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第0章 不靠谱的小舅子

　　"It wouldn't pay anywhere else, do you think?"

　　"Were you ever on the stage?" he asked insinuatingly.

　　"I'll try to," said Bob smiling, and edging closer to Carrie."You won't need much watching, will you?" he volunteered, in asort of ingratiating and help-me-out kind of way.

　　Carrie did not make their acquaintance, but she saw the daughtercoming in and going out. A few times she had seen her at thepiano in the parlour, and not infrequently had heard her play.This young woman was particularly dressy for her station, andwore a jewelled ring or two which flashed upon her white fingersas she played.

　　She began to see that her relations with Drouet would have to beabandoned. He could not come here. She read from the manner ofHanson, in the subdued air of Minnie, and, indeed, the wholeatmosphere of the flat, a settled opposition to anything save aconservative round of toil. If Hanson sat every evening in thefront room and read his paper, if he went to bed at nine, andMinnie a little later, what would they expect of her? She sawthat she would first need to get work and establish herself on apaying basis before she could think of having company of anysort. Her little flirtation with Drouet seemed now anextraordinary thing.

　　"That's right," he answered, making use of a pretence atexamination to secure her finger. "That's fine."

　　"How have you been?" asked Hurstwood gently, for he now breathedeasier.

have been ashelpless as Carrie--as helpless, as non-understanding, aspitiable, if you will, as she.

　　Carrie became frightened over this announcement. She thoughtdesperately upon the subject. Frequently she had considered thestage as a door through which she might enter that gilded statewhich she had so much craved. Now, as in Chicago, it came as alast resource in distress. Something must be done if he did notget work soon. Perhaps she would have to go out and battle againalone.