Chapter 31

APETOFGOODFORTUNE—BROADWAYFLAUNTSITSJOYS

TheeffectofthecityandhisownsituationonHurstwoodwasparalleledinthecaseofCarrie,whoacceptedthethingswhichfortuneprovidedwiththemostgenialgood-nature.NewYork,despiteherfirstexpressionofdisapproval,sooninterestedherexceedingly.Itsclearatmosphere,morepopulousthoroughfares,andpeculiarindifferencestruckherforcibly.Shehadneverseensuchalittleflatashers,andyetitsoonenlistedheraffection.Thenewfurnituremadeanexcellentshowing,thesideboardwhichHurstwoodhimselfarrangedgleamedbrightly.Thefurnitureforeachroomwasappropriate,andintheso-calledparlor,orfrontroom,wasinstalledapiano,becauseCarriesaidshewouldliketolearntoplay.Shekeptaservantanddevelopedrapidlyinhouseholdtacticsandinformation.Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshefeltsettled,andsomewhatjustifiedintheeyesofsocietyassheconceivedofit.Herthoughtsweremerryandinnocentenough.ForalongwhilesheconcernedherselfoverthearrangementofNewYorkflats,andwonderedattenfamilieslivinginonebuildingandallremainingstrangeandindifferenttoeachother.Shealsomarveledatthewhistlesofthehundredsofvesselsintheharbor—thelong,lowcriesoftheSoundsteamersandferry-boatswhenfogwason.Themerefactthatthesethingsspokefromtheseamadethemwonderful.Shelookedmuchatwhatshe

couldseeoftheHudsonfromherwestwindowsandofthegreatcitybuildinguprapidlyoneitherhand.Itwasmuchtoponderover,andsufficedtoentertainherformorethanayearwithoutbecomingstale.

Foranotherthing,Hurstwoodwasexceedinglyinterestinginhisaffectionforher.Troubledashewas,heneverexposedhisdifficultiestoher.Hecarriedhimselfwiththesameself-importantair,tookhisnewstatewitheasyfamiliarity,andrejoicedinCarrie’sproclivitiesandsuccesses.Eacheveninghearrivedpromptlytodinner,andfoundthelittledining-roomamostinvitingspectacle.Inaway,thesmallnessoftheroomaddedtoitsluxury.Itlookedfullandreplete.Thewhitecoveredtablewasarrayedwithprettydishesandlightedwithafour-armedcandelabra,eachlightofwhichwastoppedwitharedshade.BetweenCarrieandthegirlthesteaksandchopscameoutallright,andcannedgoodsdidtherestforawhile.Carriestudiedtheartofmakingbiscuit,andsoonreachedthestagewhereshecouldshowaplateoflight,palatablemorselsforherlabor.

Inthismannerthesecond,third,andfourthmonthspassed.Wintercame,andwithitafeelingthatindoorswasbest,sothattheattendingoftheatreswasnotmuchtalkedof.Hurstwoodmadegreateffortstomeetallexpenditureswithoutashowoffeelingonewayortheother.Hepretendedthathewasreinvestinghismoneyinstrengtheningthebusinessforgreaterendsinthefuture.Hecontentedhimselfwithaverymoderateallowanceofpersonalapparel,andrarelysuggestedanythingforCarrie.Thusthefirstwinterpassed.

Inthesecondyear,thebusinesswhichHurstwoodmanageddidincreasesomewhat.Hegotoutofitregularlythe$150permonthwhichhehadanticipated.Unfortunately,bythistimeCarriehadreachedcertainconclusions,andhehadscrapedupafewacquaintances.

Beingofapassiveandreceptiveratherthananactiveandaggressivenature,Carrieacceptedthesituation.Herstateseemedsatisfactoryenough.Onceinawhiletheywouldgotoatheatretogether,occasionallyinseasontothebeachesanddifferentpointsaboutthecity,buttheypickedupnoacquaintances.Hurstwoodnaturallyabandonedhisshowoffinemannerswithherandmodifiedhisattitudetooneofeasyfamiliarity.Therewerenomisunderstandings,noapparentdifferencesofopinion.Infact,withoutmoneyorvisitingfriends,heledalifewhichcouldneitherarousejealousynorcomment.CarrierathersympathizedwithhiseffortsandthoughtnothinguponherlackofentertainmentsuchasshehadenjoyedinChicago.NewYorkasacorporateentityandherflattemporarilyseemedsufficient.

However,asHurstwood’sbusinessincreased,he,asstated,begantopickupacquaintances.Healsobegantoallowhimselfmoreclothes.Heconvincedhimselfthathishomelifewasveryprecioustohim,butallowedthathecouldoccasionallystayawayfromdinner.Thefirsttimehedidthishesentamessagesayingthathewouldbedetained.Carrieatealone,andwishedthatitmightnothappenagain.Thesecondtime,also,hesentword,butatthelastmoment.Thethirdtimeheforgotentirelyandexplainedafterwards.Theseeventsweremonthsapart,each.

“Wherewereyou,George.”askedCarrie,afterthefirstabsence.

“Tiedupattheoffice,”hesaidgenially.“ThereweresomeaccountsIhadtostraighten.”

“I’msorryyoucouldn’tgethome,”shesaidkindly.“Iwasfixingtohavesuchanicedinner.”

Thesecondtimehegaveasimilarexcuse,butthethirdtimethefeelingaboutitinCarrie’smindwasalittlebitoutoftheordinary.

“Icouldn’tgethome,”hesaid,whenhecameinlaterintheevening,“Iwassobusy.”

“Couldn’tyouhavesentmeword.”askedCarrie.

“Imeantto,”hesaid,“butyouknowIforgotituntilitwastoolatetodoanygood.”

“AndIhadsuchagooddinner!”saidCarrie.

Now,itsohappenedthatfromhisobservationsofCarriehebegantoimaginethatshewasofthethoroughlydomestictypeofmind.Hereallythought,afterayear,thatherchiefexpressioninlifewasfindingitsnaturalchannelinhouseholdduties.NotwithstandingthefactthathehadobservedheractinChicago,andthatduringthepastyearhehadonlyseenherlimitedinherrelationstoherflatandhimbyconditionswhichhemade,andthatshehadnotgainedanyfriendsorassociates,hedrewthispeculiarconclusion.Withitcameafeelingofsatisfactioninhavingawifewhocouldthusbecontent,andthissatisfactionworkeditsnaturalresult.Thatis,sinceheimaginedhesawhersatisfied,hefeltcalledupontogiveonlythatwhichcontributedtosuchsatisfaction.Hesuppliedthefurniture,thedecorations,thefood,andthenecessaryclothing.Thoughtsofentertainingher,leadingheroutintotheshineandshowoflife,grewlessandless.Hefeltattractedtotheouterworld,butdidnotthinkshewouldcaretogoalong.Oncehewenttothetheatrealone.Anothertimehejoinedacoupleofhisnewfriendsataneveninggameofpoker.Sincehismoney-featherswerebeginningtogrowagainhefeltlikesprucingabout.Allthis,however,inamuchlessimposingwaythanhadbeenhiswontinChicago.Heavoidedthegayplaceswherehewouldbeapttomeetthosewhohadknownhim.Now,Carriebegantofeelthisinvarioussensoryways.Shewasnotthekindtobeseriouslydisturbedbyhisactions.Notlovinghimgreatly,shecouldnotbejealousinadisturbingway.Infact,shewasnotjealousatall.Hurstwoodwaspleasedwithherplacidmanner,whenheshouldhavedulyconsideredit.Whenhedidnotcomehomeitdidnotseemanythinglikeaterriblethingtoher.Shegavehimcreditforhavingtheusualallurementsofmen—peopletotalkto,placestostop,friendstoconsultwith.Shewasperfectlywillingthatheshouldenjoyhimselfinhisway,butshedidnotcaretobeneglectedherself.Herstatestillseemedfairlyreasonable,however.AllshedidobservewasthatHurstwoodwassomewhatdifferent.

SometimeinthesecondyearoftheirresidenceinSeventy-eighthStreettheflatacrossthehallfromCarriebecamevacant,andintoitmovedaveryhandsomeyoungwomanandherhusband,withbothofwhomCarrieafterwardsbecameacquainted.Thiswasbroughtaboutsolelybythearrangementoftheflats,whichwereunitedinoneplace,asitwere,bythedumb-waiter.Thisusefulelevator,bywhichfuel,groceries,andthelikeweresentupfromthebasement,andgarbageandwastesentdown,wasusedbybothresidentsofonefloor;thatis,asmalldooropenedintoitfromeachflat.

Iftheoccupantsofbothflatsansweredtothewhistleofthejanitoratthesametime,theywouldstandfacetofacewhentheyopenedthedumb-waiterdoors.Onemorning,whenCarriewenttoremoveherpaper,thenewcomer,ahandsomebrunetteofperhapstwenty-threeyearsofage,wasthereforalikepurpose.Shewasinanight-robeanddressing-gown,withherhairverymuchtousled,butshelookedsoprettyandgood-naturedthatCarrieinstantlyconceivedalikingforher.Thenewcomerdidnomorethansmileshamefacedly,butitwassufficient.Carriefeltthatshewouldliketoknowher,andasimilarfeelingstirredinthemindoftheother,whoadmiredCarrie’sinnocentface.

“That’sarealprettywomanwhohasmovedinnextdoor,”saidCarrietoHurstwoodatthebreakfasttable.

“Whoarethey.”askedHurstwood.

“Idon’tknow,”saidCarrie.“ThenameonthebellisVance.Someoneoverthereplaysbeautifully.Iguessitmustbeshe.”

“Well,younevercantellwhatsortofpeopleyou’relivingnexttointhistown,canyou.”saidHurstwood,expressingthecustomaryNewYorkopinionaboutneighbors.

“Justthink,”saidCarrie,“IhavebeeninthishousewithnineotherfamiliesforoverayearandIdon’tknowasoul.ThesepeoplehavebeenhereoveramonthandIhaven’tseenanyonebeforethismorning.”

“It’sjustaswell,”saidHurstwood.‘Youneverknowwhoyou’regoingtogetinwith.Someofthesepeopleareprettybadcompany.”

“Iexpectso,”saidCarrie,agreeably.

Theconversationturnedtootherthings,andCarriethoughtnomoreuponthesubjectuntiladayortwolater,when,goingouttomarket,sheencounteredMrs.Vancecomingin.Thelatterrecognizedherandnodded,forwhichCarriereturnedasmile.Thissettledtheprobabilityofacquaintanceship.Iftherehadbeennofaintrecognitiononthisoccasion,therewouldhavebeennofutureassociation.

CarriesawnomoreofMrs.Vanceforseveralweeks,butsheheardherplaythroughthethinwallswhichdividedthefrontroomsoftheflats,andwaspleasedbythemerryselectionofpiecesandthebrillianceoftheirrendition.Shecouldplayonlymoderatelyherself,andsuchvarietyasMrs.Vanceexercisedbordered,forCarrie,uponthevergeofgreatart.Everythingshehadseenandheardthusfar—themerestscrapsandshadows-indicatedthatthesepeoplewere,inameasure,refinedandincomfortablecircumstances.SoCarriewasreadyforanyextensionofthefriendshipwhichmightfollow.

OnedayCarrie’sbellrangandtheservant,whowasinthekitchen,pressedthebuttonwhichcausedthefrontdoorofthegeneralentranceonthegroundfloortobeelectricallyunlatched.WhenCarriewaitedatherowndooronthethirdfloortoseewhoitmightbe

cominguptocallonher,Mrs.Vanceappeared.

“Ihopeyou’llexcuseme,”shesaid.“Iwentoutawhileagoandforgotmyoutsidekey,soIthoughtI’dringyourbell.”

Thiswasacommontrickofotherresidentsofthebuilding,whenevertheyhadforgottentheiroutsidekeys.Theydidnotapologizeforit,however.

“Certainly,”saidCarrie.“I’mgladyoudid.Idothesamethingsometimes.”

“Isn’titjustdelightfulweather.”saidMrs.Vance,pausingforamoment.

Thus,afterafewmorepreliminaries,thisvisitingacquaintancewaswelllaunched,andintheyoungMrs.VanceCarriefoundanagreeablecompanion.

OnseveraloccasionsCarrievisitedherandwasvisited.Bothflatsweregoodtolookupon,thoughthatoftheVancestendedsomewhatmoretotheluxurious.

“Iwantyoutocomeoverthiseveningandmeetmyhusband,”saidMrs.Vance,notlongaftertheirintimacybegan.“Hewantstomeetyou.Youplaycards,don’tyou.”

“Alittle,”saidCarrie.

“Well,we’llhaveagameofcards.Ifyourhusbandcomeshomebringhimover.”

“He’snotcomingtodinnerto-night,”saidCarrie.

“Well,whenhedoescomewe’llcallhimin.”

Carrieacquiesced,andthateveningmettheportlyVance,anindividualafewyearsyoungerthanHurstwood,andwhoowedhisseeminglycomfortablematrimonialstatemuchmoretohismoneythantohisgoodlooks.HethoughtwellofCarrieuponthefirstglanceandlaidhimselfouttobegenial,teachingheranewgameofcardsandtalkingtoheraboutNewYorkanditspleasures.Mrs.Vanceplayedsomeuponthepiano,andatlastHurstwoodcame.

“Iamverygladtomeetyou,”hesaidtoMrs.VancewhenCarrieintroducedhim,showingmuchoftheoldgracewhichhadcaptivatedCarrie.“Didyouthink

yourwifehadrunaway.”saidMr.Vance,extendinghishanduponintroduction.

“Ididn’tknowbutwhatshemighthavefoundabetterhusband,”saidHurstwood.

HenowturnedhisattentiontoMrs.Vance,andinaflashCarriesawagainwhatsheforsometimehadsubconsciouslymissedinHurstwood—theadroitnessandflatteryofwhichhewascapable.Shealsosawthatshewasnotwelldressed—notnearlyaswelldressed—asMrs.Vance.Thesewerenotvagueideasanylonger.Hersituationwasclearedupforher.Shefeltthatherlifewasbecomingstale,andthereinshefeltcauseforgloom.Theoldhelpful,urgingmelancholywasrestored.ThedesirousCarriewaswhisperedtoconcerningherpossibilities.

Therewerenoimmediateresultstothisawakening,forCarriehadlittlepowerofinitiative;but,nevertheless,sheseemedevercapableofgettingherselfintothetideofchangewhereshewouldbeeasilybornealong.Hurstwoodnoticednothing.HehadbeenunconsciousofthemarkedcontrastswhichCarriehadobserved.

Hedidnotevendetecttheshadeofmelancholywhichsettledinhereyes.Worstofall,shenowbegantofeelthelonelinessoftheflatandseekthecompanyofMrs.Vance,wholikedherexceedingly.

“Let’sgotothematineethisafternoon,”saidMrs.Vance,whohadsteppedacrossintoCarrie’sflatonemorning,stillarrayedinasoftpinkdressing-gown,whichshehaddonneduponrising.HurstwoodandVancehadgonetheirseparatewaysnearlyanhourbefore.

“Allright,”saidCarrie,noticingtheairofthepettedandwell-groomedwomaninMrs.Vance’sgeneralappearance.Shelookedasthoughshewasdearlylovedandhereverywishgratified.“Whatshallwesee.”

“Oh,IdowanttoseeNatGoodwin,”saidMrs.

Vance.“Idothinkheisthejolliestactor.Thepaperssaythisissuchagoodplay.”

“Whattimewillwehavetostart.”askedCarrie.

“Let’sgoatonceandwalkdownBroadwayfromThirty-fourthStreet,”saidMrs.Vance.“It’ssuchaninterestingwalk.He’sattheMadisonSquare.”

“I’llbegladtogo,”saidCarrie.“Howmuchwillwehavetopayforseats.”“Notmorethanadollar,”saidMrs.Vance.

Thelatterdeparted,andatoneo’clockreappeared,stunninglyarrayedinadark-bluewalkingdress,withanobbyhattomatch.Carriehadgottenherselfupcharminglyenough,butthiswomanpainedherbycontrast.SheseemedtohavesomanydaintylittlethingswhichCarriehadnot.Thereweretrinketsofgold,anelegantgreenleatherpursesetwithherinitials,afancyhandkerchief,exceedinglyrichindesign,andthelike.Carriefeltthatsheneededmoreandbetterclothestocomparewiththiswoman,andthatanyonelookingatthetwowouldpickMrs.Vanceforherraimentalone.Itwasatrying,thoughratherunjustthought,forCarriehadnowdevelopedanequallypleasingfigure,andhadgrownincomelinessuntilshewasathoroughlyattractivetypeofhercolorofbeauty.Therewassomedifferenceintheclothingofthetwo,bothofqualityandage,butthisdifferencewasnotespeciallynoticeable.Itserved,however,toaugmentCarrie’sdissatisfactionwithherstate.

ThewalkdownBroadway,thenasnow,wasoneoftheremarkablefeaturesofthecity.Theregathered,beforethematineeandafterwards,notonlyalltheprettywomenwholoveashowyparade,butthemenwholovetogazeuponandadmirethem.Itwasaveryimposingprocessionofprettyfacesandfineclothes.Womenappearedintheirverybesthats,shoes,andgloves,andwalkedarminarmontheirwaytothefineshopsortheatresstrungalongfromFourteenthtoThirty-fourthStreets.Equallythemenparadedwiththeverylatesttheycouldafford.Atailormighthavesecuredhintsonsuitmeasurements,ashoemakeronproperlastsandcolors,ahatteronhats.Itwasliterallytruethatifaloveroffineclothessecuredanewsuit,itwassuretohaveitsfirstairingonBroadway.Sotrueandwellunderstoodwasthisfact,thatseveralyearslaterapopularsong,detailingthisandotherfactsconcerningtheafternoonparadeonmatineedays,andentitled“WhatRightHasHeonBroadway.”waspublished,andhadquiteavogueaboutthemusichallsofthecity.

Inallherstayinthecity,Carriehadneverheardofthisshowyparade;hadneverevenbeenonBroadwaywhenitwastakingplace.Ontheotherhand,itwasafamiliarthingtoMrs.Vance,whonotonlyknewofitasanentity,buthadoftenbeeninit,goingpurposelytoseeandbeseen,tocreateastirwithherbeautyanddispelanytendencytofallshortindressinessbycontrastingherselfwiththebeautyandfashionofthetown.

CarriesteppedalongeasilyenoughaftertheygotoutofthecaratThirty-fourthStreet,butsoonfixedhereyesuponthelovelycompanywhichswarmedbyandwiththemastheyproceeded.ShenoticedsuddenlythatMrs.Vance’smannerhadratherstiffenedunderthegazeofhandsomemenandelegantlydressedladies,whoseglanceswerenotmodifiedbyanyrulesofpropriety.Tostareseemedtheproperandnaturalthing.Carriefoundherselfstaredatandogled.Meninflawlesstop-coats,highhats,andsilver-headedwalkingstickselbowednearandlookedtoooftenintoconsciouseyes.Ladiesrustledbyindressesofstiffcloth,sheddingaffectedsmilesandperfume.Carrienoticedamongthemthesprinklingofgoodnessandtheheavypercentageofvice.Therougedandpowderedcheeksandlips,thescentedhair,thelarge,misty,andlanguorouseye,werecommonenough.Withastartsheawoketofindthatshewasinfashion’s

crowd,onparadeinashowplace—andsuchashowplace!Jewelers’windowsgleamedalongthepathwithremarkablefrequency.Floristshops,furriers,haberdashers,confectioners—allfollowedinrapidsuccession.Thestreetwasfullofcoaches.Pompousdoormeninimmensecoats,shinybrassbeltsandbuttons,waitedinfrontofexpensivesalesrooms.Coachmenintanboots,whitetights,andbluejacketswaitedobsequiouslyforthemistressesofcarriageswhowereshoppinginside.Thewholestreetboretheflavorofrichesandshow,andCarriefeltthatshewasnotofit.Shecouldnot,forthelifeofher,assumetheattitudeandsmartnessofMrs.Vance,who,inherbeauty,wasallassurance.Shecouldonlyimaginethatitmustbeevidenttomanythatshewasthelesshandsomelydressedofthetwo.Itcuthertothequick,andsheresolvedthatshewouldnotcomehereagainuntilshelookedbetter.Atthesametimeshelongedtofeelthedelightofparadinghereasanequal.Ah,thenshewouldbehappy!