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第5章 有种来打我

　　"Oh, over two thousand dollars. He says it's a dandy."

　　"No such thing," answered Carrie. "It isn't true. Who told youthat?"

　　Hurstwood frowned. Then in despair he got out his purse.

　　"What sort of a place is it?" he asked, feeling in his veins asif now he might get something good also.

　　This left the matter as open as before, but it was something. Itlooked as if the quarrel would blow over, if they could only getsome way of talking to one another. Carrie was ashamed, andDrouet aggrieved. He pretended to take up the task of packingsome things in a valise.

　　It was not often that she came to the play stirred to her heart'score by actualities. To-day a low song of longing had been setsinging in her heart by the finery, the merriment, the beauty shehad seen. Oh, these women who had passed her by, hundreds andhundreds strong, who were they? Whence came the rich, elegantdresses, the astonishingly coloured buttons, the knick-knacks ofsilver and gold? Where were these lovely creatures housed? Amidwhat elegancies of carved furniture, decorated walls, elaboratetapestries did they move? Where were their rich apartments,loaded with all that money could provide? In what stables champedthese sleek, nervous horses and rested the gorgeous carriages?Where lounged the richly groomed footmen? Oh, the mansions, thelights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! New Yorkmust be filled with such bowers, or the beautiful, insolent,supercilious creatures could not be. Some hothouses held them.It ached her to know that she was not one of them--that, alas,she had dreamed a dre

　　Again he shook his head.

　　"Haven't seen much of you this trip," said Hurstwood.

　　"I hadn't heard of him," said Carrie, honestly.