。, Carrie rose up as if to step away, he holding her hand. Now heslipped his arm about her and she struggled, but in vain. Heheld her quite close. Instantly there flamed up in his body theall compelling desire. His affection took an ardent form.
Hurstwood made arrangements with one of the instalment houseswhereby they furnished the flat complete and accepted fiftydollars down and ten dollars a month. He then had a littleplate, bearing the name G. W. Wheeler, made, which he placed onhis letter-box in the hall. It sounded exceedingly odd to Carrieto be called Mrs. Wheeler by the janitor, but in time she becameused to it and looked upon the name as her own.。, "Oh, no!" she answered, rather indifferently.
For an hour he thought over this plausible statement of thetangle. He wanted to tell them about his wife, but couldn't. Hefinally narrowed it down to an assertion that he was light-headedfrom entertaining friends, had found the safe open, and havinggone so far as to take the money out, had accidentally closed it.This act he regretted very much. He was sorry he had put them toso much trouble. He would undo what he could by sending themoney back--the major portion of it. The remainder he would payup as soon as he could. Was there any possibility of his beingrestored? This he only hinted at.。,
If the occupants of both flats answered to the whistle of thejanitor at the same time, they would stand face to face when theyopened the dumb-waiter doors. One morning, when Carrie went toremove her paper, the newcomer, a handsome brunette of perhapstwenty-three years of age, was there for a like purpose. She wasin a night-robe and dressing-gown, with her hair very muchtousled, but she looked so pretty and good-natured that Carrieinstantly conceived a liking for her. The newcomer did no morethan smile shamefacedly, but it was sufficient. Carrie felt thatshe would like to know her, and a similar feeling stirred in themind of the other, who admired Carrie's innocent face.。,
"What's the matter, Carrie?" said Hurstwood after a time,noticing her quiet, almost moody state.。, The second time he gave a similar excuse, but the third time thefeeling about it in Carrie's mind was a little bit out of theordinary.
"That's too bad," he said, stepping away and adjusting his vestafter his slight bending over. "I was thinking we might go to ashow to-night."。, "Let me start all over again. Be my wife from to-day on."
。, "Don't run away from me, Carrie," he said gently. "Let meexplain. If you will only hear me out you will see where Istand. I tell you my wife is nothing to me. She hasn't beenanything for years or I wouldn't have ever come near you. I'mgoing to get a divorce just as soon as I can. I'll never see heragain. I'm done with all that. You're the only person I want.If I can have you I won't ever think of another woman again."
。, At last the Chicago firm answered. It was by Mr. Moy'sdictation. He was astonished that Hurstwood had done this; verysorry that it had come about as it had. If the money werereturned, they would not trouble to prosecute him, as they reallybore him no ill-will. As for his returning, or their restoringhim to his former position, they had not quite decided what theeffect of it would be. They would think it over and correspondwith him later, possibly, after a little time, and so on.