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PinkMonkey Digital Library-Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser


"Well?" said Hurstwood.

"I gave it to her."

"My wife?"

"Yes, sir."

"Any answer?"

"She said it was high time."

Hurstwood scowled fiercely.

There was no more to be done upon that score that night. He went
on brooding over his situation until midnight, when he repaired
again to the Palmer House. He wondered what the morning would
bring forth, and slept anything but soundly upon it.

Next day he went again to the office and opened his mail,
suspicious and hopeful of its contents. No word from Carrie.
Nothing from his wife, which was pleasant.

The fact that he had sent the money and that she had received it
worked to the ease of his mind, for, as the thought that he had
done it receded, his chagrin at it grew less and his hope of peace
more. He fancied, as he sat at his desk, that nothing would be
done for a week or two. Meanwhile, he would have time to think.

This process of thinking began by a reversion to Carrie and the
arrangement by which he was to get her away from Drouet. How
about that now? His pain at her failure to meet or write him
rapidly increased as he devoted himself to this subject. He decided
to write her care of the West Side Post-office and ask for an
explanation, as well as to have her meet him. The thought that this
letter would probably not reach her until Monday chafed him
exceedingly. He must get some speedier method-but how?

He thought upon it for a half-hour, not contemplating a messenger
or a cab direct to the house, owing to the exposure of it, but
finding that time was slipping away to no purpose, he wrote the
letter and then began to think again.

The hours slipped by, and with them the possibility of the union
he had contemplated. He had thought to be joyously aiding Carrie
by now in the task of joining her interests to his, and here it was
afternoon and nothing done. Three o’clock came, four, five, six,
and no letter. The helpless manager paced the floor and grimly
endured the gloom of defeat. He saw a busy Saturday ushered out,
the Sabbath in, and nothing done. All day, the bar being closed, he
brooded alone, shut out from home, from the excitement of his
resort, from Carrie, and without the ability to alter his condition
one iota. It was the worst Sunday he had spent in his life.

In Monday’s second mail he encountered a very legal-looking
letter which held his interest for some time. It bore the imprint of
the law offices of McGregor, James and Hay, and with a very
formal "Dear Sir," and "We beg to state," went on to inform him
briefly that they had been retained by Mrs. Julia Hurstwood to
adjust certain matters which related to her sustenance and
property rights, and would he kindly call and see them about the
matter at once.

He read it through carefully several times, and then merely shook
his head. It seemed as if his family troubles were just beginning.

"Well!" he said after a time, quite audibly, "I don’t know."

Then he folded it up and put it in his pocket.

To add to his misery there was no word from Carrie. He was quite
certain now that she knew he was married and was angered at his
perfidy. His loss seemed all the more bitter now that he needed
her most. He thought he would go out and insist on seeing her if
she did not send him word of some sort soon. He was really
affected most miserably of all by this desertion. He had loved her
earnestly enough, but now that the possibility of losing her stared
him in the face she seemed much more attractive. He really pined
for a word, and looked out upon her with his mind’s eye in the
most wistful manner. He did not propose to lose her, whatever she
might think. Come what might, he would adjust this matter, and
soon. He would go to her and tell her all his family complications.
He would explain to her just where he stood and how much he
needed her. Surely she couldn’t go back on him now? It wasn’t
possible. He would plead until her anger would melt-until she
would forgive him.

Suddenly he thought: "Supposing she isn’t out there-suppose she
has gone?"

He was forced to take his feet. It was too much to think of and sit
still.
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PinkMonkey Digital Library-Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser



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