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第8章 小叔反常

　　Drouet selected writing paper while Carrie went to change herdress. She hardly explained to herself why this latestinvitation appealed to her most

　　"Did you see Harry last night?" said the girl at her left,addressing her neighbour.

　　"What has become of your friend, Mr. Hurstwood?" she suddenlyasked, bethinking herself of the manager, who, from her ownobservation, seemed to contain promising material.

　　"It might be just the other way," said Carrie.

　　"Why, George, how are you?" said another genial West Sidepolitician and lodge member. "My, but I'm glad to see you again;how are things, anyhow?"

　　"Well, that's an outrage," said Drouet. "You oughtn't to beworking for those people. Have the factory right back of thestore, don't they?"

uld care to go along. Once he went tothe theatre alone. Another time he joined a couple of his newfriends at an evening game of poker. Since his money-featherswere beginning to grow again he felt like sprucing about. Allthis, however, in a much less imposing way than had been his wontin Chicago. He avoided the gay places where he would be apt tomeet those who had known him.Now, Carrie began to feel this in various sensory ways. She wasnot the kind to be seriously disturbed by his actions. Notloving him greatly, she could not be jealous in a disturbing way.In fact, she was not jealous at all. Hurstwood was pleased withher placid manner, when he should have duly considered it. Whenhe did not come home it did not seem anything like a terriblething to her. She gave him credit for having the usualallurements of men--people to talk to, places to stop, friends toconsult with. She was perfectly willing that he should enjoyhimself in his way, but she did not care to be neglected herself.Her state still seem

　　"And you looking like that!" said Carrie, throwing aside a longreserve.

　　"There's no use explaining to you about this," he said at last."There's no use of your asking me. I'm no fool, you know. Iknow just what you can do and what you can't. You can create alot of trouble if you want to. I know that all right, but itwon't help you to get the money. Now, I've made up my mind whatto do. I've already written Fitzgerald and Moy, so there'snothing I can say. You wait until you hear more from them."