正文预览

第9章 妒火（二十更爆发完毕）

　　"You'll want to see the city first, won't you?" said Minnie, whenthey were eating. "Well, we'll go out Sunday and see LincolnPark.

　　She shook her head.

　　He felt really hurt as he thought of his treatment, and looked asif he saw no way of obtaining justice.

　　Inside went the ex-manager and straight to an office off theclerk's desk. One of the managers of the hotel happened to bethere. Hurstwood looked him straight in the eye.

　　"I didn't intend to," he answered, easily.

　　"Why do you feel so bad about that affair of this morning? hesaid, at last. "We needn't quarrel about that. You know you cango to Waukesha if you want to."

　　It was not long, however, before the old worry was back forconsideration, and with it what weariness! He thought of themorrow and the suit. He had done nothing, and here was theafternoon slipping away. It was now a quarter of four. At fivethe attorneys would have gone home. He still had the morrowuntil noon. Even as he thought, the last fifteen minutes passedaway and it was five. Then he abandoned the thought of seeingthem any more that day and turned to Carrie.

　　"I am, that is, do you--I mean, do you need any help?" shestammered.

　　As a matter of fact, she was in a most hopeless quandary. Herewas a man whom she thoroughly liked, who exercised an influenceover her, sufficient almost to delude her into the belief thatshe was possessed of a lively passion for him. She was still thevictim of his keen eyes, his suave manners, his fine clothes.She looked and saw before her a man who was most gracious andsympathetic, who leaned toward her with a feeling that was adelight to observe. She could not resist the glow of histemperament, the light of his eye. She could hardly keep fromfeeling what he felt.