Chapter 43

THEWORLDTURNSFLATTERER—ANEYEINTHEDARK

Installedinhercomfortableroom,CarriewonderedhowHurstwoodhadtakenherdeparture.Shearrangedafewthingshastilyandthenleftforthetheatre,halfexpectingtoencounterhimatthedoor.Notfindinghim,herdreadlifted,andshefeltmorekindlytowardhim.Shequiteforgothimuntilabouttocomeout,aftertheshow,whenthechanceofhisbeingtherefrightenedher.Asdayafterdaypassedandsheheardnothingatall,thethoughtofbeingbotheredbyhimpassed.Inalittlewhileshewas,exceptforoccasionalthoughts,whollyfreeofthegloomwithwhichherlifehadbeenweighedintheflat.

Itiscurioustonotehowquicklyaprofessionabsorbsone.Carriebecamewiseintheatricallore,hearingthegossipoflittleLola.Shelearnedwhatthetheatricalpaperswere,whichonespublisheditemsaboutactressesandthelike.Shebegantoreadthenewspapernotices,notonlyoftheoperainwhichshehadsosmallapart,butofothers.Graduallythedesirefornoticetookholdofher.Shelongedtoberenownedlikeothers,andreadwithavidityallthecomplimentaryorcriticalcommentsmadeconcerningothershighinherprofession.Theshowyworldinwhichherinterestlaycompletelyabsorbedher.

Itwasaboutthistimethatthenewspapersandmagazineswerebeginningtopaythatillustrativeattentiontothebeautiesofthestagewhichhassincebecomefervid.Thenewspapers,andparticularlytheSundaynewspapers,indulgedinlargedecorativetheatricalpages,inwhichthefacesandformsofwell-knowntheatricalcelebritiesappeared,enclosedwithartisticscrolls.Themagazinesalsooratleastoneortwoofthenewerones-publishedoccasionalportraitsofprettystars,andnowandagainphotosofscenesfromvariousplays.Carriewatchedthesewithgrowinginterest.Whenwouldascenefromheroperaappear.Whenwouldsomepaperthinkherphotoworthwhile.

TheSundaybeforetakinghernewpartshescannedthetheatricalpagesforsomelittlenotice.Itwouldhaveaccordedwithherexpectationsifnothinghadbeensaid,butthereinthesquibs,tailingoffseveralmoresubstantialitems,wasaweenotice.Carriereaditwithatinglingbody:

「ThepartofKatisha,thecountrymaid,in『TheWivesofAbdul』attheBroadway,heretoforeplayedbyInezCarew,willbehereafterfilledbyCarrieMadenda,oneofthecleverestmembersofthechorus.」

Carriehuggedherselfwithdelight.Oh,wasn』titjustfine!Atlast!Thefirst,thelong-hopedfor,thedelightfulnotice!Andtheycalledherclever.Shecouldhardlyrestrainherselffromlaughingloudly.HadLolaseenit.

「They』vegotanoticehereofthepartI』mgoingtoplaytomorrownight,」saidCarrietoherfriend.

「Oh,jolly!Havethey.」criedLola,runningtoher.「That』sallright,」shesaid,looking.「You』llgetmorenow,ifyoudowell.Ihadmypictureinthe『World』once.」

「Didyou.」askedCarrie.

「DidI.Well,Ishouldsay,」returnedthelittlegirl.「Theyhadaframearoundit.」

Carrielaughed.

「They』veneverpublishedmypicture.」

「Buttheywill,」saidLola.「You』llsee.Youdobetterthanmostthatgettheirsinnow.」

Carriefeltdeeplygratefulforthis.ShealmostlovedLolaforthesympathyandpraisesheextended.Itwassohelpfultoher-soalmostnecessary.

Fulfillingherpartcapablybroughtanothernoticeinthepapersthatshewasdoingherworkacceptably.Thispleasedherimmensely.Shebegantothinktheworldwastakingnoteofher.

Thefirstweekshegotherthirty-fivedollars,itseemedanenormoussum.Payingonlythreedollarsforroomrentseemedridiculous.AftergivingLolahertwenty-five,shestillhadsevendollarsleft.Withfourleftoverfrompreviousearnings,shehadeleven.Fiveofthiswenttopaytheregularinstallmentontheclothesshehadtobuy.Thenextweekshewaseveningreaterfeather.Now,onlythreedollarsneedbepaidforroomrentandfiveonherclothes.Therestshehadforfoodandherownwhims.

「You』dbettersavealittleforsummer,」cautionedLola.「We』llprobablycloseinMay.」

「Iintendto,」saidCarrie.

Theregularentranceofthirty-fivedollarsaweektoonewhohasenduredscantallowancesforseveralyearsisademoralizingthing.Carriefoundherpurseburstingwithgoodgreenbillsofcomfortabledenominations.Havingnoonedependentuponher,shebegantobuyprettyclothesandpleasingtrinkets,toeatwell,andtoornamentherroom.Friendswerenotlongingatheringabout.ShemetafewyoungmenwhobelongedtoLola』sstaff.Themembersoftheoperacompanymadeheracquaintancewithouttheformalityofintroduction.Oneofthesediscoveredafancyforher.Onseveraloccasionshestrolledhomewithher.

「Let』sstopinandhaveararebit,」hesuggestedonemidnight.

「Verywell,」saidCarrie.

Intherosyrestaurant,filledwiththemerryloversoflatehours,shefoundherselfcriticizingthisman.Hewastoostilted,tooself-opinionated.Hedidnottalkofanythingthatliftedherabovethecommonrunofclothesandmaterialsuccess.Whenitwasallover,hesmiledmostgraciously.

「Gottogostraighthome,haveyou.」hesaid.

「Yes,」sheanswered,withanairofquietunderstanding.

「She』snotsoinexperiencedasshelooks,」hethought,andthereafterhisrespectandardorwereincreased.

ShecouldnothelpsharinginLola』sloveforagoodtime.Thereweredayswhentheywentcarriageriding,nightswhenaftertheshowtheydined,afternoonswhentheystrolledalongBroadway,tastefullydressed.Shewasgettinginthemetropolitanwhirlofpleasure.

Atlastherpictureappearedinoneoftheweeklies.Shehadnotknownofit,andittookherbreath.「MissCarrieMadenda,」itwaslabeled.「Oneofthefavoritesof『TheWivesofAbdul』company.」AtLola』sadviceshehadhadsomepicturestakenbySarony.Theyhadgotonethere.Shethoughtofgoingdownandbuyingafewcopiesofthepaper,butrememberedthattherewasnoonesheknewwellenoughtosendthemto.OnlyLola,apparently,inalltheworldwasinterested.

Themetropolisisacoldplacesocially,andCarriesoonfoundthatalittlemoneybroughthernothing.Theworldofwealthanddistinctionwasquiteasfarawayasever.Shecouldfeelthattherewasnowarm,sympatheticfriendshipbackoftheeasymerrimentwithwhichmanyapproachedher.Allseemedtobeseekingtheirownamusement,regardlessofthepossiblesadconsequencetoothers.SomuchforthelessonsofHurstwoodandDrouet.

InAprilshelearnedthattheoperawouldprobablylastuntilthemiddleortheendofMay,accordingtothesizeoftheaudiences.Nextseasonitwouldgoontheroad.Shewonderedifshewouldbewithit.Asusual,MissOsborne,owingtohermoderatesalary,wasforsecuringahomeengagement.

「They』reputtingonasummerplayattheCasino,」sheannounced,afterfigurativelyputtinghereartotheground.「Let』stryandgetinthat.」

「I』mwilling,」saidCarrie.

Theytriedintimeandwereapprisedoftheproperdatetoapplyagain.ThatwasMay16th.MeanwhiletheirownshowclosedMay5th.

「Thosethatwanttogowiththeshownextseason,」saidthemanager,「willhavetosignthisweek.」

「Don』tyousign,」advisedLola.「Iwouldn』tgo.」

「Iknow,」saidCarrie,「butmaybeIcan』tgetanythingelse.」

「Well,Iwon』t,」saidthelittlegirl,whohadaresourceinheradmirers.「IwentonceandIdidn』thaveanythingattheendoftheseason.」

Carriethoughtthisover.Shehadneverbeenontheroad.

「Wecangetalong,」addedLola.「Ialwayshave.」

Carriedidnotsign.

ThemanagerwhowasputtingonthesummerskitattheCasinohadneverheardofCarrie,buttheseveralnoticesshehadreceived,herpublishedpicture,andtheprogrambearinghernamehadsomelittleweightwithhim.Hegaveherasilentpartatthirtydollarsaweek.

「Didn』tItellyou.」saidLola.「Itdoesn』tdoyouanygoodtogoawayfromNewYork.Theyforgetallaboutyouifyoudo.」

Now,becauseCarriewaspretty,thegentlemenwhomadeuptheadvanceillustrationsofshowsabouttoappearfortheSundaypapersselectedCarrie』sphotoalongwithotherstoillustratetheannouncement.Becauseshewasverypretty,theygaveitexcellentspaceanddrewscrollsaboutit.Carriewasdelighted.Still,themanagementdidnotseemtohaveseenanythingofit.Atleast,nomoreattentionwaspaidtoherthanbefore.Atthesametimethereseemedverylittleinherpart.Itconsistedofstandingaroundinallsortsofscenes,asilentlittleQuakeress.Theauthoroftheskithadfanciedthatagreatdealcouldbemadeofsuchapart,giventotherightactress,butnow,sinceithadbeendoledouttoCarrie,hewouldasleavehavehaditcutout.

「Don』tkick,oldman,」remarkedthemanager.「Ifitdon』tgothefirstweekwewillcutitout.」

Carriehadnowarningofthishalcyonintention.Shepracticedherpartruefully,feelingthatshewaseffectuallyshelved.Atthedressrehearsalshewasdisconsolate.

「Thatisn』tsobad,」saidtheauthor,themanagernotingthecuriouseffectwhichCarrie』sblueshaduponthepart.「TellhertofrownalittlemorewhenSparksdances.」

Carriedidnotknowit,buttherewastheleastshowofwrinklesbetweenhereyesandhermouthwaspuckeredquaintly.

「Frownalittlemore,MissMadenda,」saidthestagemanager.

Carrieinstantlybrightenedup,thinkinghehadmeantitasarebuke.

「No;frown,」hesaid.「Frownasyoudidbefore.」

Carrielookedathiminastonishment.

「Imeanit,」hesaid.「FrownhardwhenMr.Sparksdances.Iwanttoseehowitlooks.」

Itwaseasyenoughtodo.Carriescowled.Theeffectwassomethingsoquaintanddrollitcaughteventhemanager.

「Thatisgood,」hesaid.「Ifshe』lldothatallthrough,Ithinkitwilltake.」

GoingovertoCarrie,hesaid:

「Supposeyoutryfrowningallthrough.Doithard.Lookmad.It』llmakethepartreallyfunny.」

OntheopeningnightitlookedtoCarrieasiftherewerenothingtoherpart,afterall.Thehappy,

swelteringaudiencedidnotseemtoseeherinthefirstact.Shefrownedandfrowned,buttonoeffect.Eyeswereriveteduponthemoreelaborateeffortsofthestars.

Inthesecondact,thecrowd,weariedbyadullconversation,rovedwithitseyesaboutthestageandsightedher.Thereshewas,suited-suited,sweet-faced,demure,butscowling.Atfirstthegeneralideawasthatshewastemporarilyirritated,thatthelookwasgenuineandnotfunatall.Asshewentonfrowning,lookingnowatoneprincipalandnowattheother,theaudiencebegantosmile.Theportlygentlemeninthefrontrowsbegantofeelthatshewasadeliciouslittlemorsel.Itwasthekindoffrowntheywouldhavelovedtoforceawaywithkisses.Allthegentlemenyearnedtowardher.Shewascapital.

Atlast,thechiefcomedian,singinginthecenterofthestage,noticedagigglewhereitwasnotexpected.Thenanotherandanother.Whentheplacecameforloudapplauseitwasonlymoderate.Whatcouldbethetrouble.Herealizedthatsomethingwasup.

Allatonce,afteranexit,hecaughtsightofCarrie.Shewasfrowningaloneonthestageandtheaudiencewasgigglingandlaughing.

「ByGeorge,Iwon』tstandthat!」thoughtthethespian.「I』mnotgoingtohavemyworkcutupbysomeoneelse.EithershequitsthatwhenIdomyturnorIquit.」

「Why,that』sallright,」saidthemanager,whenthekickcame.「That』swhatshe』ssupposedtodo.Youneedn』tpayanyattentiontothat.」

「Butsheruinsmywork.」

「No,shedon』t,」returnedtheformer,soothingly.「It』sonlyalittlefunontheside.」

「Itis,eh.」exclaimedthebigcomedian.「Shekilledmyhandallright.I』mnotgoingtostandthat.」

「Well,waituntilaftertheshow.Waituntilto-morrow.We』llseewhatwecando.」

Thenextact,however,settledwhatwastobedone.Carriewasthechieffeatureoftheplay.Theaudience,themoreitstudiedher,themoreitindicateditsdelight.Everyotherfeaturepaledbesidethequaint,teasing,delightfulatmospherewhichCarriecontributedwhileonthestage.Managerandcompanyrealizedshehadmadeahit.

Thecriticsofthedailypaperscompletedhertriumph.Therewerelongnoticesinpraiseofthequalityoftheburlesque,touchedwithrecurrentreferencestoCarrie.Thecontagiousmirthofthethingwasrepeatedlyemphasized.

「MissMadendapresentsoneofthemostdelightfulbitsofcharacterworkeverseenontheCasinostage,」observedthestagecriticofthe「Sun.」「Itisabitofquiet,unassumingdrollerywhichwarmslikegoodwine.Evidentlythepartwasnotintendedtotakeprecedence,asMissMadendaisnotoftenonthestage,buttheaudience,withthecharacteristicperversityofsuchbodies,selectedforitself.ThelittleQuakeresswasmarkedforafavoritethemomentsheappeared,andthereaftereasilyheldattentionandapplause.Thevagariesoffortuneareindeedcurious.」

Thecriticofthe「EveningWorld,」seekingasusualtoestablishacatchphrasewhichshould「go」withthetown,woundupbyadvising:「Ifyouwishtobemerry,seeCarriefrown.」

TheresultwasmiraculoussofarasCarrie』sfortunewasconcerned.Evenduringthemorningshereceivedacongratulatorymessagefromthemanager.

「Youseemtohavetakenthetownbystorm,」hewrote.「Thisisdelightful.Iamasgladforyoursakeasformyown.」

Theauthoralsosentword.

Thateveningwhensheenteredthetheatrethemanagerhadamostpleasantgreetingforher.

「Mr.Stevens,」hesaid,referringtotheauthor,「ispreparingalittlesong,whichhewouldlikeyoutosingnextweek.」

「Oh,Ican』tsing,」returnedCarrie.

「Itisn』tanythingdifficult.『It』ssomethingthatisverysimple,』hesays,『andwouldsuityouexactly.』」

「Ofcourse,Iwouldn』tmindtrying,」saidCarrie,archly.

「Wouldyoumindcomingtothebox-officeafewmomentsbeforeyoudress.」observedthemanager,inaddition.「There』salittlematterIwanttospeaktoyouabout.」

「Certainly,」repliedCarrie.

Inthatlatterplacethemanagerproducedapaper.

「Now,ofcourse,」hesaid,「wewanttobefairwithyouinthematterofsalary.Yourcontracthereonlycallsforthirtydollarsaweekforthenextthreemonths.Howwoulditdotomakeit,say,onehundredandfiftyaweekandextenditfortwelvemonths.」

「Oh,verywell,」saidCarrie,scarcelybelievingherears.

「Supposing,then,youjustsignthis.」

Carrielookedandbeheldanewcontractmadeoutliketheotherone,withtheexceptionofthenewfiguresofsalaryandtime.Withahandtremblingfromexcitementsheaffixedhername.

「Onehundredandfiftyaweek!」shemurmured,whenshewasagainalone.Shefound,afterall—aswhatmillionairehasnot.—thattherewasnorealizing,inconsciousness,themeaningoflargesums.Itwasonlyashimmering,glitteringphraseinwhichlayaworldofpossibilities.

Downinathird-rateBleeckerStreethotel,thebroodingHurstwoodreadthedramaticitemcoveringCarrie』ssuccess,withoutatfirstrealizingwhowasmeant.Thensuddenlyitcametohimandhereadthewholethingoveragain.

「That』sher,allright,Iguess,」hesaid.

Thenhelookedaboutuponadingy,moth-eatenhotellobby.

「Iguessshe』sstruckit,」hethought,apictureoftheoldshiny,plush-coveredworldcomingback,withitslights,itsornaments,itscarriages,andflowers.Ah,shewasinthewalledcitynow!Itssplendidgateshadopened,admittingherfromacold,drearyoutside.Sheseemedacreatureafaroff—likeeveryothercelebrityhehadknown.

「Well,letherhaveit,」hesaid.「Iwon』tbotherher.」

Itwasthegrimresolutionofabent,bedraggled,butunbrokenpride.