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第2章 这怎么好意思

　　"I hope you do," said Carrie.

　　Hurstwood held to his brake and lever, pale and very uncertainwhat to do.

　　It began with the approach of two or three, who hung about theclosed wooden doors and beat their feet to keep them warm. Theyhad on faded derby hats with dents in them. Their misfit coatswere heavy with melted snow and turned up at the collars. Theirtrousers were mere bags, frayed at the bottom and wobbling overbig, soppy shoes, torn at the sides and worn almost to shreds.They made no effort to go in, but shifted ruefully about, diggingtheir hands deep in their pockets and leering at the crowd andthe increasing lamps. With the minutes, increased the number.There were old men with grizzled beards and sunken eyes, men whowere comparatively young but shrunken by diseases, men who weremiddle-aged. None were fat. There was a face in the thick ofthe collection which was as white as drained veal. There wasanother red as brick. Some came with thin, rounded shoulders,others with wooden legs, still others with frames so lean thatclothes only flapped about them. There were great ears, swollennoses, thick lips

　　"Do you know what 'column left' means?"

　　He stopped as if slapped in the face. In an instant hispersuasive, conciliatory manner fled. He was on the defensive ata wink and puzzled for a word to reply.

　　She fumbled her purse which contained the address slip.

　　When Drouet came the next night, she was very much satisfied withher day's study.

　　Carrie crossed the hall with rustling skirts, and scrawled thenote, gloves on. When she returned a newcomer was in the Vanceflat.

　　"Oh, yes," he said, "you will feel so much better."