Chapter 28

APILGRIM,ANOUTLAW—THESPIRITDETAINED

ThecabhadnottraveledashortblockbeforeCarrie,settlingherselfandthoroughlywakinginthenightatmosphere,asked:

「What』sthematterwithhim.Ishehurtbadly.」

「Itisn』tanythingveryserious,」Hurstwoodsaidsolemnly.Hewasverymuchdisturbedoverhisownsituation,andnowthathehadCarriewithhim,heonlywantedtogetsafelyoutofreachofthelaw.Thereforehewasinnomoodforanythingsavesuchwordsaswouldfurtherhisplansdistinctly.

CarriedidnotforgetthattherewassomethingtobesettledbetweenherandHurstwood,butthethoughtwasignoredinheragitation.Theonethingwastofinishthisstrangepilgrimage.

「Whereishe.」

「WayoutontheSouthSide,」saidHurstwood.「We』llhavetotakethetrain.It』sthequickestway.」

Carriesaidnothing,andthehorsegamboledon.Theweirdnessofthecitybynightheldherattention.Shelookedatthelongrecedingrowsoflampsandstudiedthedark,silenthouses.

「Howdidhehurthimself.」sheasked—meaningwhatwasthenatureofhisinjuries.Hurstwoodunderstood.Hehatedtolieanymorethannecessary,andyethewantednoprotestsuntilhewasoutofdanger.

「Idon』tknowexactly,」hesaid.「Theyjustcalled

meuptogoandgetyouandbringyouout.Theysaidtherewasn』tanyneedforalarm,butthatIshouldn』tfailtobringyou.」

Theman』sseriousmannerconvincedCarrie,andshebecamesilent,wondering.

Hurstwoodexaminedhiswatchandurgedthemantohurry.Foroneinsodelicateapositionhewasexceedinglycool.Hecouldonlythinkofhowneedfulitwastomakethetrainandgetquietlyaway.Carrieseemedquitetractable,andhecongratulatedhimself.

Induetimetheyreachedthedepot,andafterhelpingherouthehandedthemanafive-dollarbillandhurriedon.

「Youwaithere,」hesaidtoCarrie,whentheyreachedthewaiting-room,「whileIgetthetickets.」

「HaveImuchtimetocatchthattrainforDetroit.」heaskedoftheagent.

「Fourminutes,」saidthelatter.

Hepaidfortwoticketsascircumspectlyaspossible.

「Isitfar.」saidCarrie,ashehurriedback.

「Notvery,」hesaid.「Wemustgetrightin.」

Hepushedherbeforehimatthegate,stoodbetweenherandtheticketmanwhilethelatterpunchedtheirtickets,sothatshecouldnotsee,andthenhurriedafter.

Therewasalonglineofexpressandpassengercarsandoneortwocommondaycoaches.Asthetrainhadonlyrecentlybeenmadeupandfewpassengerswereexpected,therewereonlyoneortwobrakemenwaiting.Theyenteredthereardaycoachandsatdown.Almostimmediately,「Allaboard,」resoundedfaintlyfromtheoutside,andthetrainstarted.

Carriebegantothinkitwasalittlebitcurious—thisgoingtoadepot—butsaidnothing.Thewholeincidentwassooutofthenaturalthatshedidnotattachtoomuchweighttoanythingsheimagined.

「Howhaveyoubeen.」askedHurstwoodgently,forhenowbreathedeasier.

「Verywell,」saidCarrie,whowassodisturbedthatshecouldnotbringaproperattitudetobearinthematter.ShewasstillnervoustoreachDrouetandseewhatcouldbethematter.Hurstwoodcontemplatedherandfeltthis.Hewasnotdisturbedthatitshouldbeso.Hedidnottroublebecauseshewasmovedsympatheticallyinthematter.Itwasoneofthequalitiesinherwhichpleasedhimexceedingly.Hewasonlythinkinghowheshouldexplain.Eventhiswasnotthemostseriousthinginhismind,however.Hisowndeedandpresentflightwerethegreatshadowswhichweigheduponhim.

「WhatafoolIwastodothat,」hesaidoverandover.「Whatamistake!」

Inhissobersenses,hecouldscarcelyrealizethatthethinghadbeendone.Hecouldnotbegintofeelthathewasafugitivefromjustice.Hehadoftenreadofsuchthings,andhadthoughttheymustbeterrible,butnowthatthethingwasuponhim,heonlysatandlookedintothepast.ThefuturewasathingwhichconcernedtheCanadianline.Hewantedtoreachthat.Asfortheresthesurveyedhisactionsfortheevening,andcountedthempartsofagreatmistake.

「Still,」hesaid,「whatcouldIhavedone.」

Thenhewoulddecidetomakethebestofit,andwouldbegintodosobystartingthewholeinquiryoveragain.Itwasafruitless,harassinground,andlefthiminaqueermoodtodealwiththepropositionhehadinthepresenceofCarrie.

Thetrainclackedthroughtheyardsalongthelakefront,andranratherslowlytoTwenty-fourthStreet.Brakesandsignalswerevisiblewithout.Theenginegaveshortcallswithitswhistle,andfrequentlythebellrang.Severalbrakemencamethrough,bearinglanterns.Theywerelockingthevestibulesandputtingthecarsinorderforalongrun.

Presentlyitbegantogainspeed,andCarriesawthesilentstreetsflashingbyinrapidsuccession.The

enginealsobeganitswhistle-callsoffourparts,withwhichitsignaleddangertoimportantcrossings.

「Isitveryfar.」askedCarrie.「Notsovery,」saidHurstwood.Hecouldhardlyrepressasmileathersimplicity.Hewantedtoexplainandconciliateher,buthealsowantedtobewelloutofChicago.

Inthelapseofanotherhalf-houritbecameapparenttoCarriethatitwasquitearuntowhereverhewastakingher,anyhow.

「IsitinChicago.」sheaskednervously.Theywerenowfarbeyondthecitylimits,andthetrainwasscuddingacrosstheIndianalineatagreatrate.

「No,」hesaid,「notwherewearegoing.」

Therewassomethinginthewayhesaidthiswhicharousedherinaninstant.

Herprettybrowbegantocontract.

「WearegoingtoseeCharlie,aren』twe.」sheasked.

Hefeltthatthetimewasup.Anexplanationmightaswellcomenowaslater.Therefore,heshookhisheadinthemostgentlenegative.

「What.」saidCarrie.Shewasnonplussedatthepossibilityoftheerrandbeingdifferentfromwhatshehadthought.

Heonlylookedatherinthemostkindlyandmollifyingway.

「Well,whereareyoutakingme,then.」sheasked,hervoiceshowingthequalityoffright.

「I』lltellyou,Carrie,ifyou』llbequiet.Iwantyoutocomealongwithmetoanothercity,」

「Oh,」saidCarrie,hervoicerisingintoaweakcry.「Letmeoff.Idon』twanttogowithyou.」

Shewasquiteappalledattheman』saudacity.Thiswassomethingwhichhadneverforamomententeredherhead.Heronethoughtnowwastogetoffandaway.Ifonlytheflyingtraincouldbestopped,theterribletrickwouldbeamended.

Shearoseandtriedtopushoutintotheaisle—anywhere.Sheknewshehadtodosomething.

Hurstwoodlaidagentlehandonher.

「Sitstill,Carrie,」hesaid.「Sitstill.Itwon』tdoyouanygoodtogetuphere.ListentomeandI』lltellyouwhatI』lldo.Waitamoment.」

Shewaspushingathisknees,butheonlypulledherback.Noonesawthislittlealtercation,forveryfewpersonswereinthecar,andtheywereattemptingtodoze.

「Iwon』t,」saidCarrie,whowas,nevertheless,complyingagainstherwill.「Letmego,」shesaid.「Howdareyou.」andlargetearsbegantogatherinhereyes.

Hurstwoodwasnowfullyarousedtotheimmediatedifficulty,andceasedtothinkofhisownsituation.Hemustdosomethingwiththisgirl,orshewouldcausehimtrouble.Hetriedtheartofpersuasionwithallhispowersaroused.

「Lookherenow,Carrie,」hesaid,「youmustn』tactthisway.Ididn』tmeantohurtyourfeelings.Idon』twanttodoanythingtomakeyoufeelbad.」

「Oh,」sobbedCarrie,「oh,oh—oo—o!」

「There,there,」hesaid,「youmustn』tcry.Won』tyoulistentome.Listentomeaminute,andI』lltellyouwhyIcametodothisthing.Icouldn』thelpit.IassureyouIcouldn』t.Won』tyoulisten.」

Hersobsdisturbedhimsothathewasquitesureshedidnothearawordhesaid.

「Won』tyoulisten.」heasked.

「No,Iwon』t,」saidCarrie,flashingup.「Iwantyoutotakemeoutofthis,orI』lltelltheconductor.Iwon』tgowithyou.It』sashame,」andagainsobsoffrightcutoffherdesireforexpression.

Hurstwoodlistenedwithsomeastonishment.Hefeltthatshehadjustcauseforfeelingasshedid,andyethewishedthathecouldstraightenthisthingoutquickly.Shortlytheconductorwouldcomethroughforthetickets.Hewantednonoise,notroubleofanykind.Beforeeverythinghemustmakeherquiet.

「Youcouldn』tgetoutuntilthetrainstopsagain,」saidHurstwood.「Itwon』tbeverylonguntilwereachanotherstation.Youcangetoutthenifyouwantto.Iwon』tstopyou.AllIwantyoutodoistolistenamoment.You』llletmetellyou,won』tyou.」

Carrieseemednottolisten.Sheonlyturnedherheadtowardthewindow,whereoutsideallwasblack.Thetrainwasspeedingwithsteadygraceacrossthefieldsandthroughpatchesofwood.Thelongwhistlescamewithsad,musicaleffectasthelonelywoodlandcrossingswereapproached.

NowtheconductorenteredthecarandtookuptheoneortwofaresthathadbeenaddedatChicago.HeapproachedHurstwood,whohandedoutthetickets.Poisedasshewastoact,Carriemadenomove.Shedidnotlookabout.

WhentheconductorhadgoneagainHurstwoodfeltrelieved.

「You』reangryatmebecauseIdeceivedyou,」hesaid.「Ididn』tmeanto,Carrie.AsIliveIdidn』t.Icouldn』thelpit.Icouldn』tstayawayfromyouafterthefirsttimeIsawyou.」

Hewasignoringthelastdeceptionassomethingthatmightgobytheboard.Hewantedtoconvinceherthathiswifecouldnolongerbeafactorintheirrelationship.Themoneyhehadstolenhetriedtoshutoutofhismind.

「Don』ttalktome,」saidCarrie,「Ihateyou.Iwantyoutogoawayfromme.Iamgoingtogetoutattheverynextstation.」

Shewasinatrembleofexcitementandoppositionasshespoke.

「Allright,」hesaid,「butyou』llhearmeout,won』tyou.Afterallyouhavesaidaboutlovingme,youmighthearme.Idon』twanttodoyouanyharm.I』llgiveyouthemoneytogobackwithwhenyougo.Imerelywanttotellyou,Carrie.Youcan』tstopmefromlovingyou,whateveryoumaythink.」

Helookedathertenderly,butreceivednoreply.「YouthinkIhavedeceivedyoubadly,butIhaven』t.Ididn』tdoitwillingly.I』mthroughwithmywife.Shehasn』tanyclaimsonme.I』llneverseeheranymore.That』swhyI』mheretonight.That』swhyIcameandgotyou.」

「YousaidCharliewashurt,」saidCarrie,savagely.「Youdeceivedme.You』vebeendeceivingmeallthetime,andnowyouwanttoforcemetorunawaywithyou.」

Shewassoexcitedthatshegotupandtriedtogetbyhimagain.Helether,andshetookanotherseat.Thenhefollowed.

「Don』trunawayfromme,Carrie,」hesaidgently.「Letmeexplain.IfyouwillonlyhearmeoutyouwillseewhereIstand.Itellyoumywifeisnothingtome.Shehasn』tbeenanythingforyearsorIwouldn』thaveevercomenearyou.I』mgoingtogetadivorcejustassoonasIcan.I』llneverseeheragain.I』mdonewithallthat.You』retheonlypersonIwant.IfIcanhaveyouIwon』teverthinkofanotherwomanagain.」

Carrieheardallthisinaveryruffledstate.Itsoundedsincereenough,however,despiteallhehaddone.TherewasatensenessinHurstwood』svoiceandmannerwhichcouldbuthavesomeeffect.Shedidnotwantanythingtodowithhim.Hewasmarried,hehaddeceivedheronce,andnowagain,andshethoughthimterrible.Stillthereissomethinginsuchdaringandpowerwhichisfascinatingtoawoman,especiallyifshecanbemadetofeelthatitisallpromptedbyloveofher.

Theprogressofthetrainwashavingagreatdealtodowiththesolutionofthisdifficultsituation.ThespeedingwheelsanddisappearingcountryputChicagofartherandfartherbehind.Carriecouldfeelthatshewasbeingbornealongdistanceoff-thattheenginewasmakinganalmostthroughruntosomedistantcity.Shefeltattimesasifshecouldcryoutandmake

sucharowthatsomeonewouldcometoheraid;atothertimesitseemedanalmostuselessthing—sofarwasshefromanyaid,nomatterwhatshedid.AllthewhileHurstwoodwasendeavoringtoformulatehispleainsuchawaythatitwouldstrikehomeandbringherintosympathywithhim.

「IwassimplyputwhereIdidn』tknowwhatelsetodo.」

Carriedeignednosuggestionofhearingthis.

「WhenIsayyouwouldn』tcomeunlessIcouldmarryyou,Idecidedtoputeverythingelsebehindmeandgetyoutocomeawaywithme.I』mgoingoffnowtoanothercity.IwanttogotoMontrealforawhile,andthenanywhereyouwantto.We』llgoandliveinNewYork,ifyousay.」

「I』llnothaveanythingtodowithyou,」saidCarrie.「Iwanttogetoffthistrain.Wherearewegoing.」

「ToDetroit,」saidHurstwood.

「Oh!」saidCarrie,inaburstofanguish.Sodistantanddefiniteapointseemedtoincreasethedifficulty.

「Won』tyoucomealongwithme.」hesaid,asiftherewasgreatdangerthatshewouldnot.「Youwon』tneedtodoanythingbuttravelwithme.I』llnottroubleyouinanyway.YoucanseeMontrealandNewYork,andthenifyoudon』twanttostayyoucangoback.Itwillbebetterthantryingtogobackto-night.」

ThefirstgleamoffairnessshoneinthispropositionforCarrie.Itseemedaplausiblethingtodo,muchasshefearedhisoppositionifshetriedtocarryitout.MontrealandNewYork!Evennowshewasspeedingtowardthosegreat,strangelands,andcouldseethemifsheliked.Shethought,butmadenosign.

Hurstwoodthoughthesawashadeofcomplianceinthis.Heredoubledhisardor.

「Think,」hesaid,「whatI』vegivenup.Ican』tgobacktoChicagoanymore.I』vegottostayawayandlivealonenow,ifyoudon』tcomewithme.Youwon』t

gobackonmeentirely,willyou,Carrie.」

「Idon』twantyoutotalktome,」sheansweredforcibly.

Hurstwoodkeptsilentforawhile.

Carriefeltthetraintobeslowingdown.Itwasthemomenttoactifshewastoactatall.Shestirreduneasily.

「Don』tthinkofgoing,Carrie,」hesaid.「Ifyouevercaredformeatall,comealongandlet』sstartright.I』lldowhateveryousay.I』llmarryyou,orI』llletyougoback.Giveyourselftimetothinkitover.Iwouldn』thavewantedyoutocomeifIhadn』tlovedyou.Itellyou,Carrie,beforeGod,Ican』tlivewithoutyou.Iwon』t!」

Therewasthetensityoffiercenessintheman』spleawhichappealeddeeplytohersympathies.Itwasadissolvingfirewhichwasactuatinghimnow.Hewaslovinghertoointenselytothinkofgivingherupinthis,hishourofdistress.Heclutchedherhandnervouslyandpresseditwithalltheforceofanappeal.

Thetrainwasnowallbutstopped.Itwasrunningbysomecarsonasidetrack.Everythingoutsidewasdarkanddreary.Afewsprinklesonthewindowbegantoindicatethatitwasraining.Carriehunginaquandary,balancingbetweendecisionandhelplessness.Nowthetrainstopped,andshewaslisteningtohisplea.Theenginebackedafewfeetandallwasstill.

Shewavered,totallyunabletomakeamove.Minuteafterminuteslippedbyandstillshehesitated,hepleading.

「WillyouletmecomebackifIwantto.」sheasked,asifshenowhadtheupperhandandhercompanionwasutterlysubdued.

「Ofcourse,」heanswered,「youknowIwill.」

Carrieonlylistenedasonewhohasgrantedatemporaryamnesty.Shebegantofeelasifthematterwereinherhandsentirely.

Thetrainwasagaininrapidmotion.Hurstwoodchangedthesubject.

「Aren』tyouverytired.」hesaid.

「No,」sheanswered.

「Won』tyouletmegetyouaberthinthesleeper.」

Sheshookherhead,thoughforallherdistressandhistrickeryshewasbeginningtonoticewhatshehadalwaysfelt—histhoughtfulness.

「Oh,yes,」hesaid,「youwillfeelsomuchbetter.」

Sheshookherhead.

「Letmefixmycoatforyou,anyway,」andhearoseandarrangedhislightcoatinacomfortablepositiontoreceiveherhead.

「There,」hesaidtenderly,「nowseeifyoucan』trestalittle.」Hecouldhavekissedherforhercompliance.Hetookhisseatbesideherandthoughtamoment.

「Ibelievewe』reinforaheavyrain,」hesaid.

「Soitlooks,」saidCarrie,whosenerveswerequietingunderthesoundoftheraindrops,drivenbyagustywind,asthetrainsweptonfranticallythroughtheshadowtoanewerworld.

ThefactthathehadinameasuremollifiedCarriewasasourceofsatisfactiontoHurstwood,butitfurnishedonlythemosttemporaryrelief.Nowthatheroppositionwasoutoftheway,hehadallofhistimetodevotetotheconsiderationofhisownerror.

Hisconditionwasbitterintheextreme,forhedidnotwantthemiserablesumhehadstolen.Hedidnotwanttobeathief.Thatsumoranyothercouldnevercompensateforthestatewhichhehadthusfoolishlydoffed.Itcouldnotgivehimbackhishostoffriends,hisname,hishouseandfamily,norCarrie,ashehadmeanttohaveher.HewasshutoutfromChicago—fromhiseasy,comfortablestate.Hehadrobbedhimselfofhisdignity,hismerrymeetings,hispleasantevenings.Andforwhat.Themorehethoughtofitthemoreunbearableitbecame.Hebegantothinkthathewouldtryandrestorehimselftohisoldstate.He

wouldreturnthemiserablethievingsofthenightandexplain.PerhapsMoywouldunderstand.Perhapstheywouldforgivehimandlethimcomeback.

BynoontimethetrainrolledintoDetroitandhebegantofeelexceedinglynervous.Thepolicemustbeonhistrackbynow.Theyhadprobablynotifiedallthepoliceofthebigcities,anddetectiveswouldbewatchingforhim.Herememberedinstancesinwhichdefaultershadbeencaptured.Consequently,hebreathedheavilyandpaledsomewhat.Hishandsfeltasiftheymusthavesomethingtodo.Hesimulatedinterestinseveralsceneswithoutwhichhedidnotfeel.Herepeatedlybeathisfootuponthefloor.

Carrienoticedhisagitation,butsaidnothing.Shehadnoideawhatitmeantorthatitwasimportant.

HewonderednowwhyhehadnotaskedwhetherthistrainwentonthroughtoMontrealorsomeCanadianpoint.Perhapshecouldhavesavedtime.Hejumpedupandsoughttheconductor.

「DoesanypartofthistraingotoMontreal.」heasked.

「Yes,thenextsleeperbackdoes.」

Hewouldhaveaskedmore,butitdidnotseemwise,sohedecidedtoinquireatthedepot.

Thetrainrolledintotheyards,clangingandpuffing.

「IthinkwehadbettergorightonthroughtoMontreal,」hesaidtoCarrie.「I』llseewhattheconnectionsarewhenwegetoff.」

Hewasexceedinglynervous,butdidhisbesttoputonacalmexterior.Carrieonlylookedathimwithlarge,troubledeyes.Shewasdriftingmentally,unabletosaytoherselfwhattodo.

ThetrainstoppedandHurstwoodledthewayout.Helookedwarilyaroundhim,pretendingtolookafterCarrie.Seeingnothingthatindicatedstudiedobservation,hemadehiswaytotheticketoffice.

「ThenexttrainforMontrealleaveswhen.」heasked.

「Intwentyminutes,」saidtheman.

HeboughttwoticketsandPullmanberths.ThenhehastenedbacktoCarrie.

「Wegorightoutagain,」hesaid,scarcelynoticingthatCarrielookedtiredandweary.

「IwishIwasoutofallthis,」sheexclaimedgloomily.

「You』llfeelbetterwhenwereachMontreal,」hesaid.

「Ihaven』tanearthlythingwithme,」saidCarrie;「notevenahandkerchief.」

「Youcanbuyallyouwantassoonasyougetthere,dearest,」heexplained.「Youcancallinadressmaker.」

Nowthecriercalledthetrainreadyandtheygoton.Hurstwoodbreathedasighofreliefasitstarted.Therewasashortruntotheriver,andtheretheywereferriedover.Theyhadbarelypulledthetrainofftheferry-boatwhenhesettledbackwithasigh.

「Itwon』tbesoverylongnow,」hesaid,rememberingherinhisrelief.「Wegettherethefirstthinginthemorning.」

Carriescarcelydeignedtoreply.

「I』llseeifthereisadining-car,」headded.「I』mhungry.」