Chapter 33
WITHOUTTHEWALLEDCITY—THESLOPEOFTHEYEARS
Theimmediateresultofthiswasnothing.Resultsfromsuchthingsareusuallylongingrowing.Morningbringsachangeoffeeling.Theexistentconditioninvariablypleadsforitself.Itisonlyatoddmomentsthatwegetglimpsesofthemiseryofthings.Theheartunderstandswhenitisconfrontedwithcontrasts.Takethemawayandtheachesubsides.
Carriewenton,leadingmuchthissamelifeforsixmonthsthereafterormore.ShedidnotseeAmesanymore.HecalledonceupontheVances,butsheonlyheardaboutitthroughtheyoungwife.ThenhewentWest,andtherewasagradualsubsidenceofwhateverpersonalattractionhadexisted.Thementaleffectofthethinghadnotgone,however,andneverwouldentirely.Shehadanidealtocontrastmenby—particularlymenclosetoher.
Duringallthistime—aperiodrapidlyapproachingthreeyears-Hurstwoodhadbeenmovingalonginanevenpath.Therewasnoapparentslopedownward,anddistinctlynoneupward,sofarasthecasualobservermighthaveseen.Butpsychologicallytherewasachange,whichwasmarkedenoughtosuggestthefutureverydistinctlyindeed.ThiswasinthemerematterofthehalthiscareerhadreceivedwhenhedepartedfromChicago.Aman’sfortuneormaterialprogressisverymuchthesameashisbodilygrowth.Eitherheisgrowingstronger,healthier,wiser,asthe
youthapproachingmanhood,orheisgrowingweaker,older,lessincisivementally,asthemanapproachingoldage.Therearenootherstates.Frequentlythereisaperiodbetweenthecessationofyouthfulaccretionandthesettingin,inthecaseofthemiddle-agedman,ofthetendencytowarddecaywhenthetwoprocessesarealmostperfectlybalancedandthereislittledoingineitherdirection.Giventimeenough,however,thebalancebecomesasaggingtothegraveside.Slowlyatfirst,thenwithamodestmomentum,andatlastthegravewardprocessisinthefullswing.Soitisfrequentlywithman’sfortune.Ifitsprocessofaccretionisneverhalted,ifthebalancingstageisneverreached,therewillbenotoppling.Richmenare,frequently,inthesedays,savedfromthisdissolutionoftheirfortunebytheirabilitytohireyoungerbrains.Theseyoungerbrainslookupontheinterestsofthefortuneastheirown,andsosteadyanddirectitsprogress.Ifeachindividualwereleftabsolutelytothecareofhisowninterests,andweregiventimeenoughinwhichtogrowexceedinglyold,hisfortunewouldpassashisstrengthandwill.Heandhiswouldbeutterlydissolvedandscattereduntothefourwindsoftheheavens.
Butnowseewhereintheparallelchanges.Afortune,likeaman,isanorganismwhichdrawstoitselfothermindsandotherstrengththanthatinherentinthefounder.Besidetheyoungmindsdrawntoitbysalaries,itbecomesalliedwithyoungforces,whichmakeforitsexistenceevenwhenthestrengthandwisdomofthefounderarefading.Itmaybeconservedbythegrowthofacommunityorofastate.Itmaybeinvolvedinprovidingsomethingforwhichthereisagrowingdemand.Thisremovesitatoncebeyondthespecialcareofthefounder.Itneedsnotsomuchforesightnowasdirection.Themanwanes,theneedcontinuesorgrows,andthefortune,fallenintowhosehandsitmay,continues.Hence,somemennever
recognisetheturninginthetideoftheirabilities.Itisonlyinchancecases,whereafortuneorastateofsuccessiswrestedfromthem,thatthelackofabilitytodoastheydidformerlybecomesapparent.Hurstwood,setdownundernewconditions,wasinapositiontoseethathewasnolongeryoung.Ifhedidnot,itwasduewhollytothefactthathisstatewassowellbalancedthatanabsolutechangefortheworsedidnotshow.
Nottrainedtoreasonorintrospecthimself,hecouldnotanalyzethechangethatwastakingplaceinhismind,andhencehisbody,buthefeltthedepressionofit.Constantcomparisonbetweenhisoldstateandhisnewshowedabalancefortheworse,whichproducedaconstantstateofgloomor,atleast,depression.Now,ithasbeenshownexperimentallythataconstantlysubduedframeofmindproducescertainpoisonsintheblood,calledkatastates,justasvirtuousfeelingsofpleasureanddelightproducehelpfulchemicalscalledanastates.Thepoisonsgeneratedbyremorseinveighagainstthesystem,andeventuallyproducemarkedphysicaldeterioration.TotheseHurstwoodwassubject.
Inthecourseoftimeittolduponhistemper.Hiseyenolongerpossessedthatbuoyant,searchingshrewdnesswhichhadcharacterizeditinAdamsStreet.Hisstepwasnotassharpandfirm.Hewasgiventothinking,thinking,thinking.Thenewfriendshemadewerenotcelebrities.Theywereofacheaper,aslightlymoresensualandcruder,grade.HecouldnotpossiblytakethepleasureinthiscompanythathehadinthatofthosefinefrequentersoftheChicagoresort.Hewaslefttobrood.
Slowly,exceedinglyslowly,hisdesiretogreet,conciliate,andmakeathomethesepeoplewhovisitedtheWarrenStreetplacepassedfromhim.Moreandmoreslowlythesignificanceoftherealmhehadleftbegantobeclear.Itdidnotseemsowonderfultobein
itwhenhewasinit.Ithadseemedveryeasyforanyonetogetupthereandhaveampleraimentandmoneytospend,butnowthathewasoutofit,howfaroffitbecame.Hebegantoseeasoneseesacitywithawallaboutit.Menwerepostedatthegates.Youcouldnotgetin.Thoseinsidedidnotcaretocomeouttoseewhoyouwere.Theyweresomerryinsidetherethatallthoseoutsidewereforgotten,andhewasontheoutside.
Eachdayhecouldreadintheeveningpapersofthedoingswithinthiswalledcity.InthenoticesofpassengersforEuropehereadthenamesofeminentfrequentersofhisoldresort.Inthetheatricalcolumnappeared,fromtimetotime,announcementsofthelatestsuccessesofmenhehadknown.Heknewthattheywereattheiroldgayeties.Pullmanswerehaulingthemtoandfroabouttheland,papersweregreetingthemwithinterestingmentions,theelegantlobbiesofhotelsandtheglowofpolisheddining-roomswerekeepingthemclosewithinthewalledcity.Menwhomhehadknown,menwhomhehadtippedglasseswith—richmen,andhewasforgotten!WhowasMr.Wheeler.WhatwastheWarrenStreetresort.Bah!Ifonethinksthatsuchthoughtsdonotcometosocommonatypeofmind—thatsuchfeelingsrequireahighermentaldevelopment-Iwouldurgefortheirconsiderationthefactthatitisthehighermentaldevelopmentthatdoesawaywithsuchthoughts.Itisthehighermentaldevelopmentwhichinducesphilosophyandthatfortitudewhichrefusestodwelluponsuchthings—refusestobemadetosufferbytheirconsideration.Thecommontypeofmindisexceedinglykeenonallmatterswhichrelatetoitsphysicalwelfare—exceedinglykeen.Itistheunintellectualmiserwhosweatsbloodatthelossofahundreddollars.ItistheEpictetuswhosmileswhenthelastvestigeofphysicalwelfareisremoved.
Thetimecame,inthethirdyear,whenthisthinking
begantoproduceresultsintheWarrenStreetplace.Thetideofpatronagedroppedalittlebelowwhatithadbeenatitsbestsincehehadbeenthere.Thisirritatedandworriedhim.
TherecameanightwhenheconfessedtoCarriethatthebusinesswasnotdoingaswellthismonthasithadthemonthbefore.Thiswasinlieuofcertainsuggestionsshehadmadeconcerninglittlethingsshewantedtobuy.Shehadnotfailedtonoticethathedidnotseemtoconsultheraboutbuyingclothesforhimself.Forthefirsttime,itstruckherasaruse,orthathesaiditsothatshewouldnotthinkofaskingforthings.Herreplywasmildenough,butherthoughtswererebellious.Hewasnotlookingafterheratall.ShewasdependingforherenjoymentupontheVances.
Andnowthelatterannouncedthattheyweregoingaway.Itwasapproachingspring,andtheyweregoingNorth.
“Oh,yes,”saidMrs.VancetoCarrie,“wethinkwemightaswellgiveuptheflatandstoreourthings.We’llbegoneforthesummer,anditwouldbeauselessexpense.Ithinkwe’llsettlealittlefartherdowntownwhenwecomeback.”
Carrieheardthiswithgenuinesorrow.ShehadenjoyedMrs.Vance’scompanionshipsomuch.Therewasnooneelseinthehousewhomsheknew.Againshewouldbeallalone.
Hurstwood’sgloomovertheslightdecreaseinprofitsandthedepartureoftheVancescametogether.SoCarriehadlonelinessandthismoodofherhusbandtoenjoyatthesametime.Itwasagrievousthing.Shebecamerestlessanddissatisfied,notexactly,asshethought,withHurstwood,butwithlife.Whatwasit.Averydullroundindeed.Whatdidshehave.Nothingbutthisnarrow,littleflat.TheVancescouldtravel,theycoulddothethingsworthdoing,andhereshewas.Forwhatwasshemade,anyhow.Morethoughtfollowed,andthentears—tearsseemedjustified,andtheonlyreliefintheworld.
Foranotherperiodthisstatecontinued,thetwainleadingarathermonotonouslife,andthentherewasaslightchangefortheworse.Oneevening,Hurstwood,afterthinkingaboutawaytomodifyCarrie’sdesireforclothesandthegeneralstrainuponhisabilitytoprovide,said:
“Idon’tthinkI’lleverbeabletodomuchwithShaughnessy.”
“What’sthematter.”saidCarrie.
“Oh,he’saslow,greedy‘mick’!Hewon’tagreetoanythingtoimprovetheplace,anditwon’teverpaywithoutit.”
“Can’tyoumakehim.”saidCarrie.
“No;I’vetried.TheonlythingIcansee,ifIwanttoimprove,istogetholdofaplaceofmyown.”
“Whydon’tyou.”saidCarrie.
“Well,allIhaveistiedupintherejustnow.IfIhadachancetosaveawhileIthinkIcouldopenaplacethatwouldgiveusplentyofmoney.”
“Can’twesave.”saidCarrie.
“Wemighttryit,”hesuggested.“I’vebeenthinkingthatifwe’dtakeasmallerflatdowntownandliveeconomicallyforayear,Iwouldhaveenough,withwhatIhaveinvested,toopenagoodplace.Thenwecouldarrangetoliveasyouwantto.”
“Itwouldsuitmeallright,”saidCarrie,who,nevertheless,feltbadlytothinkithadcometothis.Talkofasmallerflatsoundedlikepoverty.
“TherearelotsofnicelittleflatsdownaroundSixthAvenue,belowFourteenthStreet.Wemightgetonedownthere.”
“I’lllookatthemifyousayso,”saidCarrie.
“IthinkIcouldbreakawayfromthisfellowinsideofayear,”saidHurstwood.“Nothingwillevercomeofthisarrangementasit’sgoingonnow.”
“I’lllookaround,”saidCarrie,observingthatthe
proposedchangeseemedtobeaseriousthingwithhim.
Theupshotofthiswasthatthechangewaseventuallyeffected;notwithoutgreatgloomonthepartofCarrie.Itreallyaffectedhermoreseriouslythananythingthathadyethappened.ShebegantolookuponHurstwoodwhollyasaman,andnotasaloverorhusband.Shefeltthoroughlyboundtohimasawife,andthatherlotwascastwithhis,whateveritmightbe;butshebegantoseethathewasgloomyandtaciturn,notayoung,strong,andbuoyantman.Helookedalittlebitoldtoherabouttheeyesandmouthnow,andtherewereotherthingswhichplacedhiminhistruerank,sofarasherestimationwasconcerned.Shebegantofeelthatshehadmadeamistake.Incidentally,shealsobegantorecallthefactthathehadpracticallyforcedhertofleewithhim.
ThenewflatwaslocatedinThirteenthStreet,ahalfblockwestofSixthAvenue,andcontainedonlyfourrooms.ThenewneighborhooddidnotappealtoCarrieasmuch.Therewerenotreeshere,nowestviewoftheriver.Thestreetwassolidlybuiltup.Thereweretwelvefamilieshere,respectableenough,butnothingliketheVances.Richerpeoplerequiredmorespace.
Beingleftaloneinthislittleplace,Carriedidwithoutagirl.Shemadeitcharmingenough,butcouldnotmakeitdelighther.Hurstwoodwasnotinwardlypleasedtothinkthattheyshouldhavetomodifytheirstate,buthearguedthathecoulddonothing.Hemustputthebestfaceonit,andletitgoatthat.
HetriedtoshowCarriethattherewasnocauseforfinancialalarm,butonlycongratulationoverthechancehewouldhaveattheendoftheyearbytakingherrathermorefrequentlytothetheatreandbyprovidingaliberaltable.Thiswasforthetimeonly.Hewasgettingintheframeofmindwherehewantedprincipallytobealoneandtobeallowedtothink.Thediseaseofbroodingwasbeginningtoclaimhimas
avictim.Onlythenewspapersandhisownthoughtswereworthwhile.Thedelightoflovehadagainslippedaway.Itwasacaseoflive,now,makingthebestyoucanoutofaverycommonplacestationinlife.
Theroaddownwardhasbutfewlandingsandlevelplaces.Theverystateofhismind,superinducedbyhiscondition,causedthebreachtowidenbetweenhimandhispartner.AtlastthatindividualbegantowishthatHurstwoodwasoutofit.Itsohappened,however,thatarealestatedealonthepartoftheownerofthelandarrangedthingsevenmoreeffectuallythanillwillcouldhaveschemed.
“Didyouseethat.”saidShaughnessyonemorningtoHurstwood,pointingtotherealestatecolumninacopyofthe“Herald,”whichheheld.
“No,whatisit.”saidHurstwood,lookingdowntheitemsofnews.
“Themanwhoownsthisgroundhassoldit.”
“Youdon’tsayso.”saidHurstwood.
Helooked,andtherewasthenotice.Mr.AugustVielehadyesterdayregisteredthetransferofthelot,25x75feet,atthecornerofWarrenandHudsonStreets,toJ.F.Slawsonforthesumof$57,000.
“Ourleaseexpireswhen.”askedHurstwood,thinking.“NextFebruary,isn’tit.”
“That’sright,”saidShaughnessy.
“Itdoesn’tsaywhatthenewman’sgoingtodowithit,”remarkedHurstwood,lookingbacktothepaper.
“We’llhear,Iguess,soonenough,”saidShaughnessy.
Sureenough,itdiddevelop.Mr.Slawsonownedthepropertyadjoining,andwasgoingtoputupamodernofficebuilding.Thepresentonewastobetorndown.Itwouldtakeprobablyayearandahalftocompletetheotherone.
Allthesethingsdevelopedbydegrees,andHurstwoodbegantoponderoverwhatwouldbecomeofthesaloon.Onedayhespokeaboutittohispartner.
“Doyouthinkitwouldbeworthwhiletoopenupsomewhereelseintheneighborhood.”
“Whatwouldbetheuse.”saidShaughnessy.“Wecouldn’tgetanothercorneraroundhere.”
“Itwouldn’tpayanywhereelse,doyouthink.”
“Iwouldn’ttryit,”saidtheother.TheapproachingchangenowtookonamostseriousaspecttoHurstwood.Dissolutionmeantthelossofhisthousanddollars,andhecouldnotsaveanotherthousandinthetime.HeunderstoodthatShaughnessywasmerelytiredofthearrangement,andwouldprobablyleasethenewcorner,whencompleted,alone.Hebegantoworryaboutthenecessityofanewconnectionandtoseeimpendingseriousfinancialstraitsunlesssomethingturnedup.ThislefthiminnomoodtoenjoyhisflatorCarrie,andconsequentlythedepressioninvadedthatquarter.
Meanwhile,hetooksuchtimeashecouldtolookabout,butopportunitieswerenotnumerous.More,hehadnotthesameimpressivepersonalitywhichhehadwhenhefirstcametoNewYork.Badthoughtshadputashadeintohiseyeswhichdidnotimpressothersfavorably.Neitherhadhethirteenhundreddollarsinhandtotalkwith.Aboutamonthlater,findingthathehadnotmadeanyprogress,ShaughnessyreporteddefinitelythatSlawsonwouldnotextendthelease.
“Iguessthisthing’sgottocometoanend,”hesaid,affectinganairofconcern.
“Well,ifithas,ithas,”answeredHurstwood,grimly.Hewouldnotgivetheotherakeytohisopinions,whatevertheywere.Heshouldnothavethesatisfaction.
AdayortwolaterhesawthathemustsaysomethingtoCarrie.
“Youknow,”hesaid,“IthinkI’mgoingtogettheworstofmydealdownthere.”
“Howisthat.”askedCarrieinastonishment.
“Well,themanwhoownsthegroundhassoldit.
andthenewownerwon’treleaseittous.Thebusinessmaycometoanend.”
“Can’tyoustartsomewhereelse.”
“Theredoesn’tseemtobeanyplace.Shaughnessydoesn’twantto.”
“Doyoulosewhatyouputin.”
“Yes,”saidHurstwood,whosefacewasastudy.
“Oh,isn’tthattoobad.”saidCarrie.
“It’satrick,”saidHurstwood.“That’sall.They’llstartanotherplacethereallright.”
Carrielookedathim,andgatheredfromhiswholedemeanorwhatitmeant.Itwasserious,veryserious.
“Doyouthinkyoucangetsomethingelse.”sheventured,timidly.
Hurstwoodthoughtawhile.Itwasallupwiththebluffaboutmoneyandinvestment.Shecouldseenowthathewas“broke.”
“Idon’tknow,”hesaidsolemnly;“Icantry.”