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第4章 天元长老

　　"I guess she isn't coming home," he said, grimly.

　　Next week came, but Carrie saw no change. Hurstwood seemed moreapathetic than ever. He saw her off mornings to rehearsals andthe like with the utmost calm. He read and read. Several timeshe found himself staring at an item, but thinking of somethingelse. The first of these lapses that he sharply noticedconcerned a hilarious party he had once attended at a drivingclub, of which he had been a member. He sat, gazing downward,and gradually thought he heard the old voices and the clink ofglasses.

　　They tried in time and were apprised of the proper date to applyagain. That was May 16th. Meanwhile their own show closed May5th.

　　She felt so relieved in his radiant presence, so much lookedafter and cared for, that she assented gladly, though with theslightest air of holding back.

　　"Yes, the next sleeper back does."

　　Summoning all his courage, he crossed to Broadway and up to theBroadway Central hotel. Within a block he halted, undecided. Abig, heavy-faced porter was standing at one of the sideentrances, looking out. Hurstwood purposed to appeal to him.Walking straight up, he was upon him before he could turn away.

　　Hurstwood was charmed by the development of the fact that thegirl had capabilities. There is nothing so inspiring in life asthe sight of a legitimate ambition, no matter how incipient. Itgives colour, force, and beauty to the possessor.

　　"I know why you should be a success," he said, another time, "ifyou had a more dramatic part. I've studied it out----"

　　With the stolidity and indifference of despair, however, heendured it all, sleeping in an attic at the roof of the house,eating what the cook gave him, accepting a few dollars a week,which he tried to save. His constitution was in no shape toendure.