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第4章 路上捡的

　　The end came with a real mob, which met the car on its returntrip a mile or two from the barns. It was an exceedingly poor-looking neighbourhood. He wanted to run fast through it, butagain the track was blocked. He saw men carrying something outto it when he was yet a half-dozen blocks away.

　　Carrie stood looking while the lady retired to her office.

　　Frequently there were two-story frame houses standing out in theopen fields, without fence or trees, lone outposts of theapproaching army of homes.

　　The two policemen got down and Hurstwood started to follow.

　　Hurstwood resolved a thousands things, Drouet as well. Theyjoined equally in the burst of applause which called Carrie out.Drouet pounded his hands until they ached. Then he jumped upagain and started out. As he went, Carrie came out, and, seeingan immense basket of flowers being hurried down the aisle towardher she waited. They were Hurstwood's. She looked toward themanager's box for a moment, caught his eye, and smiled. He couldhave leaped out of the box to enfold her. He forgot the need ofcircumspectness which his married state enforced. He almostforgot that he had with him in the box those who knew him. Bythe Lord, he would have that lovely girl if it took his all. Hewould act at once. This should be the end of Drouet, and don'tyou forget it. He would not wait another day. The drummershould not have her.

　　He had been looking for some time for a break in the conversationwhen he could give it a serious turn. Once or twice he had heldhis peace, hoping that in silence her thoughts would take thecolour of his own, but she had lightly continued the subject.Presently, however, his silence controlled the situation. Thedrift of his thoughts began to tell. He gazed fixedly at nothingin particular, as if he were thinking of something whichconcerned her not at all. His thoughts, however, spoke forthemselves. She was very much aware that a climax was pending.

　　"I guess we'd better move right away, don't you think so?" sheobserved to Lola, thinking of the commonplace chamber inSeventeenth Street.

　　"What will you have if you go back?" asked Drouet. There was nosubtle undercurrent to the question. He imagined that she wouldhave nothing at all of the things he thought worth while.

　　This was a grim blow to Hurstwood, but he never mentioned it.