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.