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第6章 隐婚

　　When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of twothings. Either she falls into saving hands and becomes better,or she rapidly assumes the cosmopolitan standard of virtue andbecomes worse. Of an intermediate balance, under thecircumstances, there is no possibility. The city has its cunningwiles, no less than the infinitely smaller and more humantempter. There are large forces which allure with all thesoulfulness of expression possible in the most cultured human.The gleam of a thousand lights is often as effective as thepersuasive light in a wooing and fascinating eye. Half theundoing of the unsophisticated and natural mind is accomplishedby forces wholly superhuman. A blare of sound, a roar of life, avast array of human hives, appeal to the astonished senses inequivocal terms. Without a counsellor at hand to whispercautious interpretations, what falsehoods may not these thingsbreathe into the unguarded ear! Unrecognised for what they are,their beauty, like music, too often relaxes, then we

　　"That's her, all right, I guess," he said.

　　"I have to be home by five," said Carrie.

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

　　"Well," he said, as one pleased with a puzzle, "the expression inyour face is one that comes out in different things. You get thesame thing in a pathetic song, or any picture which moves youdeeply. It's a thing the world likes to see, because it's anatural expression of its longing."

　　The rehearsal ended for one day, and Carrie went home feelingthat she had acquitted herself satisfactorily. The words of thedirector were ringing in her ears, and she longed for anopportunity to tell Hurstwood. She wanted him to know just howwell she was doing. Drouet, too, was an object for herconfidences. She could hardly wait until he should ask her, andyet she did not have the vanity to bring it up. The drummer,however, had another line of thought to-night, and her littleexperience did not appeal to him as important. He let theconversation drop, save for what she chose to recite withoutsolicitation, and Carrie was not good at that. He took it forgranted that she was doing very well and he was relieved offurther worry. Consequently he threw Carrie into repression,which was irritating. She felt his indifference keenly andlonged to see Hurstwood. It was as if he were now the onlyfriend she had on earth. The next morning Drouet was interestedagain, but the damage had been done.

　　"She's good looking. Why don't you let her head that line?"

　　"Nothing's the matter, and I'm not rowing. You mustn't thinkbecause I indulge you in some things that you can keep everybodywaiting. I won't have it."

　　"This very day," he said, with all delight.