Do you want to see me? he asked.
Do you need any help? said Carrie, already learning directness of address.
Do you know how to stitch caps? he returned.
No, sir, she replied.
Have you ever had any experience at this kind of work? he inquired.
She answered that she had not.
Well, said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, we do need a stitcher. We like experienced help, though. Weve hardly got time to break people in. He paused and looked away out of the window. We might, though, put you at finishing, he concluded reflectively.
How much do you pay a week? ventured Carrie, emboldened by a certain softness in the mans manner and his simplicity of address.
Three and a half, he answered.
Oh, she was about to exclaim, but checked herself and allowed her thoughts to die without expression.
Were not exactly in need of anybody, he went on vaguely, looking her over as one would a package. You can come on Monday morning, though, he added, and Ill put you to work.
Thank you, said Carrie weakly.
If you come, bring an apron, he added.
He walked away and left her standing by the elevator, never so much as inquiring her name[13].
This place was grimy and low, the girls were careless and hardened. They must be bad-minded and hearted, she imagined. Still, a place had been offered her. Surely Chicago was not so bad if she could find one place in one day. She might find another and better later.
Her subsequent experiences were not of a reassuring nature, however. From all the more pleasing or imposing places she was turned away abruptly with the most chilling formality. In other where she applied only the experienced were required. She met with painful rebuffs, the most trying of which had been in a manufacturing cloak house, where she had gone to the fourth floor to inquire.
No, no, said foreman, a rough, heavily built individual, who looked after a miserably lighted workshop, we dont want any one. Dont come here.
With the wane of the afternoon went her hopes, her courage, and her strength. Sick at heart and in body, she turned to the west, the direction of Minies flat, which she had now fixed in mind, and begat that wearisome, baffled retreat makes. In passing through Fifth Avenue, south towards Van Buren Street, where she intended to take a car, she passed the door of a large wholesale shoe house, through the plate-grass window of which she could see a middle aged gentleman sitting at a small desk. One of those forlorn impulses which often grow out of a fixed sense of defeat, the last sprouting of a baffled and uprooted growth through the door and up to the gentleman, who looked at her weary face with partially awakened interest.
What is it? he said.
Can you give me something to do? said Carrie.
Now, I really dont know, he said kindly. What kind of work is it you want youre not a typewriter, are you?
Oh, no, answered Carrie.
Well, we only employ book-keepers and typewriters here. You might go around to the side and inquire upstairs. They did want some help upstairs a few days ago. Ask for Mr. Brown.
She hastened around to the side entrance and was taken up by the elevator to the fourth floor.
Call Mr. Brown, Willie, said the elevator man to a boy near by.
Willie went off and presently returned with the information that Mr. Brown said she should sit down and that he would be around in a little while. It was a portion of the stock room which gave no idea of the general character of the place, and Carrie could form no opinion of the nature of the work.
So you want something to do, said Mr. Brown, after he inquired concerning the nature of her errand. Have you ever been employed in a shoe factory before?
No, sir, said Carrie.
What is your name? he inquired, and being informed, Well, I dont know as I have anything for you. Would you work for four and a half a week?
Carrie was too worn by defeat not to feel that it was considerable. She had not expected that he would offer her less than six. She acquiesced, however, and he took her name and address.
Well, he said, finally, you report here at eight oclock Monday morning. I think I can find something for you to do.
He left her revived by the possibilities, sure that she had found something at last. She now felt that life was better, that it was livelier, sprightlier. She boarded a car in the best of spirits, feeling her blood still flowering pleasantly. She would live in Chicago, her mind kept saying to itself. She would have a better time than she had ever had before she would be happy.
Chapter IV
The Spendings of Fancy: Facts Answer with Sneers
When Hanson came home at seven oclock, he was inclined to be a little crusty his usual demeanour before supper. This never showed so much in anything he said as in a certain solemnity of countenance and the silent manner in which he slopped about. He had a pair of yellow carpet slippers which he enjoyed wearing, and these he would immediately substitute for his soiled pair of shoes. This, and washing his face with the aid of common washing soap until it glowed a shiny red, constituted his only preparation for his evening meal. He would then get his evening paper and read in silence.
For a young man, this was rather a morbid turn of character, and so affected Carrie. Indeed, it affected the entire atmosphere of the flat, as such things are inclined to do, and gave to his wifes mind its subdued and tactful turn, anxious to avoid taciturn replies[14]. Under the influence of Carries announcement he brightened up somewhat.
You didnt lose any time, did you? he remarked, smiling a little.
No, returned Carrie with a touch of pride.
He asked her one or two more questions and then turned to play with the baby, leaving the subject until it was brought up again by Minnie at the table.
Carrie, however, was not to be reduced to the common level of observation which prevailed in the flat.
It seems to be such a large company, she said, at one place. Great big plate-glass windows and lots of clerks. The man I saw said they hired ever so many people.
Its not very hard to get work now, put in Hanson, if you look right.
Minnie under the warning influence of Carries good spirits and her husbands somewhat conversational mood, began to tell Carrie of some of the well-known things to see things the enjoyment of which cost nothing.
Youd like to see Michigan Avenue. There are such fine houses. It is such a fine street.
Where is H.R. Jacobs? interrupted Carrie, mentioning one of the theatres devoted to melodrama which went by that name at the time.
Oh, its not very far from here, answered Minnie. Its in Halstead Street, right up here.
How Id like to go there. I crossed Halstead Street to-day, didnt I?
At this there was a slight halt in the natural reply. Thoughts are a strangely permeating factor. At her suggestion of going to the theatre, the unspoken shade of disapproval to the doing of those things which involved the expenditure of money shades of feeling which arose in the mind of Hanson and then on Minnie slightly affected the atmosphere of the table. Minnie answered yes, but Carrie could feel that going to the theatre was poorly advocated here. The subject was put off for a little while until Hanson, through with his meal, took his paper and went into the front room.
When they were alone, the two sisters began a somewhat freer conversation, Carrie interrupting it to hum a little, as they worked at the dishes.
I should like to walk up and see Halstead Street, if it isnt too far, said Carrie, after a time. Why dont we go to the theatre tonight?
Oh, I dont think Sven would want to go to-night, returned Minnie. He has to get up so early.
He wouldnt mind hed enjoy it, said Carrie.
No, he doesnt go very often, returned Minnie.
Well, Id like to go, rejoined Carrie. Lets you and me go. Minnie pondered a while, not upon whether she could or would go for that point was already negatively settled with her but upon some means of diverting the thoughts of her sister to some other topic.
Well go some other time, she said at last, finding no ready means of escape.
Carrie sensed the root of the opposition at once.
I have some money, she said. You go with me.
Minnie shook her head.
He could go along, said Carrie.
No, returned Minnie softly, and rattling the dishes to drown the conversation. He wouldnt.
It had been several years since Minnie had seen Carrie, and in that time the latters character had developed a few shades. Naturally timid in all things that related to her own advancement, and especially so when without power or resource, her craving for pleasure was so strong that it was the one stay of her nature. She would speak for that when silent on all else.[15]
Ask him, she pleaded softly.
Minnie was thinking of the resource which Carries board would add. It would pay the rent and would make the subject of expenditure a little less difficult to talk about with her husband. But if Carrie was going to think of running around in the beginning there would be a hitch somewhere. Unless Carrie submitted to a solemn round of industry and saw the need of hard work without longing for play, how was her coming to the city to profit them? These thoughts were not those of a cold, hard nature at all. They were the serious reflections of a mind which invariably adjusted itself, without much complaining, to such surroundings as its industry could make for it.
At last she yield enough to ask Hanson. It was a half-hearted procedure without a shade of desire on her part.
Carrie wants us to go to the theatre, she said, looking in upon her husband. Hanson looked up from his paper, and they exchanged a mild look, which said as plainly as anything: This isnt what we expected.
I dont care to go, he returned. What does she want to see?
H.R Jacobs, said Minnie.
He looked down at his paper and shook his head negatively. When Carrie saw how they looked upon her proposition, she gained a still clearer feeling of their way of life. It weighted on her, but took no definite form of opposition.
I think Ill go down and stand at the foot of the stairs, she said, after a time.
Minnie made no objection to this, and Carrie put on her hat and went below.
Where has Carrie gone? asked Hanson, coming back into the dinning-room when he heard the door close.
She said she was going down to the foot of the stairs, answered Minnie. I guess she just wants to look out a while.
She oughtnt to be thinking about spending her money on theatres already, do you think? he said.
She just feels a little curious, I guess, ventured Minnie. Everything is so new.
I dont know, said Hanson, and went over to the baby, his forehead slightly wrinkled.
He was thinking of a full career of vanity and wastefulness which a young girl might indulge in, and wondering how Carrie could contemplate such a course when she had so little, as yet, with which to do.
On Saturday Carrie went out by herself first toward the river, which interested her, and then back along Jackson Street, which was then lined by the pretty houses and fine lawns which subsequently caused it to be made into a boulevard. She was struck with the evidences of wealth, although there was, perhaps, not a person on the street worth more than a hundred thousand dollars. She was glad to be out of the flat, because already she felt that it was a narrow, humdrum place, and that interest and joy lay elsewhere. Her thoughts now were of a more liberal character, and she punctuated them with speculations as to the whereabouts of Drouet. She was not sure but that he might call anyhow Monday night, and, while she felt a little disturbed at the possibility, there was, nevertheless, just the shade of a wish that he would.
On Monday she arose early and prepared to go to work. She dressed herself in a worn shirt-waist of dotted blue percale, a skirt of light-brown serge rather faded, and a small straw hat which she had worn all summer at Columbia City. Her shoes were old, and her necktie was in that crumpled, flattened state which time and much wearing impart. She made a very average looking shop-girl with the exception of her features. These were slightly more even than common, and gave her a sweet, reserved, and pleasing appearance.
It is no easy thing to get up early in the morning when one is used to sleeping until seven and eight, as Carrie had been at home. She gained some inkling of the character of Hansons life when, half asleep, she looked out into the dinning-room at six oclock and saw him silently finishing his breakfast. By the time she was dressed he was gone, and she, Minnie, and the baby ate together, the latter being just old enough to sit in a high chair and disturb the dishes with a spoon. Her spirits were greatly subdued now when the fact of entering upon strange and untried duties confronted her. Only the ashes of all her fine fancies were remaining ashes still concealing, nevertheless, a few red embers of hope. So subdued was she by her weakening nerve, that she ate quite in silence. going over imaginary conceptions of the character of the shoe company, the nature of the work, her employers attitude. She was vaguely feeling that she would come in contact with the great owners, that her work would be where grave, stylishly dressed men occasionally look on.
Well, good luck, said Minnie, when she was ready to go. They had agreed it was best to walk, that morning at least, to see if she could do it every day sixty cents a week for car fare being quite an item under the circumstances.
Ill tell you how it goes to-night, said Carrie.
Carrie went straight forward until she crossed the river, and then turned into Fifth Avenue. The thoroughfare, in this part, was like a walled cacon of brown stone and clean.
It was with weak knees and a slight catch in her breathing that she came up to the great shoe company at Adams and Fifth Avenue and entered the elevator. When she stepped out on the fourth floor there was no one at hand, only great aisles of boxes piled to the ceiling. She stood, very much frightened, awaiting some one.
Presently Mr. Brown came up. He did not seem to recognise her.
What is it you want? he inquired.
Carries heart sank.
You said I should come this morning to see about work .
What is your name?
Carrie Meeber.
Yes, said he. You come with me.
He led the way through dark, box-lined aisles which had the smell of new shoes, until they came to an iron door which opened into the factory proper. There was a large, low-ceiled room, with clacking, rattling machines at which men in white shirt sleeves and blue gingham aprons[16] were working. She followed him diffidently through the clattering automatons, keeping her eyes straight before her, and flushing slightly. They crossed to a far corner and took an elevator to the sixth floor. Out of the array of machines and benches, Mr. Brown signaled a foreman.