Chapter 37

THESPIRITAWAKENS—NEWSEARCHFORTHEGATE

Itwouldbeuselesstoexplainhowinduetimethelastfiftydollarswasinsight.Thesevenhundred,byhisprocessofhandling,hadonlycarriedthemintoJune.Beforethefinalhundredmarkwasreachedhebegantoindicatethatacalamitywasapproaching.

“Idon’tknow,”hesaidoneday,takingatrivialexpenditureformeatasatext,“itseemstotakeanawfullotforustolive.”

“Itdoesn’tseemtome,”saidCarrie,“thatwespendverymuch.”

“Mymoneyisnearlygone,”hesaid,“andIhardlyknowwhereit’sgoneto.”

“Allthatsevenhundreddollars.”askedCarrie.

“Allbutahundred.”

Helookedsodisconsolatethatitscaredher.Shebegantoseethatsheherselfhadbeendrifting.Shehadfeltitallthetime.

“Well,George,”sheexclaimed,“whydon’tyougetoutandlookforsomething.Youcouldfindsomething.”

“Ihavelooked,”hesaid.“Youcantmakepeoplegiveyouaplace.”

Shegazedweaklyathimandsaid:“Well,whatdoyouthinkyouwilldo.Ahundreddollarswon’tlastlong.”

“Idon’tknow,”hesaid.“Ican’tdoanymorethanlook.”

Carriebecamefrightenedoverthisannouncement.Shethoughtdesperatelyuponthesubject.Frequentlyshehadconsideredthestageasadoorthroughwhichshemightenterthatgildedstatewhichshehadsomuchcraved.Now,asinChicago,itcameasalastresourceindistress.Somethingmustbedoneifhedidnotgetworksoon.Perhapsshewouldhavetogooutandbattleagainalone.

Shebegantowonderhowonewouldgoaboutgettingaplace.HerexperienceinChicagoprovedthatshehadnottriedtherightway.Theremustbepeoplewhowouldlistentoandtryyou—menwhowouldgiveyouanopportunity.

Theyweretalkingatthebreakfasttable,amorningortwolater,whenshebroughtupthedramaticsubjectbysayingthatshesawthatSarahBernhardtwascomingtothiscountry.Hurstwoodhadseenit,too.

“Howdopeoplegetonthestage,George.”shefinallyasked,innocently.

“Idon’tknow,”hesaid.“Theremustbedramaticagents.”

Carriewassippingcoffee,anddidnotlookup.

“Regularpeoplewhogetyouaplace.”

“Yes,Ithinkso,”heanswered.

Suddenlytheairwithwhichsheaskedattractedhisattention.

“You’renotstillthinkingaboutbeinganactress,areyou.”heasked.

“No,”sheanswered,“Iwasjustwondering.”

Withoutbeingclear,therewassomethinginthethoughtwhichheobjectedto.Hedidnotbelieveanymore,afterthreeyearsofobservation,thatCarriewouldeverdoanythinggreatinthatline.Sheseemedtoosimple,tooyielding.Hisideaoftheartwasthatitinvolvedsomethingmorepompous.Ifshetriedtogetonthestageshewouldfallintothehandsofsomecheapmanagerandbecomeliketherestofthem.Hehadagoodideaofwhathemeantbythem.Carriewas

pretty.Shewouldgetalongallright,butwherewouldhebe.

“I’dgetthatideaoutofmyhead,ifIwereyou.It’salotmoredifficultthanyouthink.”

Carriefeltthistocontain,insomeway,anaspersionuponherability.

“YousaidIdidrealwellinChicago,”sherejoined.

“Youdid,”heanswered,seeingthathewasarousingopposition,“butChicagoisn’tNewYork,byabigjump.”

Carriedidnotanswerthisatall.Ithurther.

“Thestage,”hewenton,“isallrightifyoucanbeoneofthebigguns,butthere’snothingtotherestofit.Ittakesalongwhiletogetup.”

“Oh,Idon’tknow,”saidCarrie,slightlyaroused.

Inaflash,hethoughtheforesawtheresultofthisthing.Now,whentheworstofhissituationwasapproaching,shewouldgetonthestageinsomecheapwayandforsakehim.Strangely,hehadnotconceivedwellofhermentalability.Thatwasbecausehedidnotunderstandthenatureofemotionalgreatness.Hehadneverlearnedthatapersonmightbeemotionally—insteadofintellectually—great.AveryHallwastoofarawayforhimtolookbackandsharplyremember.Hehadlivedwiththiswomantoolong.

“Well,Ido,”heanswered.“IfIwereyouIwouldn’tthinkofit.It’snotmuchofaprofessionforawoman.”

“It’sbetterthangoinghungry,”saidCarrie.“Ifyoudon’twantmetodothat,whydon’tyougetworkyourself.”

Therewasnoanswerreadyforthis.Hehadgotusedtothesuggestion.

“Oh,letup,”heanswered.

Theresultofthiswasthatshesecretlyresolvedtotry.Itdidn’tmatterabouthim.Shewasnotgoingtobedraggedintopovertyandsomethingworsetosuithim.Shecouldact.Shecouldgetsomethingandthenworkup.Whatwouldhesaythen.ShepicturedherselfalreadyappearinginsomefineperformanceonBroadway;ofgoingeveryeveningtoherdressing-roomandmakingup.Thenshewouldcomeoutateleveno’clockandseethecarriagesrangedabout,waitingforthepeople.Itdidnotmatterwhethershewasthestarornot.Ifshewereonlyoncein,gettingadecentsalary,wearingthekindofclothessheliked,havingthemoneytodowith,goinghereandthereasshepleased,howdelightfulitwouldallbe.Hermindranoverthispictureallthedaylong.Hurstwood’sdrearystatemadeitsbeautybecomemoreandmorevivid.

CuriouslythisideasoontookholdofHurstwood.Hisvanishingsumsuggestedthathewouldneedsustenance.WhycouldnotCarrieassisthimalittleuntilhecouldgetsomething.

Hecameinonedaywithsomethingofthisideainhismind.

“ImetJohnB.Draketo-day,”hesaid.“He’sgoingtoopenahotelhereinthefall.Hesaysthathecanmakeaplaceformethen.”

“Whoishe.”askedCarrie.

“He’sthemanthatrunstheGrandPacificinChicago.”

“Oh,”saidCarrie.

“I’dgetaboutfourteenhundredayearoutofthat.”

“Thatwouldbegood,wouldn’tit.”shesaid,sympathetically.

“IfIcanonlygetoverthissummer,”headded,“IthinkI’llbeallright.I’mhearingfromsomeofmyfriendsagain.”

Carrieswallowedthisstoryinallitspristinebeauty.Shesincerelywishedhecouldgetthroughthesummer.Helookedsohopeless.

“Howmuchmoneyhaveyouleft.”

“Onlyfiftydollars.”

“Oh,mercy,”sheexclaimed,“whatwillwedo.It’sonlytwentydaysuntiltherentwillbedueagain.”

Hurstwoodrestedhisheadonhishandsandlookedblanklyatthefloor.

“Maybeyoucouldgetsomethinginthestageline.”heblandlysuggested.

“MaybeIcould,”saidCarrie,gladthatsomeoneapprovedoftheidea.

“I’lllaymyhandtowhateverIcanget,”hesaid,nowthathesawherbrightenup.“Icangetsomething.”

Shecleanedupthethingsonemorningafterhehadgone,dressedasneatlyasherwardrobepermitted,andsetoutforBroadway.Shedidnotknowthatthoroughfareverywell.Toheritwasawonderfulconglomerationofeverythinggreatandmighty.Thetheatreswerethere—theseagenciesmustbesomewhereabout.

ShedecidedtostopinattheMadisonSquareTheatreandaskhowtofindthetheatricalagents.Thisseemedthesensibleway.Accordingly,whenshereachedthattheatresheappliedtotheclerkattheboxoffice.

“Eh.”hesaid,lookingout.“Dramaticagents.Idon’tknow.You’llfindtheminthe‘Clipper,’though.Theyalladvertiseinthat.”

“Isthatapaper.”saidCarrie.

“Yes,”saidtheclerk,marvelingatsuchignoranceofacommonfact.“Youcangetitatthenews-stands,”headdedpolitely,seeinghowprettytheinquirerwas.

Carrieproceededtogetthe“Clipper,”andtriedtofindtheagentsbylookingoveritasshestoodbesidethestand.Thiscouldnotbedonesoeasily.ThirteenthStreetwasanumberofblocksoff,butshewentback,carryingthepreciouspaperandregrettingthewasteoftime.

Hurstwoodwasalreadythere,sittinginhisplace.

“Wherewereyou.”heasked.

“I’vebeentryingtofindsomedramaticagents.”

Hefeltalittlediffidentaboutaskingconcerning

hersuccess.Thepapershebegantoscanattractedhisattention.

“Whathaveyougotthere.”heasked.

“The‘Clipper.’ThemansaidI’dfindtheiraddressesinhere.”

“HaveyoubeenallthewayovertoBroadwaytofindthatout.Icouldhavetoldyou.”

“Whydidn’tyou.”sheasked,withoutlookingup.

“Youneveraskedme,”hereturned.

Shewenthuntingaimlesslythroughthecrowdedcolumns.Hermindwasdistractedbythisman’sindifference.Thedifficultyofthesituationshewasfacingwasonlyaddedtobyallhedid.Selfcommiserationbrewedinherheart.Tearstrembledalonghereyelidsbutdidnotfall.Hurstwoodnoticedsomething.

“Letmelook.”

Torecoverherselfshewentintothefrontroomwhilehesearched.Presentlyshereturned.Hehadapencil,andwaswritinguponanenvelope.

“Here’rethree,”hesaid.

CarrietookitandfoundthatonewasMrs.Bermudez,anotherMarcusJenks,athirdPercyWeil.Shepausedonlyamoment,andthenmovedtowardthedoor.

“Imightaswellgorightaway,”shesaid,withoutlookingback.

Hurstwoodsawherdepartwithsomefaintstirringsofshame,whichweretheexpressionofamanhoodrapidlybecomingstultified.Hesatawhile,andthenitbecametoomuch.Hegotupandputonhishat.

“IguessI’llgoout,”hesaidtohimself,andwent,strollingnowhereinparticular,butfeelingsomehowthathemustgo.

Carrie’sfirstcallwasuponMrs.Bermudez,whoseaddresswasquitethenearest.Itwasanold-fashionedresidenceturnedintooffices.Mrs.Bermudez’sofficesconsistedofwhatformerlyhadbeenabackchamber

andahallbedroom,marked“Private.”

AsCarrieenteredshenoticedseveralpersonsloungingabout-men,whosaidnothinganddidnothing.

Whileshewaswaitingtobenoticed,thedoorofthehallbedroomopenedandfromitissuedtwoverymannish-lookingwomen,verytightlydressed,andwearingwhitecollarsandcuffs.Afterthemcameaportlyladyofaboutforty-five,light-haired,sharp-eyed,andevidentlygood-natured.Atleastshewassmiling.

“Now,don’tforgetaboutthat,”saidoneofthemannishwomen.

“Iwon’t,”saidtheportlywoman.“Let’ssee,”sheadded,“whereareyouthefirstweekinFebruary.”“Pittsburgh,”saidthewoman.

“I’llwriteyouthere.”

“Allright,”saidtheother,andthetwopassedout.

Instantlytheportlylady’sfacebecameexceedinglysoberandshrewd.SheturnedaboutandfixedonCarrieaverysearchingeye.

“Well,”shesaid,“youngwoman,whatcanIdoforyou.”

“AreyouMrs.Bermudez.”

“Yes.”

“Well,”saidCarrie,hesitatinghowtobegin,“doyougetplacesforpersonsuponthestage.”

“Yes.”

“Couldyougetmeone.”

“Haveyoueverhadanyexperience.”

“Averylittle,”saidCarrie.

“Whomdidyouplaywith.”

“Oh,withnoone,”saidCarrie.“Itwasjustashowgotten—”

“Oh,Isee,”saidthewoman,interruptingher.“No,Idon’tknowofanythingnow.”

Carrie’scountenancefell.

“YouwanttogetsomeNewYorkexperience,”

concludedtheaffableMrs.Bermudez.“We’lltakeyourname,though.”

Carriestoodlookingwhiletheladyretiredtoheroffice.

“Whatisyouraddress.”inquiredayoungladybehindthecounter,takingupthecurtailedconversation.

“Mrs.GeorgeWheeler,”saidCarrie,movingovertowhereshewaswriting.Thewomanwroteheraddressinfullandthenallowedhertodepartatherleisure.

SheencounteredaverysimilarexperienceintheofficeofMr.Jenks,onlyhevarieditbysayingattheclose:“Ifyoucouldplayatsomelocalhouse,orhadaprogramwithyournameonit,Imightdosomething.”

Inthethirdplacetheindividualasked:

“Whatsortofworkdoyouwanttodo.”

“Whatdoyoumean.”saidCarrie.

“Well,doyouwanttogetinacomedyoronthevaudevilleorinthechorus.”

“Oh,I’dliketogetapartinaplay,”saidCarrie.

“Well,”saidtheman,“it’llcostyousomethingtodothat.”“Howmuch.”saidCarrie,who,ridiculousasitmayseem,hadnotthoughtofthisbefore.

“Well,that’sforyoutosay,”heansweredshrewdly.

Carrielookedathimcuriously.Shehardlyknewhowtocontinuetheinquiry.

“CouldyougetmeapartifIpaid.”

“Ifwedidn’tyou’dgetyourmoneyback.”

“Oh,”shesaid.

Theagentsawhewasdealingwithaninexperiencedsoul,andcontinuedaccordingly.

“You’dwanttodepositfiftydollars,anyway.Noagentwouldtroubleaboutyouforlessthanthat.”

Carriesawalight.

“Thankyou,”shesaid.“I’llthinkaboutit.”

Shestartedtogo,andthenbethoughtherself.

“HowsoonwouldIgetaplace.”sheasked.

“Well,that’shardtosay,”saidtheman.“Youmight

getoneinaweek,oritmightbeamonth.You’dgetthefirstthingthatwethoughtyoucoulddo.”

“Isee,”saidCarrie,andthen,half-smilingtobeagreeable,shewalkedout.

Theagentstudiedamoment,andthensaidtohimself:

“It’sfunnyhowanxiousthesewomenaretogetonthestage.”

Carriefoundamplefoodforreflectioninthefifty-dollarproposition.“Maybethey’dtakemymoneyandnotgivemeanything,”shethought.Shehadsomejewelry—adiamondringandpinandseveralotherpieces.Shecouldgetfiftydollarsforthoseifshewenttoapawnbroker.

Hurstwoodwashomebeforeher.Hehadnotthoughtshewouldbesolongseeking.

“Well.”hesaid,notventuringtoaskwhatnews.

“Ididn’tfindoutanythingto-day,”saidCarrie,takingoffhergloves.“Theyallwantmoneytogetyouaplace.”

“Howmuch.”askedHurstwood.

“Fiftydollars.”

“Theydon’twantanything,dothey.”

“Oh,they’relikeeverybodyelse.Youcan’ttellwhetherthey’devergetyouanythingafteryoudidpaythem.”

“Well,Iwouldn’tputupfiftyonthatbasis,”saidHurstwood,asifheweredeciding,moneyinhand.

“Idon’tknow,”saidCarrie.“IthinkI’lltrysomeofthemanagers.”

Hurstwoodheardthis,deadtothehorrorofit.Herockedalittletoandfro,andchewedathisfinger.Itseemedallverynaturalinsuchextremestates.Hewoulddobetterlateron.