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第4章 黑白长老

　　"Sure. Out o' sight. I bet you make a hit. Now you want to go,I know you do. I knew it when I came home. That's why I askedyou."

　　"I'd just as leave go for you," he said.

　　"I'm after bread," was all he said as he passed.

　　In all Carrie's experience she had never seen anything like this.In the whole time she had been in New York Hurstwood's modifiedstate had not permitted his bringing her to such a place. Therewas an almost indescribable atmosphere about it which convincedthe newcomer that this was the proper thing. Here was the placewhere the matter of expense limited the patrons to the moneyed orpleasure-loving class. Carrie had read of it often in the"Morning" and "Evening World." She had seen notices of dances,parties, balls, and suppers at Sherry's. The Misses So-and-sowould give a party on Wednesday evening at Sherry's. Young Mr.So-and-So would entertain a party of friends at a privateluncheon on the sixteenth, at Sherry's. The common run ofconventional, perfunctory notices of the doings of society, whichshe could scarcely refrain from scanning each day, had given hera distinct idea of the gorgeousness and luxury of this wonderfultemple of gastronomy. Now, at last, she was really in it. Shehad come up the imposi

　　"Come with me in here a minute," she exclaimed, turning into astore.

will yet point steadfast andunwavering to the distinct pole of truth.

　　In the front room Hanson was reading his paper. As usual, shehelped Minnie clear away the dishes and straighten up. Then shesaid:

　　"Have you?" said Quincel, rather surprised by his promptness;"that's good. What's her address?" and he pulled out hisnotebook in order to be able to send her part to her.

　　In a few more minutes it fell to her to read the letter sent inby the strange villain. The audience had been slightly divertedby a conversation between the professional actor and a charactercalled Snorky, impersonated by a short little American, whoreally developed some humour as a half-crazed, one-armed soldier,turned messenger for a living. He bawled his lines out with suchdefiance that, while they really did not partake of the humourintended, they were funny. Now he was off, however, and it wasback to pathos, with Carrie as the chief figure. She did notrecover. She wandered through the whole scene between herselfand the intruding villain, straining the patience of theaudience, and finally exiting, much to their relief.