurstwood, equally embarrassed. "How are you?"

"Very well. I've come here to make a small purchase. Are you living here now?"

"Yes," said Hurstwood, "I have a shop in Warren Street."

"Is that so?" said the friend, "I'm glad to hear that. I'll visit you there another day."

"Welcome," said Hurstwood.

"Goodbye," said the man, walking forward with a broad smile on his face.

"He didn't ask for my house number," Hurstwood thought to himself, "he won't come." He wiped his damp forehead, hoping that he would never bump into it again. to someone else.

These things were not without their influence on his good-natured disposition, and indeed they were.His only hope was that, on the money side, things would get better.He had Carrie, the furniture was being paid, and his position was well secured.As for Carrie, the opportunities for entertainment he afforded her were manageable for the time being.He can keep pretending this matter for quite a long time without being exposed, so that everything will be fine.His blunder on these matters is that he fails to take into account the frailty of human nature—the awkwardness of married life.Carrie was young, and to him, as to her, changes of state of mind were commonplace.At any one time, the mood is likely to be absolutely different, manifested as a rivalry at the dinner table.This happens from time to time in the most temperate homes.The petty things that arise on such occasions require great love to later dispel them.If this cannot be done, the two sides will draw their own conclusions, which will cause problems later on.

(End of this chapter)