Chapter 43

THEWORLDTURNSFLATTERER—ANEYEINTHEDARK

Installedinhercomfortableroom,CarriewonderedhowHurstwoodhadtakenherdeparture.Shearrangedafewthingshastilyandthenleftforthetheatre,halfexpectingtoencounterhimatthedoor.Notfindinghim,herdreadlifted,andshefeltmorekindlytowardhim.Shequiteforgothimuntilabouttocomeout,aftertheshow,whenthechanceofhisbeingtherefrightenedher.Asdayafterdaypassedandsheheardnothingatall,thethoughtofbeingbotheredbyhimpassed.Inalittlewhileshewas,exceptforoccasionalthoughts,whollyfreeofthegloomwithwhichherlifehadbeenweighedintheflat.

Itiscurioustonotehowquicklyaprofessionabsorbsone.Carriebecamewiseintheatricallore,hearingthegossipoflittleLola.Shelearnedwhatthetheatricalpaperswere,whichonespublisheditemsaboutactressesandthelike.Shebegantoreadthenewspapernotices,notonlyoftheoperainwhichshehadsosmallapart,butofothers.Graduallythedesirefornoticetookholdofher.Shelongedtoberenownedlikeothers,andreadwithavidityallthecomplimentaryorcriticalcommentsmadeconcerningothershighinherprofession.Theshowyworldinwhichherinterestlaycompletelyabsorbedher.

Itwasaboutthistimethatthenewspapersandmagazineswerebeginningtopaythatillustrativeattentiontothebeautiesofthestagewhichhassincebecomefervid.Thenewspapers,andparticularlytheSundaynewspapers,indulgedinlargedecorativetheatricalpages,inwhichthefacesandformsofwell-knowntheatricalcelebritiesappeared,enclosedwithartisticscrolls.Themagazinesalsooratleastoneortwoofthenewerones-publishedoccasionalportraitsofprettystars,andnowandagainphotosofscenesfromvariousplays.Carriewatchedthesewithgrowinginterest.Whenwouldascenefromheroperaappear.Whenwouldsomepaperthinkherphotoworthwhile.

TheSundaybeforetakinghernewpartshescannedthetheatricalpagesforsomelittlenotice.Itwouldhaveaccordedwithherexpectationsifnothinghadbeensaid,butthereinthesquibs,tailingoffseveralmoresubstantialitems,wasaweenotice.Carriereaditwithatinglingbody:

“ThepartofKatisha,thecountrymaid,in‘TheWivesofAbdul’attheBroadway,heretoforeplayedbyInezCarew,willbehereafterfilledbyCarrieMadenda,oneofthecleverestmembersofthechorus.”

Carriehuggedherselfwithdelight.Oh,wasn’titjustfine!Atlast!Thefirst,thelong-hopedfor,thedelightfulnotice!Andtheycalledherclever.Shecouldhardlyrestrainherselffromlaughingloudly.HadLolaseenit.

“They’vegotanoticehereofthepartI’mgoingtoplaytomorrownight,”saidCarrietoherfriend.

“Oh,jolly!Havethey.”criedLola,runningtoher.“That’sallright,”shesaid,looking.“You’llgetmorenow,ifyoudowell.Ihadmypictureinthe‘World’once.”

“Didyou.”askedCarrie.

“DidI.Well,Ishouldsay,”returnedthelittlegirl.“Theyhadaframearoundit.”

Carrielaughed.

“They’veneverpublishedmypicture.”

“Buttheywill,”saidLola.“You’llsee.Youdobetterthanmostthatgettheirsinnow.”

Carriefeltdeeplygratefulforthis.ShealmostlovedLolaforthesympathyandpraisesheextended.Itwassohelpfultoher-soalmostnecessary.

Fulfillingherpartcapablybroughtanothernoticeinthepapersthatshewasdoingherworkacceptably.Thispleasedherimmensely.Shebegantothinktheworldwastakingnoteofher.

Thefirstweekshegotherthirty-fivedollars,itseemedanenormoussum.Payingonlythreedollarsforroomrentseemedridiculous.AftergivingLolahertwenty-five,shestillhadsevendollarsleft.Withfourleftoverfrompreviousearnings,shehadeleven.Fiveofthiswenttopaytheregularinstallmentontheclothesshehadtobuy.Thenextweekshewaseveningreaterfeather.Now,onlythreedollarsneedbepaidforroomrentandfiveonherclothes.Therestshehadforfoodandherownwhims.

“You’dbettersavealittleforsummer,”cautionedLola.“We’llprobablycloseinMay.”

“Iintendto,”saidCarrie.

Theregularentranceofthirty-fivedollarsaweektoonewhohasenduredscantallowancesforseveralyearsisademoralizingthing.Carriefoundherpurseburstingwithgoodgreenbillsofcomfortabledenominations.Havingnoonedependentuponher,shebegantobuyprettyclothesandpleasingtrinkets,toeatwell,andtoornamentherroom.Friendswerenotlongingatheringabout.ShemetafewyoungmenwhobelongedtoLola’sstaff.Themembersoftheoperacompanymadeheracquaintancewithouttheformalityofintroduction.Oneofthesediscoveredafancyforher.Onseveraloccasionshestrolledhomewithher.

“Let’sstopinandhaveararebit,”hesuggestedonemidnight.

“Verywell,”saidCarrie.

Intherosyrestaurant,filledwiththemerryloversoflatehours,shefoundherselfcriticizingthisman.Hewastoostilted,tooself-opinionated.Hedidnottalkofanythingthatliftedherabovethecommonrunofclothesandmaterialsuccess.Whenitwasallover,hesmiledmostgraciously.

“Gottogostraighthome,haveyou.”hesaid.

“Yes,”sheanswered,withanairofquietunderstanding.

“She’snotsoinexperiencedasshelooks,”hethought,andthereafterhisrespectandardorwereincreased.

ShecouldnothelpsharinginLola’sloveforagoodtime.Thereweredayswhentheywentcarriageriding,nightswhenaftertheshowtheydined,afternoonswhentheystrolledalongBroadway,tastefullydressed.Shewasgettinginthemetropolitanwhirlofpleasure.

Atlastherpictureappearedinoneoftheweeklies.Shehadnotknownofit,andittookherbreath.“MissCarrieMadenda,”itwaslabeled.“Oneofthefavoritesof‘TheWivesofAbdul’company.”AtLola’sadviceshehadhadsomepicturestakenbySarony.Theyhadgotonethere.Shethoughtofgoingdownandbuyingafewcopiesofthepaper,butrememberedthattherewasnoonesheknewwellenoughtosendthemto.OnlyLola,apparently,inalltheworldwasinterested.

Themetropolisisacoldplacesocially,andCarriesoonfoundthatalittlemoneybroughthernothing.Theworldofwealthanddistinctionwasquiteasfarawayasever.Shecouldfeelthattherewasnowarm,sympatheticfriendshipbackoftheeasymerrimentwithwhichmanyapproachedher.Allseemedtobeseekingtheirownamusement,regardlessofthepossiblesadconsequencetoothers.SomuchforthelessonsofHurstwoodandDrouet.

InAprilshelearnedthattheoperawouldprobablylastuntilthemiddleortheendofMay,accordingtothesizeoftheaudiences.Nextseasonitwouldgoontheroad.Shewonderedifshewouldbewithit.Asusual,MissOsborne,owingtohermoderatesalary,wasforsecuringahomeengagement.

“They’reputtingonasummerplayattheCasino,”sheannounced,afterfigurativelyputtinghereartotheground.“Let’stryandgetinthat.”

“I’mwilling,”saidCarrie.

Theytriedintimeandwereapprisedoftheproperdatetoapplyagain.ThatwasMay16th.MeanwhiletheirownshowclosedMay5th.

“Thosethatwanttogowiththeshownextseason,”saidthemanager,“willhavetosignthisweek.”

“Don’tyousign,”advisedLola.“Iwouldn’tgo.”

“Iknow,”saidCarrie,“butmaybeIcan’tgetanythingelse.”

“Well,Iwon’t,”saidthelittlegirl,whohadaresourceinheradmirers.“IwentonceandIdidn’thaveanythingattheendoftheseason.”

Carriethoughtthisover.Shehadneverbeenontheroad.

“Wecangetalong,”addedLola.“Ialwayshave.”

Carriedidnotsign.

ThemanagerwhowasputtingonthesummerskitattheCasinohadneverheardofCarrie,buttheseveralnoticesshehadreceived,herpublishedpicture,andtheprogrambearinghernamehadsomelittleweightwithhim.Hegaveherasilentpartatthirtydollarsaweek.

“Didn’tItellyou.”saidLola.“Itdoesn’tdoyouanygoodtogoawayfromNewYork.Theyforgetallaboutyouifyoudo.”

Now,becauseCarriewaspretty,thegentlemenwhomadeuptheadvanceillustrationsofshowsabouttoappearfortheSundaypapersselectedCarrie’sphotoalongwithotherstoillustratetheannouncement.Becauseshewasverypretty,theygaveitexcellentspaceanddrewscrollsaboutit.Carriewasdelighted.Still,themanagementdidnotseemtohaveseenanythingofit.Atleast,nomoreattentionwaspaidtoherthanbefore.Atthesametimethereseemedverylittleinherpart.Itconsistedofstandingaroundinallsortsofscenes,asilentlittleQuakeress.Theauthoroftheskithadfanciedthatagreatdealcouldbemadeofsuchapart,giventotherightactress,butnow,sinceithadbeendoledouttoCarrie,hewouldasleavehavehaditcutout.

“Don’tkick,oldman,”remarkedthemanager.“Ifitdon’tgothefirstweekwewillcutitout.”

Carriehadnowarningofthishalcyonintention.Shepracticedherpartruefully,feelingthatshewaseffectuallyshelved.Atthedressrehearsalshewasdisconsolate.

“Thatisn’tsobad,”saidtheauthor,themanagernotingthecuriouseffectwhichCarrie’sblueshaduponthepart.“TellhertofrownalittlemorewhenSparksdances.”

Carriedidnotknowit,buttherewastheleastshowofwrinklesbetweenhereyesandhermouthwaspuckeredquaintly.

“Frownalittlemore,MissMadenda,”saidthestagemanager.

Carrieinstantlybrightenedup,thinkinghehadmeantitasarebuke.

“No;frown,”hesaid.“Frownasyoudidbefore.”

Carrielookedathiminastonishment.

“Imeanit,”hesaid.“FrownhardwhenMr.Sparksdances.Iwanttoseehowitlooks.”

Itwaseasyenoughtodo.Carriescowled.Theeffectwassomethingsoquaintanddrollitcaughteventhemanager.

“Thatisgood,”hesaid.“Ifshe’lldothatallthrough,Ithinkitwilltake.”

GoingovertoCarrie,hesaid:

“Supposeyoutryfrowningallthrough.Doithard.Lookmad.It’llmakethepartreallyfunny.”

OntheopeningnightitlookedtoCarrieasiftherewerenothingtoherpart,afterall.Thehappy,

swelteringaudiencedidnotseemtoseeherinthefirstact.Shefrownedandfrowned,buttonoeffect.Eyeswereriveteduponthemoreelaborateeffortsofthestars.

Inthesecondact,thecrowd,weariedbyadullconversation,rovedwithitseyesaboutthestageandsightedher.Thereshewas,suited-suited,sweet-faced,demure,butscowling.Atfirstthegeneralideawasthatshewastemporarilyirritated,thatthelookwasgenuineandnotfunatall.Asshewentonfrowning,lookingnowatoneprincipalandnowattheother,theaudiencebegantosmile.Theportlygentlemeninthefrontrowsbegantofeelthatshewasadeliciouslittlemorsel.Itwasthekindoffrowntheywouldhavelovedtoforceawaywithkisses.Allthegentlemenyearnedtowardher.Shewascapital.

Atlast,thechiefcomedian,singinginthecenterofthestage,noticedagigglewhereitwasnotexpected.Thenanotherandanother.Whentheplacecameforloudapplauseitwasonlymoderate.Whatcouldbethetrouble.Herealizedthatsomethingwasup.

Allatonce,afteranexit,hecaughtsightofCarrie.Shewasfrowningaloneonthestageandtheaudiencewasgigglingandlaughing.

“ByGeorge,Iwon’tstandthat!”thoughtthethespian.“I’mnotgoingtohavemyworkcutupbysomeoneelse.EithershequitsthatwhenIdomyturnorIquit.”

“Why,that’sallright,”saidthemanager,whenthekickcame.“That’swhatshe’ssupposedtodo.Youneedn’tpayanyattentiontothat.”

“Butsheruinsmywork.”

“No,shedon’t,”returnedtheformer,soothingly.“It’sonlyalittlefunontheside.”

“Itis,eh.”exclaimedthebigcomedian.“Shekilledmyhandallright.I’mnotgoingtostandthat.”

“Well,waituntilaftertheshow.Waituntilto-morrow.We’llseewhatwecando.”

Thenextact,however,settledwhatwastobedone.Carriewasthechieffeatureoftheplay.Theaudience,themoreitstudiedher,themoreitindicateditsdelight.Everyotherfeaturepaledbesidethequaint,teasing,delightfulatmospherewhichCarriecontributedwhileonthestage.Managerandcompanyrealizedshehadmadeahit.

Thecriticsofthedailypaperscompletedhertriumph.Therewerelongnoticesinpraiseofthequalityoftheburlesque,touchedwithrecurrentreferencestoCarrie.Thecontagiousmirthofthethingwasrepeatedlyemphasized.

“MissMadendapresentsoneofthemostdelightfulbitsofcharacterworkeverseenontheCasinostage,”observedthestagecriticofthe“Sun.”“Itisabitofquiet,unassumingdrollerywhichwarmslikegoodwine.Evidentlythepartwasnotintendedtotakeprecedence,asMissMadendaisnotoftenonthestage,buttheaudience,withthecharacteristicperversityofsuchbodies,selectedforitself.ThelittleQuakeresswasmarkedforafavoritethemomentsheappeared,andthereaftereasilyheldattentionandapplause.Thevagariesoffortuneareindeedcurious.”

Thecriticofthe“EveningWorld,”seekingasusualtoestablishacatchphrasewhichshould“go”withthetown,woundupbyadvising:“Ifyouwishtobemerry,seeCarriefrown.”

TheresultwasmiraculoussofarasCarrie’sfortunewasconcerned.Evenduringthemorningshereceivedacongratulatorymessagefromthemanager.

“Youseemtohavetakenthetownbystorm,”hewrote.“Thisisdelightful.Iamasgladforyoursakeasformyown.”

Theauthoralsosentword.

Thateveningwhensheenteredthetheatrethemanagerhadamostpleasantgreetingforher.

“Mr.Stevens,”hesaid,referringtotheauthor,“ispreparingalittlesong,whichhewouldlikeyoutosingnextweek.”

“Oh,Ican’tsing,”returnedCarrie.

“Itisn’tanythingdifficult.‘It’ssomethingthatisverysimple,’hesays,‘andwouldsuityouexactly.’”

“Ofcourse,Iwouldn’tmindtrying,”saidCarrie,archly.

“Wouldyoumindcomingtothebox-officeafewmomentsbeforeyoudress.”observedthemanager,inaddition.“There’salittlematterIwanttospeaktoyouabout.”

“Certainly,”repliedCarrie.

Inthatlatterplacethemanagerproducedapaper.

“Now,ofcourse,”hesaid,“wewanttobefairwithyouinthematterofsalary.Yourcontracthereonlycallsforthirtydollarsaweekforthenextthreemonths.Howwoulditdotomakeit,say,onehundredandfiftyaweekandextenditfortwelvemonths.”

“Oh,verywell,”saidCarrie,scarcelybelievingherears.

“Supposing,then,youjustsignthis.”

Carrielookedandbeheldanewcontractmadeoutliketheotherone,withtheexceptionofthenewfiguresofsalaryandtime.Withahandtremblingfromexcitementsheaffixedhername.

“Onehundredandfiftyaweek!”shemurmured,whenshewasagainalone.Shefound,afterall—aswhatmillionairehasnot.—thattherewasnorealizing,inconsciousness,themeaningoflargesums.Itwasonlyashimmering,glitteringphraseinwhichlayaworldofpossibilities.

Downinathird-rateBleeckerStreethotel,thebroodingHurstwoodreadthedramaticitemcoveringCarrie’ssuccess,withoutatfirstrealizingwhowasmeant.Thensuddenlyitcametohimandhereadthewholethingoveragain.

“That’sher,allright,Iguess,”hesaid.

Thenhelookedaboutuponadingy,moth-eatenhotellobby.

“Iguessshe’sstruckit,”hethought,apictureoftheoldshiny,plush-coveredworldcomingback,withitslights,itsornaments,itscarriages,andflowers.Ah,shewasinthewalledcitynow!Itssplendidgateshadopened,admittingherfromacold,drearyoutside.Sheseemedacreatureafaroff—likeeveryothercelebrityhehadknown.

“Well,letherhaveit,”hesaid.“Iwon’tbotherher.”

Itwasthegrimresolutionofabent,bedraggled,butunbrokenpride.