Chapter 29

THESOLACEOFTRAVEL—THEBOATSOFTHESEA

Totheuntraveled,territoryotherthantheirownfamiliarheathisinvariablyfascinating.Nexttolove,itistheonethingwhichsolacesanddelights.Thingsnewaretooimportanttobeneglected,andmind,whichisamerereflectionofsensoryimpressions,succumbstothefloodofobjects.Thusloversareforgotten,sorrowslaidaside,deathhiddenfromview.Thereisaworldofaccumulatedfeelingbackofthetritedramaticexpression—「Iamgoingaway.」

AsCarrielookedoutupontheflyingsceneryshealmostforgotthatshehadbeentrickedintothislongjourneyagainstherwillandthatshewaswithoutthenecessaryapparelfortraveling.ShequiteforgotHurstwood』spresenceattimes,andlookedawaytohomelyfarmhousesandcozycottagesinvillageswithwonderingeyes.Itwasaninterestingworldtoher.Herlifehadjustbegun.Shedidnotfeelherselfdefeatedatall.Neitherwassheblastedinhope.Thegreatcityheldmuch.Possiblyshewouldcomeoutofbondageintofreedom—whoknows.Perhapsshewouldbehappy.Thesethoughtsraisedherabovetheleveloferring.Shewassavedinthatshewashopeful.

ThefollowingmorningthetrainpulledsafelyintoMontrealandtheysteppeddown,Hurstwoodgladtobeoutofdanger,Carriewonderingatthenovelatmosphereofthenortherncity.Longbefore,Hurstwoodhadbeenhere,andnowheremembered

thenameofthehotelatwhichhehadstopped.Astheycameoutofthemainentranceofthedepothehearditcalledanewbyabusman.

「We』llgorightupandgetrooms,」hesaid.

Attheclerk』sofficeHurstwoodswungtheregisteraboutwhiletheclerkcameforward.Hewasthinkingwhatnamehewouldputdown.Withthelatterbeforehimhefoundnotimeforhesitation.Anamehehadseenoutofthecarwindowcameswiftlytohim.Itwaspleasingenough.Withaneasyhandhewrote,「G.W.Murdockandwife.」Itwasthelargestconcessiontonecessityhefeltlikemaking.Hisinitialshecouldnotspare.

WhentheywereshowntheirroomCarriesawatoncethathehadsecuredheralovelychamber.

「Youhaveabaththere,」saidhe.「Nowyoucancleanupwhenyougetready.」

Carriewentoverandlookedoutthewindow,whileHurstwoodlookedathimselfintheglass.Hefeltdustyandunclean.Hehadnotrunk,nochangeoflinen,notevenahair-brush.

「I』llringforsoapandtowels,」hesaid,「andsendyouupahairbrush.Thenyoucanbatheandgetreadyforbreakfast.I』llgoforashaveandcomebackandgetyou,andthenwe』llgooutandlookforsomeclothesforyou.」

Hesmiledgood-naturedlyashesaidthis.

「Allright,」saidCarrie.

Shesatdowninoneoftherocking-chairs,whileHurstwoodwaitedfortheboy,whosoonknocked.

「Soap,towels,andapitcherofice-water.」

「Yes,sir.」

「I』llgonow,」hesaidtoCarrie,comingtowardherandholdingouthishands,butshedidnotmovetotakethem.

「You』renotmadatme,areyou.」heaskedsoftly.

「Oh,no!」sheanswered,ratherindifferently.

「Don』tyoucareformeatall.」

Shemadenoanswer,butlookedsteadilytowardthewindow.

「Don』tyouthinkyoucouldlovemealittle.」hepleaded,takingoneofherhands,whichsheendeavoredtodrawaway.「Youoncesaidyoudid.」

「Whatmadeyoudeceivemeso.」askedCarrie.

「Icouldn』thelpit,」hesaid,「Iwantedyoutoomuch.」

「Youdidn』thaveanyrighttowantme,」sheanswered,strikingcleanlyhome.

「Oh,well,Carrie,」heanswered,「hereIam.It』stoolatenow.Won』tyoutryandcareformealittle.」

Helookedratherworstedinthoughtashestoodbeforeher.

Sheshookherheadnegatively.

「Letmestartalloveragain.Bemywifefromto-dayon.」

Carrieroseupasiftostepaway,heholdingherhand.Nowheslippedhisarmaboutherandshestruggled,butinvain.Heheldherquiteclose.Instantlythereflamedupinhisbodytheallcompellingdesire.Hisaffectiontookanardentform.

「Letmego,」saidCarrie,whowasfoldedclosetohim.

「Won』tyouloveme.」hesaid.「Won』tyoubeminefromnowon.」

Carriehadneverbeenill-disposedtowardhim.Onlyamomentbeforeshehadbeenlisteningwithsomecomplacency,rememberingheroldaffectionforhim.Hewassohandsome,sodaring!

Now,however,thisfeelinghadchangedtooneofopposition,whichrosefeebly.Itmasteredherforamoment,andthen,heldcloseasshewas,begantowane.Somethingelseinherspoke.Thisman,towhosebosomshewasbeingpressed,wasstrong;hewaspassionate,helovedher,andshewasalone.Ifshedidnotturntohim—acceptofhislove—whereelsemightshego.Herresistancehalfdissolvedinthe

floodofhisstrongfeeling.

Shefoundhimliftingherheadandlookingintohereyes.Whatmagnetismtherewasshecouldneverknow.Hismanysins,however,wereforthemomentallforgotten.

Hepressedhercloserandkissedher,andshefeltthatfurtheroppositionwasuseless.

「Willyoumarryme.」sheasked,forgettinghow.

「Thisveryday,」hesaid,withalldelight.

Nowthehall-boypoundedonthedoorandhereleasedhisholduponherregretfully.

「Yougetreadynow,willyou,」hesaid,「atonce.」

「Yes,」sheanswered.

「I』llbebackinthree-quartersofanhour.」

Carrie,flushedandexcited,movedawayasheadmittedtheboy.

Belowstairs,hehaltedinthelobbytolookforabarbershop.Forthemoment,hewasinfinefeather.HisrecentvictoryoverCarrieseemedtoatoneformuchhehadenduredduringthelastfewdays.Lifeseemedworthfightingfor.Thiseastwardflightfromallthingscustomaryandattachedseemedasifitmighthavehappinessinstore.Thestormshowedarainbowattheendofwhichmightbeapotofgold.

Hewasabouttocrosstoalittlered-and-whitestripedbarwhichwasfastenedupbesideadoorwhenavoicegreetedhimfamiliarly.Instantlyhisheartsank.「Why,hello,George,oldman!」saidthevoice.「Whatareyoudoingdownhere.」

Hurstwoodwasalreadyconfronted,andrecognizedhisfriendKenny,thestock-broker.

「Justattendingtoalittleprivatematter,」heanswered,hismindworkinglikeakey-boardofatelephonestation.Thismanevidentlydidnotknow—hehadnotreadthepapers.

「Well,itseemsstrangetoseeyouwayuphere,」saidMr.Kennygenially.「Stoppinghere.」

「Yes,」saidHurstwooduneasily,thinkingofhishandwritingontheregister.

「Goingtobeintownlong.」

「No,onlyadayorso.」

「Isthatso.Hadyourbreakfast.」

「Yes,」saidHurstwood,lyingblandly.「I』mjustgoingforashave.」

「Won』tyoucomehaveadrink.」

「Notuntilafterwards,」saidtheex-manager.「I』llseeyoulater.Areyoustoppinghere.」

「Yes,」saidMr.Kenny,andthen,turningthewordagainadded:「HowarethingsoutinChicago.」

「Aboutthesameasusual,」saidHurstwood,smilinggenially.

「Wifewithyou.」

「No.」

「Well,Imustseemoreofyouto-day.I』mjustgoinginhereforbreakfast.Comeinwhenyou』rethrough.」

「Iwill,」saidHurstwood,movingaway.Thewholeconversationwasatrialtohim.Itseemedtoaddcomplicationswithveryword.Thismancalledupathousandmemories.Herepresentedeverythinghehadleft.Chicago,hiswife,theelegantresort-allthesewereinhisgreetingandinquiries.Andherehewasinthissamehotelexpectingtoconferwithhim,unquestionablywaitingtohaveagoodtimewithhim.AllatoncetheChicagopaperswouldarrive.

Thelocalpaperswouldhaveaccountsinthemthisveryday.HeforgothistriumphwithCarrieinthepossibilityofsoonbeingknownforwhathewas,inthisman』seyes,asafe-breaker.Hecouldhavegroanedashewentintothebarbershop.Hedecidedtoescapeandseekamoresecludedhotel.

Accordingly,whenhecameouthewasgladtoseethelobbyclear,andhastenedtowardthestairs.HewouldgetCarrieandgooutbytheladies』entrance.Theywouldhavebreakfastinsomemoreinconspicuousplace.

Acrossthelobby,however,anotherindividualwassurveyinghim.HewasofacommonplaceIrishtype,smallofstature,cheaplydressed,andwithaheadthatseemedasmallereditionofsomehugewardpolitician』s.Thisindividualhadbeenevidentlytalkingwiththeclerk,butnowhesurveyedtheex-managerkeenly.

Hurstwoodfeltthelong-rangeexaminationandrecognizedthetype.Instinctivelyhefeltthatthemanwasadetective—thathewasbeingwatched.Hehurriedacross,pretendingnottonotice,butinhismindwasaworldofthoughts.Whatwouldhappennow.Whatcouldthesepeopledo.Hebegantotroubleconcerningtheextraditionlaws.Hedidnotunderstandthemabsolutely.Perhapshecouldbearrested.Oh,ifCarrieshouldfindout!Montrealwastoowarmforhim.Hebegantolongtobeoutofit.

Carriehadbathedandwaswaitingwhenhearrived.Shelookedrefreshed—moredelightfulthanever,butreserved.Sincehehadgoneshehadresumedsomewhatofhercoldattitudetowardshim.Lovewasnotblazinginherheart.Hefeltit,andhistroublesseemedincreased.Hecouldnottakeherinhisarms;hedidnoteventry.Somethingaboutherforbadeit.Inparthisopinionwastheresultofhisownexperiencesandreflectionsbelowstairs.

「You』reready,areyou.」hesaidkindly.

「Yes,」sheanswered.

「We』llgooutforbreakfast.Thisplacedownheredoesn』tappealtomeverymuch.」

「Allright,」saidCarrie.

Theywentout,andatthecornerthecommonplaceIrishindividualwasstanding,eyeinghim.Hurstwoodcouldscarcelyrefrainfromshowingthatheknewofthischap』spresence.Theinsolenceinthefellow』seyewasgalling.Stilltheypassed,andheexplainedtoCarrieconcerningthecity.Anotherrestaurantwasnotlonginshowingitself,andheretheyentered.

「Whataqueertownthisis,」saidCarrie,who

marveledatitsolelybecauseitwasnotlikeChicago.

「ItIsn』taslivelyasChicago,」saidHurstwood.「Don』tyoulikeit.」

「No,」saidCarrie,whosefeelingswerealreadylocalizedinthegreatWesterncity.

「Well,itisn』tasinteresting,」saidHurstwood.

「What』shere.」askedCarrie,wonderingathischoosingtovisitthistown.

「Nothingmuch,」returnedHurstwood.「It』squitearesort.There』ssomeprettysceneryabouthere.」

Carrielistened,butwithafeelingofunrest.Therewasmuchabouthersituationwhichdestroyedthepossibilityofappreciation.

「Wewon』tstayherelong,」saidHurstwood,whowasnowreallygladtonoteherdissatisfaction.「Youpickoutyourclothesassoonasbreakfastisoverandwe』llrundowntoNewYorksoon.You』lllikethat.It』salotmorelikeacitythananyplaceoutsideChicago.」

Hewasreallyplanningtoslipoutandaway.Hewouldseewhatthesedetectiveswoulddo—whatmovehisemployersatChicagowouldmake—thenhewouldslipaway—downtoNewYork,whereitwaseasytohide.Heknewenoughaboutthatcitytoknowthatitsmysteriesandpossibilitiesofmystificationwereinfinite.

Themorehethought,however,themorewretchedhissituationbecame.Hesawthatgettingheredidnotexactlyclearuptheground.Thefirmwouldprobablyemploydetectivestowatchhim-PinkertonmenoragentsofMooneyandBoland.TheymightarresthimthemomenthetriedtoleaveCanada.Sohemightbecompelledtoremainheremonths,andinwhatastate!

BackatthehotelHurstwoodwasanxiousandyetfearfultoseethemorningpapers.Hewantedtoknowhowfarthenewsofhiscriminaldeedhadspread.SohetoldCarriehewouldbeupinafewmoments,andwenttosecureandscanthedailies.Nofamiliarorsuspiciousfaceswereabout,andyethedidnotlikereadinginthelobby,sohesoughtthemainparlorontheflooraboveand,seatedbyawindowthere,lookedthemover.Verylittlewasgiventohiscrime,butitwasthere,several「sticks」inall,amongalltheriffraffoftelegraphedmurders,accidents,marriages,andothernews.Hewished,halfsadly,thathecouldundoitall.Everymomentofhistimeinthisfar-offabodeofsafetybutaddedtohisfeelingthathehadmadeagreatmistake.Therecouldhavebeenaneasierwayoutifhehadonlyknown.

Heleftthepapersbeforegoingtotheroom,thinkingthustokeepthemoutofthehandsofCarrie.

「Well,howareyoufeeling.」heaskedofher.Shewasengagedinlookingoutofthewindow.

「Oh,allright,」sheanswered.

Hecameover,andwasabouttobeginaconversationwithher,whenaknockcameattheirdoor.

「Maybeit』soneofmyparcels,」saidCarrie.

Hurstwoodopenedthedoor,outsideofwhichstoodtheindividualwhomhehadsothoroughlysuspected.

「You』reMr.Hurstwood,areyou.」saidthelatter,withavolumeofaffectedshrewdnessandassurance.

「Yes,」saidHurstwoodcalmly.Heknewthetypesothoroughlythatsomeofhisoldfamiliarindifferencetoitreturned.Suchmenasthesewereoftheloweststratumwelcomedattheresort.Hesteppedoutandclosedthedoor.

「Well,youknowwhatIamherefor,don』tyou.」saidthemanconfidentially.

「Icanguess,」saidHurstwoodsoftly.

「Well,doyouintendtotryandkeepthemoney.」

「That』smyaffair,」saidHurstwoodgrimly.

「Youcan』tdoit,youknow,」saidthedetective,eyeinghimcoolly.

「Lookhere,myman,」saidHurstwoodauthoritatively,「youdon』tunderstandanythingaboutthiscase,andIcan』texplaintoyou.WhateverIintendtodoI』lldowithoutadvicefromtheoutside.You』llhavetoexcuseme.」「Well,now,there』snouseofyourtalkingthatway,」saidtheman,「whenyou』reinthehandsofthepolice.Wecanmakealotoftroubleforyouifwewantto.You』renotregisteredrightinthishouse,youhaven』tgotyourwifewithyou,andthenewspapersdon』tknowyou』rehereyet.Youmightaswellbereasonable.」

「Whatdoyouwanttoknow.」askedHurstwood.

「Whetheryou』regoingtosendbackthatmoneyornot.」

Hurstwoodpausedandstudiedthefloor.

「There』snouseexplainingtoyouaboutthis,」hesaidatlast.「There』snouseofyouraskingme.I』mnofool,youknow.Iknowjustwhatyoucandoandwhatyoucan』t.Youcancreatealotoftroubleifyouwantto.Iknowthatallright,butitwon』thelpyoutogetthemoney.Now,I』vemadeupmymindwhattodo.I』vealreadywrittenFitzgeraldandMoy,sothere』snothingIcansay.Youwaituntilyouhearmorefromthem.」

Allthetimehehadbeentalkinghehadbeenmovingawayfromthedoor,downthecorridor,outofthehearingofCarrie.Theywerenowneartheendwherethecorridoropenedintothelargegeneralparlor.

「Youwon』tgiveitup.」saidtheman.

ThewordsirritatedHurstwoodgreatly.Hotbloodpouredintohisbrain.Manythoughtsformulatedthemselves.Hewasnothief.Hedidn』twantthemoney.IfhecouldonlyexplaintoFitzgeraldandMoy,maybeitwouldbeallrightagain.

「Seehere,」hesaid,「there』snousemytalkingaboutthisatall.Irespectyourpowerallright,butI』llhavetodealwiththepeoplewhoknow.」

「Well,youcan』tgetoutofCanadawithit,」saidtheman.

「Idon』twanttogetout,」saidHurstwood.「WhenIgetreadythere』llbenothingtostopmefor.」

Heturnedback,andthedetectivewatchedhim

closely.Itseemedanintolerablething.Stillhewentonandintotheroom.

「Whowasit.」askedCarrie.

「AfriendofminefromChicago.」

Thewholeofthisconversationwassuchashockthat,comingasitdidafteralltheotherworryofthepastweek,itsufficedtoinduceadeepgloomandmoralrevulsioninHurstwood.Whathurthimmostwasthefactthathewasbeingpursuedasathief.Hebegantoseethenatureofthatsocialinjusticewhichseesbutoneside—oftenbutasinglepointinalongtragedy.Allthenewspapersnotedbutonething,histakingthemoney.Howandwhereforewerebutindifferentlydealtwith.Allthecomplicationswhichleduptoitwereunknown.Hewasaccusedwithoutbeingunderstood.

SittinginhisroomwithCarriethesameday,hedecidedtosendthemoneyback.HewouldwriteFitzgeraldandMoy,explainall,andthensenditbyexpress.Maybetheywouldforgivehim.Perhapstheywouldaskhimback.Hewouldmakegoodthefalsestatementhehadmadeaboutwritingthem.Thenhewouldleavethispeculiartown.

Foranhourhethoughtoverthisplausiblestatementofthetangle.Hewantedtotellthemabouthiswife,butcouldn』t.Hefinallynarroweditdowntoanassertionthathewaslight-headedfromentertainingfriends,hadfoundthesafeopen,andhavinggonesofarastotakethemoneyout,hadaccidentallyclosedit.Thisactheregrettedverymuch.Hewassorryhehadputthemtosomuchtrouble.Hewouldundowhathecouldbysendingthemoneyback—themajorportionofit.Theremainderhewouldpayupassoonashecould.Wasthereanypossibilityofhisbeingrestored.Thisheonlyhintedat.

Thetroubledstateoftheman』smindmaybejudgedbytheveryconstructionofthisletter.Forthenonceheforgotwhatapainfulthingitwouldbetoresume

hisoldplace,evenifitweregivenhim.Heforgotthathehadseveredhimselffromthepastasbyasword,andthatifhedidmanagetoinsomewayreunitehimselfwithit,thejaggedlineofseparationandreunionwouldalwaysshow.Hewasalwaysforgettingsomething-hiswife,Carrie,hisneedofmoney,presentsituation,orsomething—andsodidnotreasonclearly.Nevertheless,hesenttheletter,waitingareplybeforesendingthemoney.

Meanwhile,heacceptedhispresentsituationwithCarrie,gettingwhatjoyoutofithecould.

Outcamethesunbynoon,andpouredagoldenfloodthroughtheiropenwindows.Sparrowsweretwittering.Therewerelaughterandsongintheair.HurstwoodcouldnotkeephiseyesfromCarrie.Sheseemedtheonerayofsunshineinallhistrouble.Oh,ifshewouldonlylovehimwholly—onlythrowherarmsaroundhimintheblissfulspiritinwhichhehadseenherinthelittleparkinChi-cago—howhappyhewouldbe!Itwouldrepayhim;itwouldshowhimthathehadnotlostall.Hewouldnotcare.

「Carrie,」hesaid,gettinguponceandcomingovertoher,「areyougoingtostaywithmefromnowon.」

Shelookedathimquizzically,butmeltedwithsympathyasthevalueofthelookuponhisfaceforceditselfuponher.Itwaslovenow,keenandstrong—loveenhancedbydifficultyandworry.Shecouldnothelpsmiling.

「Letmebeeverythingtoyoufromnowon,」hesaid.「Don』tmakemeworryanymore.I』llbetruetoyou.We』llgotoNewYorkandgetaniceflat.I』llgointobusinessagain,andwe』llbehappy.Won』tyoubemine.」

Carrielistenedquitesolemnly.Therewasnogreatpassioninher,butthedriftofthingsandthisman』sproximitycreatedasemblanceofaffection.Shefeltrathersorryforhim—asorrowbornofwhathadonlyrecentlybeenagreatadmiration.Trueloveshehad

neverfeltforhim.Shewouldhaveknownasmuchifshecouldhaveanalyzedherfeelings,butthisthingwhichshenowfeltarousedbyhisgreatfeelingbrokedownthebarriersbetweenthem.

「You』llstaywithme,won』tyou.」heasked.

「Yes,」shesaid,noddingherhead.

Hegatheredhertohimself,imprintingkissesuponherlipsandcheeks.

「Youmustmarryme,though,」shesaid.「I』llgetalicenseto-day,」heanswered.

「How.」sheasked.

「Underanewname,」heanswered.「I』lltakeanewnameandliveanewlife.FromnowonI』mMurdock.」

「Oh,don』ttakethatname,」saidCarrie.

「Whynot.」hesaid.

「Idon』tlikeit.」

「Well,whatshallItake.」heasked.

「Oh,anything,onlydon』ttakethat.」

Hethoughtawhile,stillkeepinghisarmsabouther,andthensaid:

「HowwouldWheelerdo.」

「That』sallright,」saidCarrie.

「Well,then,Wheeler,」hesaid.「I』llgetthelicensethisafternoon.」

TheyweremarriedbyaBaptistminister,thefirstdivinetheyfoundconvenient.

AtlasttheChicagofirmanswered.ItwasbyMr.Moy』sdictation.HewasastonishedthatHurstwoodhaddonethis;verysorrythatithadcomeaboutasithad.Ifthemoneywerereturned,theywouldnottroubletoprosecutehim,astheyreallyborehimnoill-will.Asforhisreturning,ortheirrestoringhimtohisformerposition,theyhadnotquitedecidedwhattheeffectofitwouldbe.Theywouldthinkitoverandcorrespondwithhimlater,possibly,afteralittletime,andsoon.

Thesumandsubstanceofitwasthattherewasnohope,andtheywantedthemoneywiththeleasttroublepossible.Hurstwoodreadhisdoom.Hedecidedtopay$9,500totheagentwhomtheysaidtheywouldsend,keeping$1,300forhisownuse.Hetelegraphedhisacquiescence,explainedtotherepresentativewhocalledatthehotelthesameday,tookacertificateofpayment,andtoldCarrietopackhertrunk.Hewasslightlydepressedoverthisnewestmoveatthetimehebegantomakeit,buteventuallyrestoredhimself.Hefearedthatevenyethemightbeseizedandtakenback,sohetriedtoconcealhismovements,butitwasscarcelypossible.HeorderedCarrie』strunksenttothedepot,wherehehaditsentbyexpresstoNewYork.Nooneseemedtobeobservinghim,butheleftatnight.HewasgreatlyagitatedlestatthefirststationacrosstheborderoratthedepotinNewYorkthereshouldbewaitingforhimanofficerofthelaw.

Carrie,ignorantofhistheftandhisfears,enjoyedtheentryintothelattercityinthemorning.Theroundgreenhillssentinelingthebroad,expansivebosomoftheHudsonheldherattentionbytheirbeautyasthetrainfollowedthelineofthestream.ShehadheardoftheHudsonRiver,thegreatcityofNewYork,andnowshelookedout,fillinghermindwiththewonderofit.

AsthetrainturnedeastatSpuytenDuyvilandfollowedtheeastbankoftheHarlemRiver,Hurstwoodnervouslycalledherattentiontothefactthattheywereontheedgeofthecity.AfterherexperiencewithChicago,sheexpectedlonglinesofcars—agreathighwayoftracks—andnotedthedifference.ThesightofafewboatsintheHarlemandmoreintheEastRivertickledheryoungheart.Itwasthefirstsignofthegreatsea.Nextcameaplainstreetwithfive-storybrickflats,andthenthetrainplungedintothetunnel.

「GrandCentralStation!」calledthetrainman,as,afterafewminutesofdarknessandsmoke,daylightreappeared.Hurstwoodaroseandgathered

uphissmallgrip.Hewasscreweduptothehighesttension.WithCarriehewaitedatthedoorandthendismounted.Nooneapproachedhim,butheglancedfurtivelytoandfroashemadeforthestreetentrance.SoexcitedwashethatheforgotallaboutCarrie,whofellbehind,wonderingathisself-absorption.Ashepassedthroughthedepotproperthestrainreacheditsclimaxandbegantowane.Allatoncehewasonthesidewalk,andnonebutcabmenhailedhim.Heheavedagreatbreathandturned,rememberingCarrie.

「Ithoughtyouweregoingtorunoffandleaveme,」shesaid.

「IwastryingtorememberwhichcartakesustotheGilsey,」heanswered.

Carriehardlyheardhim,sointerestedwassheinthebusyscene.

「HowlargeisNewYork.」sheasked.

「Ohamillionormore,」saidHurstwood.

Helookedaroundandhailedacab,buthedidsoinachangedway.

Forthefirsttimeinyearsthethoughtthathemustcounttheselittleexpensesflashedthroughhismind.Itwasadisagreeablething.

Hedecidedhewouldlosenotimelivinginhotelsbutwouldrentaflat.AccordinglyhetoldCarrie,andsheagreed.

「We』lllookto-day,ifyouwantto,」shesaid.

SuddenlyhethoughtofhisexperienceinMontreal.AtthemoreimportanthotelshewouldbecertaintomeetChicagoanswhomheknew.Hestoodupandspoketothedriver.

「TakemetotheBelford,」hesaid,knowingittobelessfrequentedbythosewhomheknew.Thenhesatdown.

「Whereistheresidencepart.」askedCarrie,whodidnottakethetallfive-storywallsoneitherhandtobetheabodesoffamilies.

「Everywhere,」saidHurstwood,whoknewthecity

fairlywell.「TherearenolawnsinNewYork.Allthesearehouses.」

「Well,then,Idon』tlikeit,」saidCarrie,whowascomingtohaveafewopinionsofherown.