Chapter 44

ANDTHISISNOTELFLAND—WHATGOLDWILLNOTBUY

WhenCarriegotbackonthestage,shefoundthatovernightherdressing-roomhadbeenchanged.

“Youaretousethisroom,MissMadenda,”saidoneofthestagelackeys.

Nolongeranyneedofclimbingseveralflightsofstepstoasmallcoopsharedwithanother.Instead,acomparativelylargeandcommodiouschamberwithconveniencesnotenjoyedbythesmallfryoverhead.Shebreatheddeeplyandwithdelight.Hersensationsweremorephysicalthanmental.Infact,shewasscarcelythinkingatall.Heartandbodywerehavingtheirsay.

Graduallythedeferenceandcongratulationgaveheramentalappreciationofherstate.Shewasnolongerordered,butrequested,andthatpolitely.Theothermembersofthecastlookedatherenviouslyasshecameoutarrayedinhersimplehabit,whichsheworeallthroughtheplay.Allthosewhohadsupposedlybeenherequalsandsuperiorsnowsmiledthesmileofsociability,asmuchastosay:“Howfriendlywehavealwaysbeen.”Onlythestarcomedianwhoseparthadbeensodeeplyinjuredstalkedbyhimself.Figuratively,hecouldnotkissthehandthatsmotehim.

Doinghersimplepart,Carriegraduallyrealizedthemeaningoftheapplausewhichwasforher,anditwassweet.Shefeltmildlyguiltyofsomething—perhaps

unworthiness.Whenherassociatesaddressedherinthewingssheonlysmiledweakly.Theprideanddaringofplacewerenotforher.Itneveroncecrossedhermindtobereservedorhaughty—tobeotherthanshehadbeen.AftertheperformancessherodetoherroomwithLola,inacarriageprovided.

Thencameaweekinwhichthefirstfruitsofsuccesswereofferedtoherlips—bowlafterbowl.Itdidnotmatterthathersplendidsalaryhadnotbegun.Theworldseemedsatisfiedwiththepromise.Shebegantogetlettersandcards.AMr.Withers-whomshedidnotknowfromAdam—havinglearnedbysomehookorcrookwheresheresided,bowedhimselfpolitelyin.

“Youwillexcusemeforintruding,”hesaid;“buthaveyoubeenthinkingofchangingyourapartments.”

“Ihadn’tthoughtofit,”returnedCarrie.

“Well,IamconnectedwiththeWellington—thenewhotelonBroadway.Youhaveprobablyseennoticesofitinthepapers.”

Carrierecognizedthenameasstandingforoneofthenewestandmostimposinghostelries.Shehadhearditspokenofashavingasplendidrestaurant.

“Justso,”wentonMr.Withers,acceptingheracknowledgmentoffamiliarity.“Wehavesomeveryelegantroomsatpresentwhichwewouldliketohaveyoulookat,ifyouhavenotmadeupyourmindwhereyouintendtoresideforthesummer.Ourapartmentsareperfectineverydetail—hotandcoldwater,privatebaths,specialhallserviceforeveryfloor,elevators,andallthat.Youknowwhatourrestaurantis.”

Carrielookedathimquietly.Shewaswonderingwhetherhetookhertobeamillionaire.

“Whatareyourrates.”sheinquired.

“Well,now,thatiswhatIcametotalkwithyouprivatelyabout.Ourregularratesareanywherefromthreetofiftydollarsaday.”

“Mercy!”interruptedCarrie.“Icouldn’tpayanysuchrateasthat.”

“Iknowhowyoufeelaboutit,”exclaimedMr.Withers,halting.“Butjustletmeexplain.Isaidthoseareourregularrates.Likeeveryotherhotelwemakespecialoneshowever.Possiblyyouhavenotthoughtaboutit,butyournameisworthsomethingtous.”“Oh!”ejaculatedCarrie,seeingataglance.

“Ofcourse.Everyhoteldependsuponthereputeofitspatrons.Awell-knownactresslikeyourself,”andhebowedpolitely,whileCarrieflushed,“drawsattentiontothehotel,and—althoughyoumaynotbelieveit—patrons.”

“Oh,yes,”returnedCarrie,vacantly,tryingtoarrangethiscuriouspropositioninhermind.

“Now,”continuedMr.Withers,swayinghisderbyhatsoftlyandbeatingoneofhispolishedshoesuponthefloor,“Iwanttoarrange,ifpossible,tohaveyoucomeandstopattheWellington.Youneednottroubleaboutterms.Infact,weneedhardlydiscussthem.Anythingwilldoforthesummer—amerefigure—anythingthatyouthinkyoucouldaffordtopay.”

Carriewasabouttointerrupt,buthegavehernochance.

“Youcancometo-dayorto-morrow—theearlierthebetter—andwewillgiveyouyourchoiceofnice,light,outsiderooms—theverybestwehave.”

“You’reverykind,”saidCarrie,touchedbytheagent’sextremeaffability.“Ishouldliketocomeverymuch.Iwouldwanttopaywhatisright,however.Ishouldn’twantto—”

“Youneednottroubleaboutthatatall,”interruptedMr.Withers.“Wecanarrangethattoyourentiresatisfactionatanytime.Ifthreedollarsadayissatisfactorytoyou,itwillbesotous.Allyouhavetodoistopaythatsumtotheclerkattheendoftheweekormonth,justasyouwish,andhewillgiveyouareceiptforwhattheroomswouldcostifchargedforatourregularrates.”

Thespeakerpaused.

“Supposeyoucomeandlookattherooms,”headded.

“I’dbegladto,”saidCarrie,“butIhavearehearsalthismorning.”

“Ididnotmeanatonce,”hereturned.“Anytimewilldo.Wouldthisafternoonbeinconvenient.”

“Notatall,”saidCarrie.

SuddenlysherememberedLola,whowasoutatthetime.

“Ihavearoom-mate,”sheadded,“whowillhavetogowhereverIdo.Iforgotaboutthat.”

“Oh,verywell,”saidMr.Withers,blandly.“Itisforyoutosaywhomyouwantwithyou.AsIsay,allthatcanbearrangedtosuityourself.”

Hebowedandbackedtowardthedoor.

“Atfour,then,wemayexpectyou.”

“Yes,”saidCarrie.

“Iwillbetheretoshowyou,”andsoMr.Witherswithdrew.

AfterrehearsalCarrieinformedLola.“Didtheyreally.”exclaimedthelatter,thinkingoftheWellingtonasagroupofmanagers.“Isn’tthatfine.Oh,jolly!It’ssoswell.That’swherewedinedthatnight

wewentwiththosetwoCushingboys.Don’tyouknow.”

“Iremember,”saidCarrie.

“Oh,it’sasfineasitcanbe.”

“We’dbetterbegoingupthere,”observedCarrielaterintheafternoon.

TheroomswhichMr.WithersdisplayedtoCarrieandLolawerethreeandbath—asuiteontheparlorfloor.Theyweredoneinchocolateanddarkred,withrugsandhangingstomatch.ThreewindowslookeddownintobusyBroadwayontheeast,threeintoasidestreetwhichcrossedthere.Thereweretwolovelybedrooms,setwithbrassandwhiteenamelbeds,whiteribbon-trimmedchairsandchiffonierstomatch.In

thethirdroom,orparlor,wasapiano,aheavypianolamp,withashadeofgorgeouspattern,alibrarytable,severalhugeeasyrockers,somedadobookshelves,andagiltcuriocase,filledwithoddities.Pictureswereuponthewalls,softTurkishpillowsuponthedivanfootstoolsofbrownplushuponthefloor.Suchaccommodationswouldordinarilycostahundreddollarsaweek.

“Oh,lovely!”exclaimedLola,walkingabout.

“Itiscomfortable,”saidCarrie,whowasliftingalacecurtainandlookingdownintocrowdedBroadway.

Thebathwasahandsomeaffair,doneinwhiteenamel,withalarge,blue-borderedstonetubandnickeltrimmings.Itwasbrightandcommodious,withabeveledmirrorsetinthewallatoneendandincandescentlightsarrangedinthreeplaces.

“Doyoufindthesesatisfactory.”observedMr.Withers.

“Oh,very,”answeredCarrie.

“Well,then,anytimeyoufinditconvenienttomovein,theyareready.Theboywillbringyouthekeysatthedoor.”

Carrienotedtheelegantlycarpetedanddecoratedhall,themarbledlobby,andshowywaiting-room.Itwassuchaplaceasshehadoftendreamedofoccupying.

“Iguesswe’dbettermoverightaway,don’tyouthinkso.”sheobservedtoLola,thinkingofthecommonplacechamberinSeventeenthStreet.

“Oh,byallmeans,”saidthelatter.

Thenextdayhertrunksleftforthenewabode.

Dressing,afterthematineeonWednesday,aknockcameatherdressing-roomdoor.

Carrielookedatthecardhandedbytheboyandsufferedashockofsurprise.

“TellherI’llberightout,”shesaidsoftly.Then,lookingatthecard,added:“Mrs.Vance.”

“Why,youlittlesinner,”thelatterexclaimed,asshesawCarriecomingtowardheracrossthenowvacantstage.“Howintheworlddidthishappen.”

Carrielaughedmerrily.Therewasnotraceofembarrassmentinherfriend’smanner.Youwouldhavethoughtthatthelongseparationhadcomeaboutaccidentally.

“Idon’tknow,”returnedCarrie,warming,inspiteofherfirsttroubledfeelings,towardthishandsome,good-naturedyoungmatron.

“Well,youknow,IsawyourpictureintheSundaypaper,butyournamethrewmeoff.Ithoughtitmustbeyouorsomebodythatlookedjustlikeyou,andIsaid:‘Well,now,Iwillgorightdownthereandsee.’Iwasnevermoresurprisedinmylife.Howareyou,anyway.”

“Oh,verywell,”returnedCarrie.“Howhaveyoubeen.”

“Fine.Butaren’tyouasuccess!Dear,oh!Allthepaperstalkingaboutyou.Ishouldthinkyouwouldbejusttooproudtobreathe.Iwasalmostafraidtocomebackherethisafternoon.”

“Oh,nonsense,”saidCarrie,blushing.“YouknowI’dbegladtoseeyou.”

“Well,anyhow,hereyouare.Can’tyoucomeupandtakedinnerwithmenow.Whereareyoustopping.”

“AttheWellington,”saidCarrie,whopermittedherselfatouchofprideintheacknowledgment.

“Oh,areyou.”exclaimedtheother,uponwhomthenamewasnotwithoutitspropereffect.

Tactfully,Mrs.VanceavoidedthesubjectofHurstwood,ofwhomshecouldnothelpthinking.NodoubtCarriehadlefthim.Thatmuchshesurmised.

“Oh,Idon’tthinkIcan,”saidCarrie,“to-night.Ihavesolittletime.

Imustbebackhereby7.30.Won’tyoucomeanddinewithme.”

“I’dbedelighted,butIcan’tto-night,”saidMrs.

VancestudyingCarrie’sfineappearance.Thelatter’sgoodfortunemadeherseemmorethaneverworthyanddelightfulintheotherseyes.“Ipromisedfaithfullytobehomeatsix.”Glancingatthesmallgoldwatchpinnedtoherbosom,sheadded:“Imustbegoing,too.Tellmewhenyou’recomingup,ifatall.”

“Why,anytimeyoulike,”saidCarrie.

“Well,to-morrowthen.I’mlivingattheChelseanow.”

“Movedagain.”exclaimedCarrie,laughing.

“Yes.YouknowIcan’tstaysixmonthsinoneplace.Ijusthavetomove.Remembernow—half-pastfive.”

“Iwon’tforget,”saidCarrie,castingaglanceatherasshewentaway.Thenitcametoherthatshewasasgoodasthiswomannow—perhapsbetter.Somethingintheother’ssolicitudeandinterestmadeherfeelasifsheweretheonetocondescend.

Now,asoneachprecedingday,letterswerehandedherbythedoormanattheCasino.ThiswasafeaturewhichhadrapidlydevelopedsinceMonday.Whattheycontainedshewellknew.Mashnoteswereoldaffairsintheirmildestform.SherememberedhavingreceivedherfirstonefarbackinColumbiaCity.Sincethen,asachorusgirl,shehadreceivedothers—gentlemenwhoprayedforanengagement.TheywerecommonsportbetweenherandLola,whoreceivedsomealso.Theybothfrequentlymadelightofthem.

Now,however,theycamethickandfast.Gentlemenwithfortunesdidnothesitatetonote,asanadditiontotheirownamiablecollectionofvirtues,thattheyhadtheirhorsesandcarriages.Thusone:

“Ihaveamillioninmyownright.Icouldgiveyoueveryluxury.Thereisn’tanythingyoucouldaskforthatyoucouldn’thave.Isaythis,notbecauseIwanttospeakofmymoney,butbecauseIloveyouandwishtogratifyyoureverydesire.Itislovethatpromptsmetowrite.Willyounotgivemeonehalfhourinwhichtopleadmycause.”

SuchoftheselettersascamewhileCarriewasstillintheSeventeenthStreetplacewerereadwithmoreinterest—thoughneverdelight—thanthosewhicharrivedaftershewasinstalledinherluxuriousquartersattheWellington.Eventherehervanity—orthatself-appreciationwhich,initsmorerabidform,iscalledvanity—wasnotsufficientlycloyedtomakethesethingswearisome.Adulation,beingnewinanyform,pleasedher.Onlyshewassufficientlywisetodistinguishbetweenheroldconditionandhernewone.Shehadnothadfameormoneybefore.Nowtheyhadcome.Shehadnothadadulationandaffectionatepropositionsbefore.Nowtheyhadcome.Wherefore.Shesmiledtothinkthatmenshouldsuddenlyfindhersomuchmoreattractive.Intheleastwayitincitedhertocoolnessandindifference.

“Dolookhere,”sheremarkedtoLola.“Seewhatthismansays:‘Ifyouwillonlydeigntograntmeonehalf-hour,’”sherepeated,withanimitationoflanguor.“Theidea.Aren’tmensilly.”

“Hemusthavelotsofmoney,thewayhetalks,”observedLola.“That’swhattheyallsay,”saidCarrie,innocently.

“Whydon’tyouseehim,”suggestedLola,“andhearwhathehastosay.”

“IndeedIwon’t,”saidCarrie.“Iknowwhathe’dsay.Idon’twanttomeetanybodythatway.”

Lolalookedatherwithbig,merryeyes.

“Hecouldn’thurtyou,”shereturned.“Youmighthavesomefunwithhim.”

Carrieshookherhead.

“You’reawfullyqueer,”returnedthelittle,blue-eyedsoldier.

Thuscrowdedfortune.Forthiswholeweek,thoughherlargesalaryhadnotyetarrived,itwasasiftheworldunderstoodandtrustedher.Withoutmoney—ortherequisitesum,atleast—sheenjoyedtheluxurieswhichmoneycouldbuy.Forherthedoorsoffine

placesseemedtoopenquitewithouttheasking.Thesepalatialchambers,howmarvelouslytheycametoher.TheelegantapartmentsofMrs.VanceintheChelsea—thesewerehers.Mensentflowers,lovenotes,offersoffortune.Andstillherdreamsranriot.Theonehundredandfifty!theonehundredandfifty!WhatadoortoanAladdin’scaveitseemedtobe.Eachday,herheadalmostturnedbydevelopments,herfanciesofwhatherfortunemustbe,withamplemoney,grewandmultiplied.Sheconceivedofdelightswhichwerenot—sawlightsofjoythatneverwereonlandorsea.Then,atlast,afteraworldofanticipation,cameherfirstinstallmentofonehundredandfiftydollars.

Itwaspaidtoheringreenbacks—threetwenties,sixtens,andsixfives.Thuscollecteditmadeaveryconvenientroll.Itwasaccompaniedbyasmileandasalutationfromthecashierwhopaidit.

“Ah,yes,”saidthelatter,whensheapplied;“MissMadenda—onehundredandfiftydollars.Quiteasuccesstheshowseemstohavemade.”

“Yes,indeed,”returnedCarrie.

Rightaftercameoneoftheinsignificantmembersofthecompany,andsheheardthechangedtoneofaddress.

“Howmuch.”saidthesamecashier,sharply.One,suchasshehadonlyrecentlybeen,waswaitingforhermodestsalary.Ittookherbacktothefewweeksinwhichshehadcollected—orratherhadreceived—almostwiththeairofadomestic,four-fiftyperweekfromalordlyforemaninashoefactory—amanwho,indistributingtheenvelopes,hadthemannerofaprincedolingoutfavorstoaservilegroupofpetitioners.SheknewthatoutinChicagothisverydaythesamefactorychamberwasfullofpoorhomely-cladgirlsworkinginlonglinesatclatteringmachines;thatatnoontheywouldeatamiserablelunchinahalf-hour;thatSaturdaytheywouldgather,asthey

hadwhenshewasoneofthem,andacceptthesmallpayforworkahundredtimesharderthanshewasnowdoing.Oh,itwassoeasynow!Theworldwassorosyandbright.Shefeltsothrilledthatshemustneedswalkbacktothehoteltothink,wonderingwhatsheshoulddo.

Itdoesnottakemoneylongtomakeplainitsimpotence,providingthedesiresareintherealmofaffection.Withheronehundredandfiftyinhand,Carriecouldthinkofnothingparticularlytodo.Initself,asatangible,apparentthingwhichshecouldtouchandlookupon,itwasadivertingthingforafewdays,butthissoonpassed.Herhotelbilldidnotrequireitsuse.Herclotheshadforsometimebeenwhollysatisfactory.Anotherdayortwoandshewouldreceiveanotherhundredandfifty.Itbegantoappearasifthiswerenotsostartlinglynecessarytomaintainherpresentstate.Ifshewantedtodoanythingbetterormovehighershemusthavemore—agreatdealmore.

Nowacriticcalledtogetuponeofthosetinselinterviewswhichshinewithcleverobservations,showupthewitofcritics,displaythefollyofcelebrities,anddivertthepublic.HelikedCarrie,andsaidso,publicly—adding,however,thatshewasmerelypretty,good-natured,andlucky.Thiscutlikeaknife.The“Herald,”gettingupanentertainmentforthebenefitofitsfreeicefund,didherthehonortobeghertoappearalongwithcelebritiesfornothing.Shewasvisitedbyayoungauthor,whohadaplaywhichhethoughtshecouldproduce.Alas,shecouldnotjudge.Ithurthertothinkit.Thenshefoundshemustputhermoneyinthebankforsafety,andsomoving,finallyreachedtheplacewhereitstruckherthatthedoortolife’sperfectenjoymentwasnotopen.

Graduallyshebegantothinkitwasbecauseitwassummer.Nothingwasgoingonmuchsavesuchentertainmentsastheoneinwhichshewasthestar.FifthAvenuewasboardedupwheretherichhad

desertedtheirmansions.MadisonAvenuewaslittlebetter.Broadwaywasfullofloafingthespiansinsearchofnextseason’sengagements.Thewholecitywasquietandhernightsweretakenupwithherwork.Hencethefeelingthattherewaslittletodo.

“Idon’tknow,”shesaidtoLolaoneday,sittingatoneofthewindowswhichlookeddownintoBroadway,“Igetlonely;don’tyou.”

“No,”saidLola,“notveryoften.Youwon’tgoanywhere.That’swhat’sthematterwithyou.”

“WherecanIgo.”

“Why,there’relotsofplaces,”returnedLola,whowasthinkingofherownlightsometourneyswiththegayyouths.“Youwon’tgowithanybody.”

“Idon’twanttogowiththesepeoplewhowritetome.Iknowwhatkindtheyare.”

“Yououghtn’ttobelonely,”saidLola,thinkingofCarrie’ssuccess.“There’relotswouldgivetheirearstobeinyourshoes.”

Carrielookedoutagainatthepassingcrowd.

“Idon’tknow,”shesaid.

Unconsciouslyheridlehandswerebeginningtoweary.