Chapter 47

THEWAYOFTHEBEATEN—AHARPINTHEWIND

Inthecity,atthattime,therewereanumberofcharitiessimilarinnaturetothatofthecaptain』s,whichHurstwoodnowpatronizedinalikeunfortunateway.Onewasaconventmission-houseoftheSistersofMercyinFifteenthStreet—arowofredbrickfamilydwellings,beforethedoorofwhichhungaplainwoodencontributionbox,onwhichwaspaintedthestatementthateverynoonamealwasgivenfreetoallthosewhomightapplyandaskforaid.Thissimpleannouncementwasmodestintheextreme,covering,asitdid,acharitysobroad.InstitutionsandcharitiesaresolargeandsonumerousinNewYorkthatsuchthingsasthisarenotoftennoticedbythemorecomfortablysituated.Buttoonewhosemindisuponthematter,theygrowexceedinglyunderinspection.Unlessonewerelookingupthismatterinparticular,hecouldhavestoodatSixthAvenueandFifteenthStreetfordaysaroundthenoonhourandneverhavenoticedthatoutofthevastcrowdthatsurgedalongthatbusythoroughfarethereturnedout,everyfewseconds,someweather-beaten,heavy-footedspecimenofhumanity,gauntincountenanceanddilapidatedinthematterofclothes.Thefactisnonethelesstrue,however,andthecolderthedaythemoreapparentitbecame.Spaceandalackofculinaryroominthemission-house,compelledanarrangementwhichpermittedofonlytwenty-fiveorthirtyeating

atonetime,sothatalinehadtobeformedoutsideandanorderlyentranceeffected.Thiscausedadailyspectaclewhich,however,hadbecomesocommonbyrepetitionduringanumberofyearsthatnownothingwasthoughtofit.Themenwaitedpatiently,likecattle,inthecoldestweather-waitedforseveralhoursbeforetheycouldbeadmitted.Noquestionswereaskedandnoservicerendered.Theyateandwentawayagain,someofthemreturningregularlydayafterdaythewinterthrough.

Abig,motherlylookingwomaninvariablystoodguardatthedoorduringtheentireoperationandcountedtheadmissiblenumber.Themenmovedupinsolemnorder.Therewasnohasteandnoeagernessdisplayed.Itwasalmostadumbprocession.Inthebitterestweatherthislinewastobefoundhere.Underanicywindtherewasaprodigiousslappingofhandsandadancingoffeet.Fingersandthefeaturesofthefacelookedasifseverelynippedbythecold.Astudyofthesemeninbroadlightprovedthemtobenearlyallofatype.Theybelongedtotheclassthatsitontheparkbenchesduringtheendurabledaysandsleepuponthemduringthesummernights.TheyfrequenttheBoweryandthosedown-at-theheelsEastSidestreetswherepoorclothesandshrunkenfeaturesarenotsingledoutascurious.Theyarethemenwhoareinthelodginghousesitting-roomsduringbleakandbitterweatherandwhoswarmaboutthecheapershelterswhichonlyopenatsixinanumberofthelowerEastSidestreets.Miserablefood,ill-timedandgreedilyeaten,hadplayedhavocwithboneandmuscle.Theywereallpale,flabby,sunken-eyed,hollow-chested,witheyesthatglintedandshoneandlipsthatwereasicklyredbycontrast.Theirhairwasbuthalfattendedto,theirearsanemicinhue,andtheirshoesbrokeninleatherandrundownatheelandtoe.Theywereoftheclasswhichsimplyfloatsanddrifts,everywaveofpeoplewashingupone,asbreakersdodriftwooduponastormyshore.

Fornearlyaquarterofacentury,inanothersectionofthecity,Fleischmann,thebaker,hadgivenaloafofbreadtoanyonewhowouldcomeforittothesidedoorofhisrestaurantatthecornerofBroadwayandTenthStreet,atmidnight.Everynightduringtwentyyearsaboutthreehundredmenhadformedinlineandattheappointedtimemarchedpastthedoorway,pickedtheirloaffromagreatboxplacedjustoutside,andvanishedagainintothenight.Fromthebeginningtothepresenttimetherehadbeenlittlechangeinthecharacterornumberofthesemen.Thereweretwoorthreefiguresthathadgrownfamiliartothosewhohadseenthislittleprocessionpassyearafteryear.Twoofthemhadmissedscarcelyanightinfifteenyears.Therewereaboutforty,moreorless,regularcallers.Theremainderofthelinewasformedofstrangers.Intimesofpanicandunusualhardshipstherewereseldommorethanthreehundred.Intimesofprosperity,whenlittleisheardoftheunemployed,therewereseldomless.Thesamenumber,winterandsummer,instormorcalm,ingoodtimesandbad,heldthismelancholymidnightrendezvousatFleischmann』sbreadbox.

Atbothofthesetwocharities,duringtheseverewinterwhichwasnowon,Hurstwoodwasafrequentvisitor.Ononeoccasionitwaspeculiarlycold,andfindingnocomfortinbeggingaboutthestreets,hewaiteduntilnoonbeforeseekingthisfreeofferingtothepoor.Already,ateleveno』clockofthismorning,severalsuchashehadshambledforwardoutofSixthAvenue,theirthinclothesflappingandflutteringinthewind.TheyleanedagainsttheironrailingwhichprotectsthewallsoftheNinthRegimentArmory,whichfrontsuponthatsectionofFifteenthStreet,havingcomeearlyinordertobefirstin.Havinganhourtowait,theyatfirstlingeredatarespectfuldistance;butotherscomingup,theymovedcloser

inordertoprotecttheirrightofprecedence.TothiscollectionHurstwoodcameupfromthewestoutofSeventhAvenueandstoppedclosetothedoor,nearerthanalltheothers.Thosewhohadbeenwaitingbeforehim,butfartheraway,nowdrewnear,andbyacertainstolidityofdemeanor,nowordsbeingspoken,indicatedthattheywerefirst.

Seeingtheoppositiontohisaction,helookedsullenlyalongtheline,thenmovedout,takinghisplaceatthefoot.Whenorderhadbeenrestored,theanimalfeelingofoppositionrelaxed.

「Mustbeprettynearnoon,」venturedone.

「Itis,」saidanother.「I』vebeenwaitingnearlyanhour.」

「Gee,butit』scold!」

Theypeeredeagerlyatthedoor,whereallmustenter.Agrocerymandroveupandcarriedinseveralbasketsofeatables.Thisstartedsomewordsupongrocerymenandthecostoffoodingeneral.

「Iseemeat』sgoneup,」saidone.

「Iftherewuzwar,itwouldhelpthiscountryalot.」

Thelinewasgrowingrapidly.Alreadytherewerefiftyormore,andthoseatthehead,bytheirdemeanor,evidentlycongratulatedthemselvesuponnothavingsolongtowaitasthoseatthefoot.Therewasmuchjerkingofheads,andlookingdowntheline.

「Itdon』tmatterhownearyougettothefront,solongasyou』reinthefirsttwenty-five,」commentedoneofthefirsttwenty-five.「Youallgointogether.」

「Humph!」ejaculatedHurstwood,whohadbeensosturdilydisplaced.

「ThishereSingleTaxisthething,」saidanother.「Thereain』tgoingtobenoordertillitcomes.」

Forthemostparttherewassilence;gauntmenshuffling,glancing,andbeatingtheirarms.

Atlastthedooropenedandthemotherlylookingsisterappeared.Sheonlylookedanorder.Slowlythelinemovedupand,onebyone,passedin,untiltwenty-fivewerecounted.Thensheinterposedastoutarm,andthelinehalted,withsixmenonthesteps.Ofthesetheex-managerwasone.Waitingthus,sometalked,someejaculatedconcerningthemiseryofit;somebrooded,asdidHurstwood.Atlasthewasadmitted,and,havingeaten,cameaway,almostangeredbecauseofhispainsingettingit.

Ateleveno』clockofanotherevening,perhapstwoweekslater,hewasatthemidnightofferingofaloaf—waitingpatiently.Ithadbeenanunfortunatedaywithhim,butnowhetookhisfatewithatouchofphilosophy.Ifhecouldsecurenosupper,orwashungrylateintheevening,herewasaplacehecouldcome.Afewminutesbeforetwelve,agreatboxofbreadwaspushedout,andexactlyonthehouraportly,round-facedGermantookpositionbyit,calling「Ready.」Thewholelineatoncemovedforwardeachtakinghisloafinturnandgoinghisseparateway.Onthisoccasion,theex-manageratehisashewentploddingthedarkstreetsinsilencetohisbed.

ByJanuaryhehadaboutconcludedthatthegamewasupwithhim.Lifehadalwaysseemedapreciousthing,butnowconstantwantandweakenedvitalityhadmadethecharmsofearthratherdullandinconspicuous.Severaltimes,whenfortunepressedmostharshly,hethoughthewouldendhistroubles;butwithachangeofweather,orthearrivalofaquarteroradime,hismoodwouldchange,andhewouldwait.Eachdayhewouldfindsomeoldpaperlyingaboutandlookintoit,toseeiftherewasanytraceofCarrie,butallsummerandfallhehadlookedinvain.Thenhenoticedthathiseyeswerebeginningtohurthim,andthisailmentrapidlyincreaseduntil,inthedarkchambersofthelodgingshefrequented,hedidnotattempttoread.Badandirregulareatingwasweakeningeveryfunctionofhisbody.Theonerecourselefthimwastodozewhenaplaceofferedandhecouldgetthemoneytooccupyit.

Hewasbeginningtofind,inhiswretchedclothingandmeagerstateofbody,thatpeopletookhimforachronictypeofbumandbeggar.Policehustledhimalong,restaurantandlodginghousekeepersturnedhimoutpromptlythemomenthehadhisdue;pedestrianswavedhimoff.Hefounditmoreandmoredifficulttogetanythingfromanybody.

Atlastheadmittedtohimselfthatthegamewasup.Itwasafteralongseriesofappealstopedestrians,inwhichhehadbeenrefusedandrefused—everyonehasteningfromcontact.

「Givemealittlesomething,willyou,mister.」hesaidtothelastone.「ForGod』ssake,do;I』mstarving.」

「Aw,getout,」saidtheman,whohappenedtobeacommontypehimself.「You』renogood.I』llgiveyounawthin』.」

Hurstwoodputhishands,redfromcold,downinhispockets.Tearscameintohiseyes.

「That』sright,」hesaid;「I』mnogoodnow.Iwasallright.Ihadmoney.I』mgoingtoquitthis,」and,withdeathinhisheart,hestarteddowntowardtheBowery.Peoplehadturnedonthegasbeforeanddied;whyshouldn』the.Herememberedalodginghousewheretherewerelittle,closerooms,withgas-jetsinthem,almostpre-arranged,hethought,forwhathewantedtodo,whichrentedforfifteencents.Thenherememberedthathehadnofifteencents.

Onthewayhemetacomfortable-lookinggentleman,coming,clean-shaven,outofafinebarbershop.

「Wouldyoumindgivingmealittlesomething.」heaskedthismanboldly.

Thegentlemanlookedhimoverandfishedforadime.Nothingbutquarterswereinhispocket.

「Here,」hesaid,handinghimone,toberidofhim.「Beoff,now.」

Hurstwoodmovedon,wondering.Thesightofthelarge,brightcoinpleasedhimalittle.Herememberedthathewashungryandthathecouldgetabedfortencents.Withthis,theideaofdeathpassed,forthetimebeing,outofhismind.Itwasonlywhenhecouldgetnothingbutinsultsthatdeathseemedworthwhile.

Oneday,inthemiddleofthewinter,thesharpestspelloftheseasonsetin.Itbrokegrayandcoldinthefirstday,andonthesecondsnowed.Poorluckpursuinghim,hehadsecuredbuttencentsbynightfall,andthishehadspentforfood.AteveninghefoundhimselfattheBoulevardandSixty-seventhStreet,wherehefinallyturnedhisfaceBowery-ward.Especiallyfatiguedbecauseofthewanderingpropensitywhichhadseizedhiminthemorning,henowhalfdraggedhiswetfeet,shufflingthesolesuponthesidewalk.Anold,thincoatwasturnedupabouthisredears—hiscrackedderbyhatwaspulleddownuntilitturnedthemoutward.Hishandswereinhispockets.

「I』lljustgodownBroadway,」hesaidtohimself.

WhenhereachedForty-secondStreet,thefiresignswerealreadyblazingbrightly.Crowdswerehasteningtodine.Throughbrightwindows,ateverycorner,mightbeseengaycompaniesinluxuriantrestaurants.Therewerecoachesandcrowdedcablecars.

Inhiswearyandhungrystate,heshouldneverhavecomehere.Thecontrastwastoosharp.Evenhewasrecalledkeenlytobetterthings.「What』stheuse.」hethought.「It』sallupwithme.I』llquitthis.」

Peopleturnedtolookafterhim,souncouthwashisshamblingfigure.Severalofficersfollowedhimwiththeireyes,toseethathedidnotbegofanybody.

Oncehepausedinanaimless,incoherentsortofwayandlookedthroughthewindowsofanimposingrestaurant,beforewhichblazedafiresign,andthroughthelarge,platewindowsofwhichcouldbeseentheredandgolddecorations,thepalms,thewhitenapery,andshiningglassware,and,aboveall,thecomfortablecrowd.Weakashismindhadbecome,hishunger

wassharpenoughtoshowtheimportanceofthis.Hestoppedstockstill,hisfrayedtrouserssoakingintheslush,andpeeredfoolishlyin.

「Eat,」hemumbled.「That』sright,eat.Nobodyelsewantsany.」

Thenhisvoicedroppedevenlower,andhismindhalflostthefancyithad.

「It』smightycold,」hesaid.「Awfulcold.」

AtBroadwayandThirty-ninthStreetwasblazing,inincandescentfire,Carrie』sname.「CarrieMadenda,」itread,「andtheCasinoCompany.」Allthewet,snowysidewalkwasbrightwiththisradiatedfire.ItwassobrightthatitattractedHurstwood』sgaze.Helookedup,andthenatalarge,gilt-framedposterboard,onwhichwasafinelithographofCarrie,life-size.

Hurstwoodgazedatitamoment,snufflingandhunchingoneshoulder,asifsomethingwerescratchinghim.Hewassorundown,however,thathismindwasnotexactlyclear.

Heapproachedthatentranceandwentin.

「Well.」saidtheattendant,staringathim.Seeinghimpause,hewentoverandshovedhim.「Getoutofhere,」hesaid.

「IwanttoseeMissMadenda,」hesaid.

「Youdo,eh.」theothersaid,almosttickledatthespectacle.「Getoutofhere,」andheshovedhimagain.Hurstwoodhadnostrengthtoresist.

「IwanttoseeMissMadenda,」hetriedtoexplain,evenashewasbeinghustledaway.「I』mallright.I—」

Themangavehimalastpushandclosedthedoor.Ashedidso,Hurstwoodslippedandfellinthesnow.Ithurthim,andsomevaguesenseofshamereturned.Hebegantocryandswearfoolishly.

「Goddamneddog!」hesaid.「Damnedoldcur,」wipingtheslushfromhisworthlesscoat.「I—Ihiredsuchpeopleasyouonce.」

NowafiercefeelingagainstCarriewelledup—justonefierce,angrythoughtbeforethewholethingslippedoutofhismind.

「Sheowesmesomethingtoeat,」hesaid.「Sheowesittome.」

HopelesslyheturnedbackintoBroadwayagainandsloppedonwardandaway,begging,crying,losingtrackofhisthoughts,oneafteranother,asaminddecayedanddisjointediswonttodo.

Itwastrulyawintryevening,afewdayslater,whenhisonedistinctmentaldecisionwasreached.Already,atfouro』clock,thesomberhueofnightwasthickeningtheair.Aheavysnowwasfalling—afinepicking,whippingsnow,borneforwardbyaswiftwindinlong,thinlines.Thestreetswerebeddedwithit-sixinchesofcold,softcarpet,churnedtoadirtybrownbythecrushofteamsandthefeetofmen.AlongBroadwaymenpickedtheirwayinulstersandumbrellas.AlongtheBowery,menslouchedthroughitwithcollarsandhatspulledovertheirears.Intheformerthoroughfarebusinessmenandtravelersweremakingforcomfortablehotels.Inthelatter,crowdsoncolderrandsshiftedpastdingystores,inthedeeprecessesofwhichlightswerealreadygleaming.Therewereearlylightsinthecablecars,whoseusualclatterwasreducedbythemantleaboutthewheels.Thewholecitywasmuffledbythisfast-thickeningmantle.

InhercomfortablechambersattheWaldorf,Carriewasreadingatthistime「PereGoriot,」whichAmeshadrecommendedtoher.Itwassostrong,andAmes』smererecommendationhadsoarousedherinterest,thatshecaughtnearlythefullsympatheticsignificanceofit.Forthefirsttime,itwasbeingborneinuponherhowsillyandworthlesshadbeenherearlierreading,asawhole.Becomingwearied,however,sheyawnedandcametothewindow,lookingoutupontheoldwindingprocessionofcarriagesrollingupFifthAvenue.

「Isn』titbad.」sheobservedtoLola.

「Terrible!」saidthatlittlelady,joiningher.「Ihopeitsnowsenoughtogosleighriding.」

「Oh,dear,」saidCarrie,withwhomthesufferingsofFatherGoriotwerestillkeen.「That』sallyouthinkof.Aren』tyousorryforthepeoplewhohaven』tanythingto-night.」

「OfcourseIam,」saidLola;「butwhatcanIdo.Ihaven』tanything.」

Carriesmiled.

「Youwouldn』tcare,ifyouhad,」shereturned.

「Iwould,too,」saidLola.「ButpeoplenevergavemeanythingwhenIwashardup.」

「Isn』titjustawful.」saidCarrie,studyingthewinter』sstorm.

「Lookatthatmanoverthere,」laughedLola,whohadcaughtsightofsomeonefallingdown.「Howsheepishmenlookwhentheyfall,don』tthey.」

「We』llhavetotakeacoachto-night,」answeredCarrieabsently.

InthelobbyoftheImperial,Mr.CharlesDrouetwasjustarriving,shakingthesnowfromaveryhandsomeulster.Badweatherhaddrivenhimhomeearlyandstirredhisdesireforthosepleasureswhichshutoutthesnowandgloomoflife.Agooddinner,thecompanyofayoungwoman,andaneveningatthetheatrewerethechiefthingsforhim.

「Why,hello,Harry!」hesaid,addressingaloungerinoneofthecomfortablelobbychairs.「Howareyou.」

「Oh,aboutsixandsix,」saidtheother.「Rottenweather,isn』tit.」

「Well,Ishouldsay,」saidtheother.「I』vebeenjustsittingherethinkingwhereI』dgoto-night.」

「Comealongwithme,」saidDrouet.「Icanintroduceyoutosomethingdeadswell.」

「Whoisit.」saidtheother.

「Oh,acoupleofgirlsoverhereinFortiethStreet.Wecouldhaveadandytime.Iwasjustlookingforyou.」

「Supposingyouget『emandtake『emoutto

dinner.」

「Sure,」saidDrouet.「Wait』llIgoupstairsandchangemyclothes.」

「Well,I』llbeinthebarbershop,」saidtheother.「Iwanttogetashave.」

「Allright,」saidDrouet,creakingoffinhisgoodshoestowardtheelevator.Theoldbutterflywasaslightonthewingasever.

OnanincomingvestibuledPullman,speedingatfortymilesanhourthroughthesnowoftheevening,werethreeothers,allrelated.

「Firstcallfordinnerinthedining-car,」aPullmanservitorwasannouncing,ashehastenedthroughtheaisleinsnow-whiteapronandjacket.

「Idon』tbelieveIwanttoplayanymore,」saidtheyoungest,ablack-hairedbeauty,turnedsuperciliousbyfortune,asshepushedaeuchrehandawayfromher.

「Shallwegointodinner.」inquiredherhusband,whowasallthatfineraimentcanmake.

「Oh,notyet,」sheanswered.「Idon』twanttoplayanymore,though.」

「Jessica,」saidhermother,whowasalsoastudyinwhatgoodclothingcandoforage,「pushthatpindowninyourtie—it』scomingup.」

Jessicaobeyed,incidentallytouchingatherlovelyhairandlookingatalittlejewel-facedwatch.Herhusbandstudiedher,forbeauty,evencold,isfascinatingfromonepointofview.

「Well,wewon』thavemuchmoreofthisweather,」hesaid.「ItonlytakestwoweekstogettoRome.」

Mrs.Hurstwoodnestledcomfortablyinhercornerandsmiled.Itwassonicetobethemother-in-lawofarichyoungman-onewhosefinancialstatehadborneherpersonalinspection.

「Doyousupposetheboatwillsailpromptly.」askedJessica,「ifitkeepsuplikethis.」

「Oh,yes,」answeredherhusband.「Thiswon』tmakeanydifference.」

Passingdowntheaislecameaveryfair-hairedbanker』sson,alsoofChicago,whohadlongeyedthissuperciliousbeauty.Evennowhedidnothesitatetoglanceather,andshewasconsciousofit.Withaspeciallyconjuredshowofindifference,sheturnedherprettyfacewhollyaway.Itwasnotwifelymodestyatall.Bysomuchwasherpridesatisfied.

AtthismomentHurstwoodstoodbeforeadirtyfourstorybuildinginasidestreetquiteneartheBowery,whoseone-timecoatofbuffhadbeenchangedbysootandrain.Hemingledwithacrowdofmen—acrowdwhichhadbeen,andwasstill,gatheringbydegrees.

Itbeganwiththeapproachoftwoorthree,whohungabouttheclosedwoodendoorsandbeattheirfeettokeepthemwarm.Theyhadonfadedderbyhatswithdentsinthem.Theirmisfitcoatswereheavywithmeltedsnowandturnedupatthecollars.Theirtrousersweremerebags,frayedatthebottomandwobblingoverbig,soppyshoes,tornatthesidesandwornalmosttoshreds.Theymadenoefforttogoin,butshiftedruefullyabout,diggingtheirhandsdeepintheirpocketsandleeringatthecrowdandtheincreasinglamps.Withtheminutes,increasedthenumber.Therewereoldmenwithgrizzledbeardsandsunkeneyes,menwhowerecomparativelyyoungbutshrunkenbydiseases,menwhoweremiddle-aged.Nonewerefat.Therewasafaceinthethickofthecollectionwhichwasaswhiteasdrainedveal.Therewasanotherredasbrick.Somecamewiththin,roundedshoulders,otherswithwoodenlegs,stillotherswithframessoleanthatclothesonlyflappedaboutthem.Thereweregreatears,swollennoses,thicklips,and,aboveall,red,bloodshoteyes.Notanormal,healthyfaceinthewholemass;notastraightfigure;notastraightforward,steadyglance.

Inthedriveofthewindandsleettheypushedinononeanother.Therewerewrists,unprotectedbycoatorpocket,whichwereredwithcold.Therewereears,halfcoveredbyeveryconceivablesemblanceofahat,whichstilllookedstiffandbitten.Inthesnowtheyshifted,nowonefoot,nowanother,almostrockinginunison.

Withthegrowthofthecrowdaboutthedoorcameamurmur.Itwasnotconversation,butarunningcommentdirectedatanyoneingeneral.Itcontainedoathsandslangphrases.

「Bydamn,Iwishthey』dhurryup.」

「Lookatthecopperwatchin』.」

「Maybeitain』twinter,nuther!」

「IwishtIwasinSingSing.」

Nowasharperlashofwindcutdownandtheyhuddledcloser.Itwasanedging,shifting,pushingthrong.Therewasnoanger,nopleading,nothreateningwords.Itwasallsullenendurance,unlightenedbyeitherwitorgoodfellowship.

Acarriagewentjinglingbywithsomerecliningfigureinit.Oneofthemennearestthedoorsawit.

「Lookattheblokeridin』.」

「Heain』tsocold.」

「Eh,eh,eh!」yelledanother,thecarriagehavinglongsincepassedoutofhearing.

Littlebylittlethenightcrepton.Alongthewalkacrowdturnedoutonitswayhome.Menandshop-girlswentbywithquicksteps.Thecross-towncarsbegantobecrowded.Thegaslampswereblazing,andeverywindowbloomedruddywithasteadyflame.Stillthecrowdhungaboutthedoor,unwavering.

「Ain』ttheyevergoin』toopenup.」queriedahoarsevoice,suggestively.

Thisseemedtorenewthegeneralinterestinthecloseddoor,andmanygazedinthatdirection.Theylookedatitasdumbbruteslook,asdogspawandwhineandstudytheknob.Theyshiftedandblinkedandmuttered,nowacurse,nowacomment.Stilltheywaitedandstillthesnowwhirledandcutthemwithbitingflakes.Ontheoldhatsandpeakedshouldersitwaspiling.Itgatheredinlittleheapsandcurvesandnoonebrusheditoff.Inthecenterofthecrowdthewarmthandsteammeltedit,andwatertrickledoffhatrimsanddownnoses,whichtheownerscouldnotreachtoscratch.Ontheouterrimthepilesremainedunmelted.Hurstwood,whocouldnotgetinthecenter,stoodwithheadloweredtotheweatherandbenthisform.

Alightappearedthroughthetransomoverhead.Itsentathrillofpossibilitythroughthewatchers.Therewasamurmurofrecognition.Atlastthebarsgratedinsideandthecrowdprickedupitsears.Footstepsshuffledwithinanditmurmuredagain.Someonecalled:「Slowupthere,now,」andthenthedooropened.Itwaspushandjamforaminute,withgrim,beastsilencetoproveitsquality,andthenitmeltedinward,likelogsfloating,anddisappeared.Therewerewethatsandwetshoulders,acold,shrunken,disgruntledmass,pouringinbetweenbleakwalls.Itwasjustsixo』clockandtherewassupperineveryhurryingpedestrian』sface.Andyetnosupperwasprovidedhere—nothingbutbeds.

Hurstwoodlaiddownhisfifteencentsandcreptoffwithwearystepstohisallottedroom.Itwasadingyaffair—wooden,dusty,hard.Asmallgasjetfurnishedsufficientlightforsoruefulacorner.

「Hm!」hesaid,clearinghisthroatandlockingthedoor.

Nowhebeganleisurelytotakeoffhisclothes,butstoppedfirstwithhiscoat,andtuckeditalongthecrackunderthedoor.Hisvesthearrangedinthesameplace.Hisoldwet,crackedhathelaidsoftlyuponthetable.Thenhepulledoffhisshoesandlaydown.

Itseemedasifhethoughtawhile,fornowhearoseandturnedthegasout,standingcalmlyintheblackness,hiddenfromview.Afterafewmoments,inwhichhereviewednothing,butmerelyhesitated,he

turnedthegasonagain,butappliednomatch.Eventhenhestoodthere,hiddenwhollyinthatkindnesswhichisnight,whiletheuprisingfumesfilledtheroom.Whentheodorreachedhisnostrils,hequithisattitudeandfumbledforthebed.「What』stheuse.」hesaid,weakly,ashestretchedhimselftorest.

AndnowCarriehadattainedthatwhichinthebeginningseemedlife』sobject,or,atleast,suchfractionofitashumanbeingseverattainoftheiroriginaldesires.Shecouldlookaboutonhergownsandcarriage,herfurnitureandbankaccount.Friendstherewere,astheworldtakesit—thosewhowouldbowandsmileinacknowledgmentofhersuccess.Fortheseshehadoncecraved.Applausetherewas,andpublicity—oncefaroff,essentialthings,butnowgrowntrivialandindifferent.Beautyalso-hertypeofloveliness—andyetshewaslonely.Inherrocking-chairshesat,whennototherwiseengaged—singinganddreaming.

Thusinlifethereisevertheintellectualandtheemotionalnature—themindthatreasons,andthemindthatfeels.Ofonecomethemenofaction—generalsandstatesmen;oftheother,thepoetsanddreamers—artistsall.

Asharpsinthewind,thelatterrespondtoeverybreathoffancy,voicingintheirmoodsalltheebbandflowoftheideal.

Manhasnotyetcomprehendedthedreameranymorethanhehastheideal.Forhimthelawsandmoralsoftheworldareundulysevere.Everhearkeningtothesoundofbeauty,strainingfortheflashofitsdistantwings,hewatchestofollow,wearyinghisfeetintraveling.SowatchedCarrie,sofollowed,rockingandsinging.

Anditmustberememberedthatreasonhadlittlepartinthis.Chicagodawning,shesawthecityofferingmoreoflovelinessthanshehadeverknown,andinstinctively,byforceofhermoodsalone,clungtoit.

Infineraimentandelegantsurroundings,menseemedtobecontented.Hence,shedrewnearthesethings.Chicago,NewYork;Drouet,Hurstwood;theworldoffashionandtheworldofstage—thesewerebutincidents.Notthem,butthatwhichtheyrepresented,shelongedfor.Timeprovedtherepresentationfalse.

Oh,thetangleofhumanlife!Howdimlyasyetwesee.HerewasCarrie,inthebeginningpoor,unsophisticated.emotional;respondingwithdesiretoeverythingmostlovelyinlife,yetfindingherselfturnedasbyawall.Lawstosay:「Beallured,ifyouwill,byeverythinglovely,butdrawnotnighunlessbyrighteousness.」Conventiontosay:「Youshallnotbetteryoursituationsavebyhonestlabor.」Ifhonestlaborbeunremunerativeanddifficulttoendure;ifitbethelong,longroadwhichneverreachesbeauty,butweariesthefeetandtheheart;ifthedragtofollowbeautybesuchthatoneabandonstheadmiredway,takingratherthedespisedpathleadingtoherdreamsquickly,whoshallcastthefirststone.Notevil,butlongingforthatwhichisbetter,moreoftendirectsthestepsoftheerring.Notevil,butgoodnessmoreoftenalluresthefeelingmindunusedtoreason.

AmidthetinselandshineofherstatewalkedCarrie,unhappy.AswhenDrouettookher,shehadthought:「NowIamliftedintothatwhichisbest」;aswhenHurstwoodseeminglyofferedherthebetterway:「NowamIhappy.」Butsincetheworldgoesitswaypastallwhowillnotpartakeofitsfolly,shenowfoundherselfalone.Herpursewasopentohimwhoseneedwasgreatest.InherwalksonBroadway,shenolongerthoughtoftheeleganceofthecreatureswhopassedher.Hadtheymoreofthatpeaceandbeautywhichglimmeredafaroff,thenweretheytobeenvied.

Drouetabandonedhisclaimandwasseennomore.OfHurstwood』sdeathshewasnotevenaware.Aslow,blackboatsettingoutfromthepieratTwenty-seventhStreetuponitsweeklyerrandbore,withmanyothers,hisnamelessbodytothePotter』sField.

Thuspassedallthatwasofinterestconcerningthesetwainintheirrelationtoher.Theirinfluenceuponherlifeisexplicablealonebythenatureofherlongings.Timewaswhenbothrepresentedforherallthatwasmostpotentinearthlysuccess.Theywerethepersonalrepresentativesofastatemostblessedtoattain—thetitledambassadorsofcomfortandpeace,aglowwiththeircredentials.Itisbutnaturalthatwhentheworldwhichtheyrepresentednolongeralluredher,itsambassadorsshouldbediscredited.EvenhadHurstwoodreturnedinhisoriginalbeautyandglory,hecouldnotnowhavealluredher.Shehadlearnedthatinhisworld,asinherownpresentstate,wasnothappiness.

Sittingalone,shewasnowanillustrationofthedeviouswaysbywhichonewhofeels,ratherthanreasons,maybeledinthepursuitofbeauty.Thoughoftendisillusioned,shewasstillwaitingforthathalcyondaywhenshewouldbeledforthamongdreamsbecomereal.Ameshadpointedoutafartherstep,butonandonbeyondthat,ifaccomplished,wouldlieothersforher.Itwasforevertobethepursuitofthatradianceofdelightwhichtintsthedistanthilltopsoftheworld.

Oh,Carrie,Carrie!Oh,blindstrivingsofthehumanheart!Onwardonward,itsaith,andwherebeautyleads,thereitfollows.Whetheritbethetinkleofalonesheepbello』ersomequietlandscape,ortheglimmerofbeautyinsylvanplaces,ortheshowofsoulinsomepassingeye,theheartknowsandmakesanswer,following.Itiswhenthefeetwearyandhopeseemsvainthattheheartachesandthelongingsarise.Know,then,thatforyouisneithersurfeitnorcontent.Inyourrockingchair,byyourwindowdreaming,shallyoulong,alone.Inyourrockingchair,byyourwindow,shallyoudreamsuchhappinessasyoumayneverfeel.

TheEnd