sister carrie

Chapter 74 (1)

Chapter 42 Spring Dew: People go to the empty building (1)
Anyone who sees Hurstwood's trip to Brooklyn as an error of judgment also appreciates the negative effect on him of the fact that he tried and failed.Carrie had a wrong idea about this.He talked so little that she thought that what he encountered was nothing more than ordinary rudeness--to quit in the face of such a trifle.He doesn't want to work at all.

She was now one of the group of oriental beauties whom, in the second act of the comic opera, the magistrate brought to show off to the new prince as the treasures of his harem.They were not given their lines in the play, but on that evening, when Hurstwood hid himself in the attic of the streetcar garage, the leading comedian and star felt the ludicrousness of the situation, and In a deep tone, he said something that caused a burst of laughter:
"Well, who are you?"

It so happened that it was Carrie who saluted before him.To him, it doesn't matter if someone else says so.He didn't expect an answer, and he was reprimanded for answering dullly.It was Carrie, however, who, by experience and conviction, dared her to do so, to salute sweetly once more, and to reply:

"I belong to you" ("I belong to you") is a cliché that is usually used to end a letter. Carrie uses it in the play to answer the king's question in the play, which appears to be a semantic pun and restores the cliché. Original meaning.—Translator.).”

It should have been a trivial matter, but the tone in which she said it had the audience laughing and laughing at the posturing new king standing in front of the beautiful woman.Comedians are also happy to hear the laughter.

"I thought your name was Smith," he replied, trying to get the last laugh.

Carrie was almost trembling herself after daring to say this.All actors have been warned, adding lines or actions without authorization means a fine or a heavier punishment.She didn't know what to do.

As she stood in her appointed place on the wings of the stage, waiting to enter again, the great comedian exited, walked by her, and stopped when he saw her.

"You might as well leave that for later," he said.He found how clever she was, "but no more."

"Thank you," said Carrie humbly.As he walked forward, she found herself shaking like something.

"Ah, lucky you," said one of the ensemble dancers, "none of us had a line."

The value of this thing is undeniable.Everyone in the troupe realized she had an opportunity to thrive.Carrie was secretly glad that the lines were delivered to the same applause the next night.She came home elated, knowing that good things were bound to follow.But it was the very presence of Hurstwood that made her think away.These thoughts were replaced by a strong desire to end this misfortune.

The next day, she asked him about it.

"They don't drive a car without police protection. They don't want anyone now—not until next week."

Next week came, but Carrie saw no change.Hurstwood seemed even more insensitive than before.He saw her go out to rehearse in the morning or something, with a calm expression on his face.He read newspapers and newspapers.On several occasions, he himself found himself looking at the news and thinking of something else.The first time he lost his mind was when he saw a piece of news about a rave party held by the driving association he also attended.As he sat there, staring down, he gradually felt as if he heard voices and clinking glasses from the past.

"You're a dandy, Hurstwood," said his friend Wall.He was standing again, well-dressed, smiling, good-natured, and was praised for telling a sweet story.

He raised his head suddenly, the room was so silent and gloomy.He heard the ticking of the bell, very crisp.He wondered a little if he had fallen asleep.The newspaper is clearly out of his hands, and the news he read is clearly still in front of him.Therefore, he dismissed the idea that he had fallen asleep.But things are still a little weird.However, when such a situation happened the second time, it didn't seem so strange.

The butcher, the grocer, the baker, the coal store--not the men he was dealing with now, but the men who trusted him--called.He treated them all kindly, and cleverly found some excuses.In the end, he was impolite, pretending to go out, or to drive them away.

"Oil cannot be squeezed from a stone," he said. "If I had money, I would have paid you."

Carrie's friend, the little soldier Miss Osborne, saw that Carrie was becoming popular, and became a satellite of her.Little Osborne could not have accomplished much by herself.She realized this like a kitten, and instinctively decided to reach out her tender little paws and take Carrie firmly.

"Oh, you're going to be popular," she often said adoringly, "you're wonderful."

Carrie, though timid, may be very patient.Since other people trust her, this makes her feel that she will definitely become popular.And once she thinks that she will definitely become popular, she will become bolder.Human experience and practical needs were in her favour.Now it's no longer a man's word that can make her dizzy.She has learned that people will change and fail.Explicit flattery has no effect on her.It took good qualities to move her--kind and good qualities--good qualities in a genius like Ames.

"I don't like the actors in our troupe," she said to Laura one day. "They're all egotistical."

"You think Mr. Barclay is very nice?" Laura asked.Once or twice Mr Barclay smiled modestly at her.

"Oh, he's pretty good," said Carrie, "but he doesn't mean it. He always puts on that air."

Laura first tried to influence Carrie in the following ways:
"You pay rent for the room you live in, don't you?"

"Of course," replied Carrie. "What's the matter?"

"I know I can get the loveliest room and bathroom and it's cheap. It's too big for me, but it's just fine for two, and it's only six dollars a week for two."

"Where is it?" asked Carrie.

"On No. 17 Street."

"Well, I don't know if I want to move yet," said Carrie, already thinking about the three dollars' rent.She was thinking, if she was only responsible for herself, then this way she could save 17 yuan for herself.

For the time being the matter went nowhere, until Hurstwood went to Brooklyn, and she herself performed the speaking part with success.After this she began to feel as if she must be free.She thought of leaving Hurstwood and letting him fend for himself.However, he has developed a special temper, and she is deeply afraid that if he abandons him like this, he will resist.He may have come to find her at the place where the play was played, and followed her like this.It's not that she's sure he'll do this, it's just that he might make a bad move.This troubled her very much.It would be difficult if he made a fool of himself, she knew that.For this, she was very troubled.

This brought the situation to a head as she was asked to take a better role.An actor who played the shy lover notified the troupe of his departure, and Carrie was cast.

"How much will you get?" Osborne asked when he heard the good news.

"I didn't ask him," said Carrie.

"Well, just ask. Well, if you don't ask, you can't get anything. Tell them, you must have forty dollars."

"Oh, no," said Carrie.

"Sure!" cried Laura. "Ask them anyway."

Carrie yielded to repeated urgings.However, she waited until the manager told her what clothes to wear to match the role.

"So how much do I get?" she asked.

"Thirty-five dollars," he replied.

Carrie was so surprised that she forgot to mention the 40 yuan.She was almost carried away with joy, and almost took Laura in her arms, when Laura heard the news and hugged her.

"You deserve more than that," Laura said, "and you have to buy clothes."

Carrie was startled at the thought.Where to get money? She has no savings for emergencies.The day to pay the rent is approaching again.

"I'm not paying rent," she said to herself, thinking of her immediate need. "I'm not using that apartment. I'm not paying this time. I'm moving."

Miss Osborne saw this, and made another proposition, this time with more urgency.

"Come and live with me, will you?" she begged. "We can have the loveliest room. It won't cost you much."

"I would," said Carrie honestly.

"Oh, that's great," said Lola, "we'll have a good time."

Carrie thought for a moment.

"I think I will," she said, and then added, "I've got to see it first, though."

With this resolution, and with the looming rent and the impending payment of the clothes, she found an excuse for Hurstwood's idleness.He talked less and looked more downcast.

As the day of paying the rent approached, he had an idea.The creditor pressed him, but he couldn't delay any longer, which further strengthened his idea.The rent of 28 yuan is too expensive. "It's a burden," he thought, "and we might as well find a place cheaper."

With this thought in mind, he said at breakfast:
"Do you think our rent is too expensive?" he asked.

"Yes, I see it that way, too," said Carrie, without understanding what it meant.

"I think we might as well find a smaller place," he suggested. "We don't need four rooms."

If he had watched her carefully, he could have seen her face bewildered by his express determination to live with her.He asked her to lower her standards, which he thought was nothing special.

"Oh, I don't know," she replied.She became careful.

(End of this chapter)