dāng jiā luò lín · mǐ bèi dēng shàng xià wǔ kāi wǎng zhī jiā gē de huǒ chē shí， tā de quán bù xíng zhuāng bāo kuò yī gè xiǎo xiāng zǐ， yī gè lián jià de fǎng 'ě yú pí kuà bāo， yī xiǎo zhǐ hé wǔ cān hé yī gè huáng pí tánhuáng qián bāo， lǐ miàn zhuāng zhe tā de chē piào， yī zhāng xiě yòu tā jiě jiě zài fán · bù lún jiē dì zhǐ de xiǎo zhǐ tiáo， hái yòu sì kuài xiàn qián。 nà shì １ ８８ ９ nián８ yuè。 tā cái１８ suì， cōng míng， dǎn qiè， yóu yú wú zhī hé nián qīng， chōng mǎn zhe zhǒng zhǒng huàn xiǎng。 jìn guǎn tā zài lí jiā shí yǐ yǐ bùshě， jiā xiāng kě méi yòu shénme hǎo chù ràng tā nán yǐ gē shè。 mǔ qīn hé tā wěn bié shí， tā bù jìn rè lèi yíng kuàng； huǒ chē kā cā kā cā shǐ guò tā fù qīn shàng bái bān de miàn fěn chǎng， tā hóu tóu yòu yī zhèn gěngyè； ér dāng tā shú xī de lǜ sè cūn zhuāng zài chē chuāng wài xiàng hòu tuì qù shí， tā fā chū liǎo yī shēng tàn xī。 bù guò， nà xiē bǎ tā hé gù xiāng hé shàonǚ shí dài lián xì zài yī qǐ lǚ lǚ xì sī què shì yǒng jiǔ dì gē duàn liǎo。 dāng rán liǎo， qián miàn zǒng yòu zhàn tóu， zhǐ yào tā xiǎng huí jiā， suí shí kě yǐ xià chē wǎng huí zǒu。 zhī jiā gē jiù zài qián miàn， yǎn xià tā chéng zuò de huǒ chē měi tiān wǎng fǎn， bǎ zhī jiā gē hé tā jiā xiāng jǐn mì dì lián jié zài yī qǐ。 tā jiā xiāng gē lún bǐ yà chéng lí dé bù suàn yuǎn。 tā shèn zhì hái qù guò yī tàng zhī jiā gē。 zhēn de， jǐ xiǎo shí de huǒ chē， jǐ bǎi lǐ lù， nà yòu suàn dé liǎo shénme ní？ tā kàn zhe shàng miàn yòu tā jiě jiě dì zhǐ de xiǎo zhǐ piàn， xīn lǐ wèn zhe zì jǐ。 tā bǎ mù guāng zhuànxiàng chuāng wài， kàn zhe lǜ sè de tián yě fēi kuài dì xiàng hòu tuì qù。
　　 yī gè１８ suì de nǚ hái lí jiā chū zǒu， jié jú bù wài liǎng zhǒng。 yě xǔ tā huì yù dào hǎo rén xiāng zhù， biàn dé gèng hǎo； yě xǔ tā huì hěn kuài jiē shòu dà dū shì de dào dé biāo zhǔn， ér biàn huài liǎo -- èr zhě bì jù qí yī。 zài zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng xià， yào xiǎng bù hǎo bù huài， bǎo chí zhōng bù liù de zhuàng tài， shì gēn běn zuò bù dào de。 dà chéng shì jù yòu zì shēn zhǒng zhǒng yòu rén de huā zhāo， bìng bù yà yú nà xiē jiào rén xué huài de nán nán nǚ nǚ， dāng rán rén bǐ shè huì wēi xiǎo dé duō， yě gèng fù yú rén qíng wèi。 shè huì jù yòu jù dà de yǐng xiǎng lì， néng xiàng zuì lǎo yú shì gù de rén cái kě néng xiǎng dào de tián yán mì yǔ yī yàng luàn rén qíng huái。 dū shì de wàn diǎn dēng huǒ bǐ qǐ qíng rén mòmò hán qíng de mí rén yǎn shén lái， nà mèi lì shì bùchà fēn háo de ní。 kě yǐ shuō， yòu yī bàn shè shì wèi shēn de chún jié xīn líng shì bèi fēi rén wéi de yǐng xiǎng lì dài huài de。 chéng shì lǐ xuān nào de rén shēng hé rè nào de shēng huó， jiā shàng lín cì zhì bǐ de lóu fáng jiàn zhù， zài lìng rén jīng 'ě de tóng shí， yòu lìng rén pēng rán xīn dòng， jiāogěi rén men mó lēng liǎng kě de shēng huó yì yì。 zhè zhǒng shí hòu， rú guǒ méi yòu rén zài tā men shēn biān qīng shēng gào jiè hé jiě shuō， yòu yòu shénme huǎng yán hé miù wù bù huì guàn rù zhè xiē bù jiā dīfáng de 'ěr duǒ lǐ qù ní？ tóu nǎo jiǎn dān de nián qīng rén kàn bù qīng shēng huó zhōng de nà xiē xū jiǎ wài biǎo， ér wéi tā men de měi suǒ qīng dǎo， jiù xiàng yīnyuè yī yàng， tā men xiān lìng rén táo zuì sōng chí， jì 'ér lìng rén yì zhì bó ruò， zuì hòu yòu rén zǒu shàng qí lù。
　　 jiā luò lín zài jiā shí， jiā lǐ rén dài zhe jǐ fēn téng tā， yǐ jù yòu chū bù de guān chá lì hé fēn xī néng lì。 tā yòu lì jǐ xīn， bù guò bù hěn qiáng liè， zhè shì tā de zhù yào tè diǎn。 tā chōng mǎn zhe nián qīng rén de rè liè huàn xiǎng。 suī rán piào liàng， tā hái zhǐ shì yī gè zhèng zài fā yù jiē duàn de měi rén tāi zǐ。 bù guò cóng tā de shēn duàn yǐ jīng kě yǐ kàn chū jiāng lái fā yù chéng shú shí de měi miào tǐ tài liǎo。 tā de yǎn jīng lǐ tòu zhe tiān shēng de cōng míng。 tā shì yī gè diǎn xíng de měi guó zhōng chǎn jiē jí shàonǚ -- tā men jiā yǐ shì yí mín de dì sān dài liǎo。 tā duì shū běn bù gǎn xīng qù， shū běn zhī shí hé tā wú yuán。 tā hái bù tài dǒng rú hé jǔ shǒu tóu zú， xiǎn shì běn néng de yōu yǎ jǔ zhǐ。 tā yáng qǐ tóu de zī tài hái bù gòu yōu měi。 tā de shǒu yě jīhū méi yòu yòng。 tā de jiǎo suī rán cháng dé xiǎo qiǎo， què zhǐ huì pín pín dì fàng zài dì shàng。 rán 'ér tā duì yú zì jǐ de mèi lì yǐ jí gǎn xīng qù， duì shēng huó de gèng qiáng liè de lè qù gǎn zhī hěn kuài， bìng kě wàng huò dé zhǒng zhǒng wù zhì de xiǎng shòu。 tā hái zhǐ shì yī gè zhuāng bèi bù quán de xiǎo qí shì， zhèng mào xiǎn chū fā qù zhēn chá shén mì de dà chéng shì， mèng xiǎng zhe mǒu gè yáo yuǎn de jiāng lái tā jiāng zhēng fú zhè xīn shì jiè， ràng nà dà chéng shì fǔ shǒu chēng chén， chéng huáng chéng kǒng， guì dǎo zài tā de jiǎo xià。
　　“ qiáo”， yòu rén zài tā 'ěr biān shuō，“ nà jiù shì wēi sī kāng xīn zhōu zuì měi de dù jiǎ shèng dì zhī yī。”“ shì má？“ tā zhuì zhuì bù 'ān dì huí dá。
　　 huǒ chē cái kāi chū huá kè xià。 bù guò tā yǐ yòu hǎo yī huì 'ér gǎn dào bèi hòu yòu gè nán rén。 tā gǎn jué dé dào nà rén zài dǎliang tā de nóng mì de tóu fā。 tā yī zhí zài nà lǐ zuò lì bù 'ān， yīn cǐ píng zhe nǚ xìng de zhí jué， tā gǎn dào bèi hòu nà rén duì tā yuè lái yuè gǎn xīng qù。 shàonǚ de jīn chí hé zài cǐ zhǒng qíng kuàng xià chuán tǒng de lǐ yí dū gào sù tā bù néng dāqiāng， bù néng yǔn xǔ nán rén zhè yàng suí biàn jiē jìn tā。 bù guò nà gè nán rén shì gè qíng chǎng lǎo shǒu， tā de dà dǎn hé cí xìng bān de mèi lì zhàn liǎo shàng fēng， suǒ yǐ tā jìng rán dá liǎo qiāng。 tā wǎng qián qīng zhe shēn zǐ， bǎ tā de gēbo dā zài tā de yǐ bèi shàng， kāi shǐ tǎo rén xǐ huān dì liáo liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ zhēn de， nà shì zhī jiā gē rén zuì xǐ huān de dù jiǎ dì。 nà lǐ de lǚ guǎn kě bàng liǎo。 zhè dì fāng nǐ bù shú xī bā？”“ āi， bù duì， zhè yī dài wǒ hěn shú de。” jiā lì huí dá。“ nǐ zhī dào， wǒ jiù zhù zài gē lún bǐ yà chéng。 bù guò zhè lǐ wǒ dǎo cóng lái méi yòu lái guò。”“ zhè me shuō， nǐ shì dì yī cì dào zhī jiā gē qù liǎo。” tā cāi cè shuō。
　　 tā men zhè me jiāo tán zhe shí， tā cóng yǎn jiǎo yǐn yǐn qiáo jiàn liǎo yī xiē nà rén de xiàngmào： hóng rùn shēng dòng de liǎn， dàn dàn de yī mǒ xiǎo hú zǐ， yī dǐng huī sè de ruǎn ní mào。 xiàn zài tā zhuǎn guò shēn lái， miàn duì zhe tā， nǎo zǐ lǐ zì wèi de yì shí hé nǚ xìng tiáoqíng de běn néng luàn hōng hōng dì hùn zá zài yī qǐ。
　　“ wǒ méi yòu zhè me shuō，” tā huí dá。
　　“ ō， wǒ yǐ wéi nǐ shì zhè gè yì sī ní，” tā tǎo rén xǐ huān dì zhuāng zhe rèn cuò shuō。
　　 zhè rén shì wéi shēng chǎn chǎng jiā tuī xiāo chǎn pǐn de lǚ xíng tuī xiāo yuán， dāng shí gāng gāng liú xíng bǎ zhè lèi rén chēng zuò“ pí bāo kè。” bù guò tā hái kě yǐ yòng yī gè 1880 nián kāi shǐ zài měi guó liú xíng de xīn cí lái xíng róng：“ xiǎo bái liǎn。“ zhè zhǒng rén cóng chuānzhuó dǎ bàn dào yī jǔ yī dòng dū zhǐ zài bó qǔ nián qīng xīn ruǎn de gū niàn hǎo gǎn。 zhè rén chuānzhuó yī tào tiáo wén gé zǐ de zōng sè máo liào xī zhuāng， zhè zhǒng xī zhuāng dāng shí hěn xīn cháo， bù guò xiàn zài yǐ jīng chéng liǎo rén men shú xī de shāng rén fú zhuāng。 xī zhuāng bèi xīn de dī lǐng lǐ lù chū jiāng dé bǐ tǐng de bái dǐ fěn hóng tiáo wén chèn shān de qián xiōng。 wài tào de xiù kǒu lù chū tóng yī bù liào de chèn shān xiù kǒu， shàng miàn de kòu zǐ shì yī lì dà dà de dù jīn kòu， qiàn zhe chēng wéi“ māo 'ér yǎn” de pǔ tōng huáng sè mǎ nǎo。 tā shǒu zhǐ shàng dài zhe hǎo jǐ gè jiè zhǐ， qí zhōng yòu yī méi shì chén diàn diàn de tú zhāng jiè zhǐ， zhè méi jiè zhǐ shì shǐ zhōng bù lí shēn de。 cóng tā de xī zhuāng bèi xīn shàng chuí xià yī tiáo jīng zhì de jīn biǎo liàn， biǎo liàn nà yī tóu chuí guà zhe xiōng dì huì de mì mì huī zhāng。 zhěng tào fú zhuāng cái jiǎn hé dù， zài pèi shàng yī shuāng cā dé fā guāng de hòu gēn pí xié hé huī sè ruǎn ní mào， tā de zhuāng shù jiù qí bèi liǎo。 jiù tā suǒ dài biǎo de nà lèi rén 'ér yán， tā hěn yòu xī yǐn lì。 jiā lì dì yī yǎn kàn tā， yǐ jīng bǎ tā suǒ yòu de yōu diǎn dū kàn zài yǎn lǐ， zhè yī diǎn shì kě yǐ kěn dìng de。
　　 wǒ yào jì xià yī xiē zhè lèi rén chéng gōng de jǔ zhǐ hé fāng fǎ zhōng zuì xiǎn zhù de tè diǎn， yǐ fáng tā men yǒng jiǔ xiāo shī liǎo。 dāng rán， fú shì piào liàng shì dì yī yào sù， yào shì méi yòu liǎo fú shì zhè lèi dōng xī， tā jiù suàn bù dé shénme rén wù liǎo。 dì 'èr yào sù shì shēn qiáng lì zhuàng， xìng yù wàng shèng。 tā tiān xìng wú yōu wú lǜ， jì bù fèi xīn qù kǎo lǜ rèn hé wèn tí， yě bù qù guǎn shì jiān de zhǒng zhǒng shì lì huò yǐng xiǎng， zhī pèi tā de shēng huó dòng lì bù shì duì cái fù de tān lán， ér shì duì shēng sè zhī lè de tān dé wú yàn。 tā de fāng fǎ yī guàn hěn jiǎn dān， zhù yào shì dǎn dà， dāng rán shì chū yú duì yì xìng de kě wàng hé yǎng mù。 nián qīng gū niàn zhǐ yào ràng tā jiàn shàng yī miàn， tā jiù huì yòng yī zhǒng wēn hé shú shí de tài dù qù tào rè hū， yǔ qí zhōng dài yòu jǐ fēn kěn qiú， jiēguǒ nà xiē gū niàn wǎng wǎng kuān róng jiē nà liǎo tā。 rú guǒ nà nǚ zǐ lù chū diǎn mài nòng fēng qíng de pǐn xìng， tā jiù huì shàng qián qù bāng tā lǐ lǐ lǐng dài。
　　 rú guǒ tā‘ chī’ tā nà yī tào xiàn yīn qín de shǒu duàn， tā mǎ shàng kāi shǐ yòng xiǎo míng chēng hū tā liǎo。 tā shàng bǎi huò dà lóu shí， zǒng xǐ huān kào zài guì tái shàng hé nǚ diàn yuán xiàng lǎo shú rén yī yàng liáo liáo， wèn xiē tào jìn hū de wèn tí。 rú guǒ shì zài rén shǎo de chǎng hé， pì rú zài huǒ chē shàng huò zhě hòu chē shì， tā zhuī rén de sù dù yào fàng màn yī xiē。 rú guǒ tā fā xiàn yī gè kàn lái kě yǐ xià shǒu de duì xiàng， tā jiù shǐ chū hún shēn de xièshù lái -- dǎ zhāo hū wèn hǎo， dài lù qù kè tīng chē xiāng， bāng zhù līn shǒu tí xiāng。 rú guǒ līn bù chéng xiāng zǐ， nà jiù zài tā bàng biān zhǎo gè wèi zǐ zuò xià lái， mǎn xīn xī wàng zài dào dá mùdì dì yǐ qián kě yǐ xiàng tā xiàn xiàn yīn qín： ná zhěn tóu lā， sòng shū lā， bǎi jiǎo dèng lā， fàng zhē lián lā。 tā néng zuò de zhù yào jiù shì zhè yī xiē。 rú guǒ tā dào liǎo mùdì dì， tā què méi yòu xià chē bāng tā zhào kàn xíng lǐ， nà shì yīn wéi zhào tā gū jì tā de zhuī qiú xiǎn rán shī bài liǎo。
　　 nǚ rén yòu yī tiān gāi xiě chū yī běn wán zhěng de yī fú jīng。 bù guǎn duō nián qīng， zhè zhǒng shì tā shì wán quán dǒng de。 nán rén fú shì zhōng yòu nà me yī zhǒng nán yǐ yán chuán de wēi miào jiè xiàn， tā píng zhè tiáo jiè xiàn kě yǐ qū bié nǎ xiē nán rén zhí dé kàn yī yǎn， nǎ xiē nán rén bù zhí dé yī gù。 yī gè nán rén yī dàn shǔ yú zhè tiáo jiè xiàn zhī xià， tā bié zhǐ wàng huò dé nǚ rén de qīng lái。 nán rén yī fú zhōng hái yòu yī tiáo jiè xiàn， huì lìng nǚ rén zhuǎn 'ér zhù yì qǐ zì jǐ de fú zhuāng lái。 xiàn zài jiā lì cóng shēn bàng zhè gè nán rén shēn shàng jiù kàn dào liǎo zhè tiáo jiè xiàn， yú shì bù jìn gǎn dào xiāng xíng jiàn chù。 tā gǎn dào zì jǐ shēn shàng chuān de nà tào xiāng hēi biān de pǔ sù lán yī qún tài hán suān liǎo， jiǎo shàng de xié zǐ yě tài jiù liǎo。
　　“ nǐ zhī dào，” tā zài jì xù wǎng xià shuō，“ nǐ men chéng lǐ wǒ rèn shí bù shǎo rén ní。”
　　 yòu fú zhuāng diàn lǎo bǎn mó gēn luò， hái yòu chóu duàn zhuāng lǎo bǎn jí bó shēng。”“ wō， zhēn de？” xiǎng dào nà xiē céng lìng tā liú lián wàng fǎn de chú chuāng， tā bù jìn gǎn xīng qù dì chā liǎo yī jù。
　　 zhè yī xià zhōng yú ràng tā fā xiàn liǎo tā de xīng qù suǒ zài， yú shì tā shú liàn dì jì xù tán zhè gè huà tí。 jǐ fēn zhōng hòu， tā yǐ jīng guò lái， zuò zài tā de shēn biān。 tā tán yī fú de xiāo shòu， tán tā de lǚ xíng， tán zhī jiā gē hé zhī jiā gē de gè zhǒng yú lè。
　　“ nǐ dào liǎo nà lǐ， huì wán dé hěn tòng kuài de。 nǐ zài nà lǐ yòu qīn qī má？”“ wǒ shì qù kàn wǒ jiě jiě，“ tā jiě shì shuō。
　　“ nǐ yī dìng yào guàng guàng lín kěn gōng yuán，” tā shuō。“ hái yào qù mì xiē gēn dà dào kàn kàn。 tā men zhèng zài nà lǐ xīng jiàn gāo lóu dà shà。 zhè shì yòu yī gè niǔ yuē， zhēn liǎo bù qǐ。”
　　 yòu nà me duō kě yǐ kàn de dōng xī -- xì yuàn， rén liú， piào liàng de fáng zǐ -- zhēn de， nǐ huì xǐ huān zhè yī qiē de。 tā xiǎng xiàng zhe tā suǒ miáo huì de yī qiē， xīn lǐ bù jìn yòu xiē cì tòng。 dū shì shì rú cǐ zhuàng guān wěi dà， ér tā què rú cǐ miǎo xiǎo， zhè bù néng bù shǐ tā chǎn shēng chū gǎn kǎi。 tā yì shí dào zì jǐ de shēng huó bù huì shì yóu yī lián chuàn de huān lè gòu chéng de。 bù guò cóng tā miáo huì de wù zhì shì jiè lǐ， tā hái shì kàn dào liǎo xī wàng zhī guāng。 yòu zhè me yī gè yī zhe tǐ miàn de rén xiàng tā xiàn yīn qín， zǒng shì lìng rén qiè yì de。 tā shuō tā cháng dé xiàng mǒu gè nǚ míng xīng， tā tīng liǎo bù jìn yān rán yī xiào。 tā bìng bù chǔn， dàn zhè yī lèi de chuī pěng zǒng yòu diǎn zuò yòng de。
　　“ nǐ huì zài zhī jiā gē zhù yī duàn rì zǐ bā。” zài qīng sōng suí biàn dì liáo liǎo yī zhèn yǐ hòu， tā zhuǎn liǎo huà tí wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ bù zhī dào，” jiā lì méi yòu bǎ wò dì huí dá， nǎo zǐ lǐ tū rán shǎn guò liǎo wàn yī zhǎo bù dào gōng zuò de niàn tóu。
　　“ bù guǎn zěn yàng， zǒng yào zhù jǐ zhōu bā。” tā zhè me shuō shí， mù guāng jiǔ jiǔ dì níng shì zhe tā de yǎn jīng。
　　 xiàn zài tā men yǐ jīng bù shì dān chún dì yòng yǔ yán jiāo liú gǎn qíng liǎo。 tā zài tā shēn shàng kàn dào liǎo nà xiē gòu chéng měi lì hé mèi lì de nán yǐ miáo huì de qì zhì。 ér tā kàn chū zhè nán rén duì zì jǐ gǎn xīng qù， zhè zhǒng xīng qù shǐ yī gè nǚ zǐ yòu xǐ yòu pà。 tā hěn dān chún， hái méi xué huì nǚ rén yòng yǐ yǎn shì qíng gǎn de nà xiē xiǎo xiǎo de zhuāng qiāng zuò shì。 zài yòu xiē shì qíng shàng， tā què shí xiǎn dé dà dǎn liǎo diǎn。 tā xū yào yòu yī gè cōng míng de tóng bàn tí xǐng tā， nǚ rén shì bù kě yǐ zhè me jiǔ jiǔ dì zhù shì nán rén de yǎn jīng de。
　　“ nǐ wèishénme yào wèn zhè wèn tí？” tā wèn dào。
　　“ nǐ zhī dào， wǒ jiāng zài zhī jiā gē dòu liú jǐ xīng qī。 wǒ yào qù wǒ men shāng hào kàn kàn huò sè， nòng xiē xīn yàng pǐn。 yě xǔ wǒ kě yǐ dài nǐ dào chù kàn kàn。”“ wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ néng bù néng zhè me zuò。 wǒ de yì sī shì shuō wǒ bù zhī dào wǒ zì jǐ néng bù néng。 wǒ dé zhù zài wǒ jiě jiě jiā， ér qi씓 ǹg， rú guǒ tā bù xǔ de huà， wǒ men kě yǐ xiǎng xiē bàn fǎ duì fù de。” tā tāo chū yī zhī qiān bǐ hé yī gè xiǎo bǐ jì běn， hǎo xiàng yī qiēdōu yǐ shuō dìng liǎo。“ nǐ de dì zhǐ shì nǎ lǐ？” tā mō suǒ zhuózhuāng yòu dì zhǐ de qián bāo。
　　 tā shēn shǒu dào hòu miàn de kù dài lǐ tāo chū yī gè hòu hòu de pí jiā， lǐ miàn zhuāng zhe xiē dān jù， lǚ xíng lǐ chéng jì lù běn hé yījuǎnchāopiào。 zhè gěi tā liú xià liǎo shēn kè de yìn xiàng： yǐ qián xiàng tā xiàn yīn qín de nán rén zhōng méi yòu yī gè tāo dé chū zhè me yī gè pí jiā。
　　 zhēn de， tā hái cóng lái méi yòu hé yī gè páo guò dà mǎ tóu， jiàn guò dà shì miàn， jiàn duō shí guǎng xìng gé huó yuè de rén dǎ guò jiāo dào。 tā de pí jiā zǐ， fā guāng de pí xié， piào liàng de xīn xī zhuāng， hé tā xíng shì nà zhǒng qì pài， zhè yī qiē wéi tā yǐn yǐn yuē yuē dì miáo huì chū yī gè yǐ tā wéi zhōng xīn de huā huā shì jiè。 tā bù yóu dé duì tā xiǎng zuò de yī qiē bào zhe hǎo gǎn。
　　 tā ná chū yī zhāng jīng měi de míng piàn， shàng miàn yìn zhe“ bā lāi · kǎ liú gōng sī”， zuǒ xià jiǎo yìn zhe“ chá lì · hè · dù luò 'āi。” tā bǎ míng piàn fàng zài tā shǒu shàng， rán hòu zhǐ zhe shàng miàn de míng zì shuō：“ zhè shì wǒ de míng zì。 zhè zì yào niàn chéng dù -- āi。 wǒ men jiā cóng wǒ fù qīn nà miàn shuō shì fǎ guó rén。” tā bǎ pí jiā shōu qǐ lái shí， tā de mù guāng hái dīng zhe shǒu shàng de míng piàn。 rán hòu tā cóng wài tào kǒu dài tāo chū yī zhá xìn， cóng zhōng chōu chū yī fēng lái。“ zhè shì nà jiā wǒ wéi tā men tuī xiāo huò wù de shāng hào，” tā yī biān shuō yī biān zhǐ zhe xìn fēng shàng de tú piàn。“ zài sī tái tè jiē hé hú bīn dà dào de zhuǎn wān chù。” tā de shēng yīn lǐ liú lù chū zì háo。 tā gǎn dào gēn zhè yàng yī gè dì fāng yòu lián xì shì hěn liǎo bù qǐ de， tā ràng tā yě yòu liǎo zhè zhǒng gǎn jué。
　　“ nǐ de dì zhǐ ní？” tā yòu wèn dào， shǒu lǐ ná zhe bǐ zhǔn bèi jì xià lái。
　　 tā qiáo zhe tā de shǒu。
　　“ jiā lì · mǐ bèi，” tā yī zì yī zì dì shuō dào，“ xī fán bù lún jiē sān bǎi wǔ shí sì hào， Ｓ · Ｃ · hàn shēng zhuǎn。” tā zǎi xì jì xià lái， rán hòu yòu tāo chū liǎo pí jiā。“ rú guǒ wǒ xīng qī yī wǎn shàng lái kàn nǐ， nǐ huì zài jiā má？” tā wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng huì de。” tā huí dá。
　　 huà yǔ zhǐ shì wǒ men nèi xīn qíng gǎn de yī gè yǐng zǐ， zhè huà zhēn shì bù jiǎ。 tā men zhǐ shì yī xiē kě yǐ wéi rén tīng jiàn de xiǎo xiǎo liàn zǐ， bǎ dà liàng tīng bù jiàn de qíng gǎn hé yì tú chuàn lián qǐ lái。 yǎn qián zhè liǎng gè rén jiù shì rú cǐ。 tā men zhǐ shì duǎn duǎn dì jiāo tán liǎo jǐ jù， tāo liǎo yī xià pí jiā， kàn liǎo yī xià míng piàn。 shuāng fāng dōuméi yì shí dào tā men de zhēn shí gǎn qíng shì duō me nán yǐ biǎo dá， shuāng fāng dōubù gòu cōng míng， qiáo bù tòu duì fāng de xīn sī。 tā chī bù zhǔn tā de tiáoqíng chéng gōng liǎo méi yòu。 ér tā yī zhí méi yì shí dào zì jǐ zài ràng rén qiān zhe bí zǐ zǒu。 yī zhí dào tā cóng tā kǒu lǐ tāo chū liǎo tā de dì zhǐ， cái míng bái guò lái zì jǐ yǐ jīng shū liǎo yīzhāo， ér tā què yíng liǎo yī jú。 tā men yǐ jīng gǎn jué dào tā men zhī jiān yòu liǎo mǒu zhǒng lián xì。 tā xiàn zài zài tán huà zhōng zhàn liǎo zhù dǎo dì wèi， yīn cǐ qīng sōng dì suí biàn liáo zhe， tā de jū shù yě xiāo shī liǎo。
　　 tā men kuài dào zhī jiā gē liǎo。 qián miàn jiù shì zhī jiā gē de jì xiàng dào chù kě jiàn。 zhè xiē jì xiàng zài chuāng wài yī lüè 'ér guò。 huǒ chē shǐ guò kāi kuò píng tǎn de dà cǎo yuán， tā men kàn jiàn yī pái pái de diàn xiàn gān chuān guò tián yě tōng xiàng zhī jiā gē。 gé liǎo lǎo yuǎn jiù kě yǐ kàn dào zhī jiā gē chéng jiāo nà xiē gāo sǒng rù yún de dà yān cōng。
　　 kāi kuò de tián yě zhōng jiān bù shí sǒng lì qǐ liǎng céng lóu de mù zào fáng wū， gū líng líng de， jì méi lí bā yě méi shù mù zhē bì， hǎo xiàng shì jí jiāng dào lái de fáng wū dà jūn pài chū de qián shào。
　　 duì yú hái zǐ， duì yú xiǎng xiàng lì fēng fù de rén， huò zhě duì yú cóng wèi chū guò yuǎn mén de rén lái shuō， dì yī cì jiē jìn yī gè dà chéng shì zhēn shì qí miào de jīng lì。 tè bié shì zài bàng wǎn， guāng míng yǔ yè sè jiāo tì de shén mì shí kè， shēng huó zhèng cóng yī zhǒng jìng jiè huò zhuàng tài xiàng lìng yī zhǒng jìng jiè guò dù。 ā， nà jí jiāng lái lín de yè sè， jǐyǔ láolèi yī tiān de rén men duō shǎo xī wàng hé yǔn nuò！ yī qiē jiù de xī wàng zǒng shì rì fù yī rì zài zhè gè shí kè fù sū。 nà xiē xīn láo yī tiān de rén men zài duì zì jǐ shuō：“ zǒng suàn kě yǐ xiē kǒu qì liǎo。 wǒ kě yǐ hǎohǎo dì lè yī lè liǎo。 jiē dào hé dēng huǒ， dà fàng guāng míng de fàn táng hé bǎi fàng qì zhěng de wǎn cān， zhè yī qiēdōu zài děng zhe wǒ。 hái yòu xì yuàn， wǔ tīng， jù huì， gè zhǒng xiū xī chǎng suǒ hé yú lè shǒu duàn， zài yè lǐ tǒng tǒng shǔ yú wǒ liǎo。 " suī rán shēn zǐ hái bèi guān zài chē jiān hé diàn pū， yī zhǒng jī dòng de qì fēn zǎo yǐ chōng dào wài miàn， mí màn zài kōng qì zhōng。 jí shǐ nà xiē zuì chí dùn de rén yě huì yòu suǒ gǎn jué， jìn guǎn tā men bù shàn biǎo dá huò miáo shù。 zhè shì yī zhǒng zhòng dān zhōng yú xiè jiān shí de gǎn jué shì zhe chuāng wài， tā de tóng bàn gǎn rǎn dào liǎo tā de jīng qí。 yī qiē shì wù dū jù yòu chuán rǎn lì， suǒ yǐ tā bù jìn duì zhè chéng shì chóngxīn fā shēng liǎo xīng qù， xiàng jiā lì zhǐ diǎn zhe zhī jiā gē de zhǒng zhǒng míng shèng hé jǐng guān。
　　“ zhè shì zhī jiā gē xī běi qū，” dù luò 'āi shuō dào。“ nà shì zhī jiā gē hé。” tā zhǐ zhe yī tiáo hún zhuó de xiǎo hé， hé lǐ chōng sài zhe lái zì yuǎn fāng de fān chuán。 zhè xiē chuán wéi gān sǒng lì， chuán tóu pèng cā zhe shù yòu hēi sè mù gān de hé 'àn。 huǒ chē pēn fā chū yī gǔ nóng yān， qiē cā qiē cā， tiě guǐ fā chū yī shēng zhuàng jī shēng， nà xiǎo hé jiù bèi pāo zài hòu miàn liǎo。
　　“ zhī jiā gē huì shì gè dà dū shì，” tā jì xù shuō zhe。“ zhēn shì gè qí jì。 nǐ huì fā xiàn yòu xǔ duō dōng xī zhí dé yī kàn。” tā bìng méi yòu zhuān xīn tīng tā shuō huà。 tā de xīn lǐ yòu yī zhǒng dān xīn zài kùn rǎo zhe tā。 xiǎng dào zì jǐ gū shēn yī rén， yuǎn lí jiā xiāng， chuǎng jìn zhè yī piàn shēng huó hé fèn dǒu de hǎi yáng， qíng xù bù néng bù shòu yǐng xiǎng。 tā bù jìn gǎn dào qì tòu bù guò lái。 yòu yī diǎn bù shū fú -- yīn wéi tā de xīn tiào dé tài kuài liǎo。 tā bàn bì shàng yǎn jīng， jié lì gào sù zì jǐ zhè suàn bù dé shénme， lǎo jiā gē lún bǐ yà chéng lí zhè lǐ bìng bù yuǎn。
　　“ zhī jiā gē dào liǎo！” sī zhá hǎn dào， hū yī shēng dǎ kāi liǎo chē mén。 huǒ chē zhèng shǐ rù yī gè yōng jǐ de chē chǎng， zhàn tái shàng xiǎng chè zhe shēng huó de cáo zá hé rè nào。 tā kāi shǐ shōu shí zì jǐ kě lián de xiǎo tí xiāng， shǒu lǐ jǐn jǐn niē zhe qián bāo。 dù luò 'āi zhàn qǐ shēn lái， tī liǎo tī tuǐ， nòng zhí kù zǐ， rán hòu zhuā qǐ liǎo tā de gān jìng de huáng tí xiāng。
　　“ nǐ jiā lǐ yòu rén huì lái jiē nǐ bā，” tā shuō，“ ràng wǒ bāng nǐ līn xiāng zǐ。”
　　“ bié，” tā huí dá，“ wǒ bù xiǎng ràng nǐ tí。 wǒ hé jiě jiě jiàn miàn shí bù xiǎng ràng tā kàn jiàn nǐ hé wǒ zài yī qǐ。”“ hǎo bā，” tā hé hé qì qì dì shuō，“ bù guò wǒ huì zài fù jìn de。 wàn yī tā bù lái jiē nǐ， wǒ kě yǐ hù sòng nǐ 'ān quán huí jiā de。”“ nǐ zhēn hǎo，” jiā lì shuō dào。 shēn chù mù qián zhè zhǒng mò shēng de chǎng hé， tā bèi gǎn zhè zhǒng guān xīn de kě guì。
　　“ zhī jiā gē！” sī zhá tuō cháng shēng yīn hǎn dào。 tā men xiàn zài dào liǎo yī gè jù dà de chē péng dǐ xià， hūn 'àn de chē péng lǐ yǐ diǎn qǐ dēng huǒ。 dào chù dōushì kè chē。 huǒ chē xiàng wō niú yī bān huǎn huǎn yí dòng。 chē xiāng lǐ de réndōu zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， yōng xiàng mén kǒu。
　　“ hēi， wǒ men dào liǎo。” dù luò 'āi shuō zhe lǐng xiān xiàng mén kǒu zǒu qù。“ zài jiàn， xīng qī yī jiàn。”“ zài jiàn，“ tā dá dào， wò zhù liǎo tā shēn chū de shǒu。
　　“ jì zhù， wǒ huì zài bàng biān kàn zhe， yī zhí dào nǐ zhǎo dào nǐ jiě jiě。” tā duì tā de mù guāng bào yǐ wēi xiào。
　　 tā men yú guàn 'ér xià， tā jiǎ zhuāng bù zhù yì tā。 zhàn tái shàng yī gè liǎn jiá shòuxuē， múyàng pǔ tōng de fù nǚ rèn chū jiā lì， jí máng yíng shàng qián lái。
　　“ tā hǎn dào。” suí hòu shì lì xíng de yōng bào， biǎo shì huān yíng。
　　 jiā lì lì kè gǎn jué dào qì fēn de biàn huà。 yǎn qián suī rán réng shì yī piàn fēn luàn xuān nào hé xīn qí de shì jiè， tā gǎn jué dào bīng lěng de xiàn shí zhuā zhù liǎo tā de shǒu。 tā de shì jiè lǐ bìng méi yòu guāng míng hé huān lè， méi yòu yī gè jiē zhe yī gè de yú lè hé xiāo qiǎn。 tā jiě jiě shēn shàng hái dài zhe jiān xīn cāo láo de hén jì。
　　“ jiā lǐ rén hái hǎo má？” tā jiě jiě kāi shǐ wèn dào，“ bà mā zěn me yàng？” jiā lì yī yī zuò liǎo huí dá， mù guāng què zài kàn bié chù。 zài guò dào nà tóu， dù luò 'āi zhèng zhàn zài tōng xiàng hòu chē shì hé dà jiē de mén biān， huí tóu cháo jiā lì nà biān kàn。 dāng tā kàn dào tā kàn jiàn liǎo tā， kàn dào tā yǐ píng 'ān dì hé jiě jiě tuán jù， tā cháo tā liú xià yī gè xiào yǐng， biàn zhuǎn shēn lí qù。 zhǐ yòu jiā lì kàn dào liǎo tā de wēi xiào。 tā zǒu liǎo， jiā lì gǎn dào chàng rán ruò shī。 děng tā wán quán xiāo shī bù jiàn liǎo， tā chōng fēn gǎn dào liǎo tā de lí qù gěi tā dài lái de gū dú。 hé tā jiě jiě zài yī qǐ， tā gǎn dào zì jǐ jiù xiàng wú qíng de xiōng yǒng dà hǎi lǐ de yī yè gū zhōu， gū kǔ wú yǐ。

　　THE MAGNET ATTRACTING--A WAIF AMID FORCES
　　 When Caroline Meeber boarded the afternoon train for Chicago, her total outfit consisted of a small trunk, a cheap imitation alligator-skin satchel, a small lunch in a paper box, and a yellow leather snap purse, containing her ticket, a scrap of paper with her sister's address in Van Buren Street, and four dollars in money. It was in August, 1889. She was eighteen years of age, bright, timid, and full of the illusions of ignorance and youth. Whatever touch of regret at parting characterised her thoughts, it was certainly not for advantages now being given up. A gush of tears at her mother's farewell kiss, a touch in her throat when the cars clacked by the flour mill where her father worked by the day, a pathetic sigh as the familiar green environs of the village passed in review, and the threads which bound her so lightly to girlhood and home were irretrievably broken.
　　 To be sure there was always the next station, where one might descend and return. There was the great city, bound more closely by these very trains which came up daily. Columbia City was not so very far away, even once she was in Chicago. What, pray, is a few hours--a few hundred miles? She looked at the little slip bearing her sister's address and wondered. She gazed at the green landscape, now passing in swift review, until her swifter thoughts replaced its impression with vague conjectures of what Chicago might be.
　　 When a girl leaves her home at eighteen, she does one of two things. Either she falls into saving hands and becomes better, or she rapidly assumes the cosmopolitan standard of virtue and becomes worse. Of an intermediate balance, under the circumstances, there is no possibility. The city has its cunning wiles, no less than the infinitely smaller and more human tempter. There are large forces which allure with all the soulfulness of expression possible in the most cultured human. The gleam of a thousand lights is often as effective as the persuasive light in a wooing and fascinating eye. Half the undoing of the unsophisticated and natural mind is accomplished by forces wholly superhuman. A blare of sound, a roar of life, a vast array of human hives, appeal to the astonished senses in equivocal terms. Without a counsellor at hand to whisper cautious interpretations, what falsehoods may not these things breathe into the unguarded ear! Unrecognised for what they are, their beauty, like music, too often relaxes, then weakens, then perverts the simpler human perceptions.
　　 Caroline, or Sister Carrie, as she had been half affectionately termed by the family, was possessed of a mind rudimentary in its power of observation and analysis. Self-interest with her was high, but not strong. It was, nevertheless, her guiding characteristic. Warm with the fancies of youth, pretty with the insipid prettiness of the formative period, possessed of a figure promising eventual shapeliness and an eye alight with certain native intelligence, she was a fair example of the middle American class--two generations removed from the emigrant. Books were beyond her interest--knowledge a sealed book. In the intuitive graces she was still crude. She could scarcely toss her head gracefully. Her hands were almost ineffectual. The feet, though small, were set flatly. And yet she was interested in her charms, quick to understand the keener pleasures of life, ambitious to gain in material things. A half-equipped little knight she was, venturing to reconnoitre the mysterious city and dreaming wild dreams of some vague, far-off supremacy, which should make it prey and subject--the proper penitent, grovelling at a woman's slipper.
　　 "That," said a voice in her ear, "is one of the prettiest little resorts in Wisconsin."
　　 "Is it?" she answered nervously.
　　 The train was just pulling out of Waukesha. For some time she had been conscious of a man behind. She felt him observing her mass of hair. He had been fidgetting, and with natural intuition she felt a certain interest growing in that quarter. Her maidenly reserve, and a certain sense of what was conventional under the circumstances, called her to forestall and deny this familiarity, but the daring and magnetism of the individual, born of past experiences and triumphs, prevailed. She answered.
　　 He leaned forward to put his elbows upon the back of her seat and proceeded to make himself volubly agreeable.
　　 "Yes, that is a great resort for Chicago people. The hotels are swell. You are not familiar with this part of the country, are you?"
　　 "Oh, yes, I am," answered Carrie. "That is, I live at Columbia City. I have never been through here, though."
　　 "And so this is your first visit to Chicago," he observed.
　　 All the time she was conscious of certain features out of the side of her eye. Flush, colourful cheeks, a light moustache, a grey fedora hat. She now turned and looked upon him in full, the instincts of self-protection and coquetry mingling confusedly in her brain.
　　 "I didn't say that," she said.
　　 "Oh," he answered, in a very pleasing way and with an assumed air of mistake, "I thought you did."
　　 Here was a type of the travelling canvasser for a manufacturing house--a class which at that time was first being dubbed by the slang of the day "drummers." He came within the meaning of a still newer term, which had sprung into general use among Americans in 1880, and which concisely expressed the thought of one whose dress or manners are calculated to elicit the admiration of susceptible young women--a "masher." His suit was of a striped and crossed pattern of brown wool, new at that time, but since become familiar as a business suit. The low crotch of the vest revealed a stiff shirt bosom of white and pink stripes. From his coat sleeves protruded a pair of linen cuffs of the same pattern, fastened with large, gold plate buttons, set with the common yellow agates known as "cat's-eyes." His fingers bore several rings--one, the ever-enduring heavy seal--and from his vest dangled a neat gold watch chain, from which was suspended the secret insignia of the Order of Elks. The whole suit was rather tight-fitting, and was finished off with heavy-soled tan shoes, highly polished, and the grey fedora hat. He was, for the order of intellect represented, attractive, and whatever he had to recommend him, you may be sure was not lost upon Carrie, in this, her first glance.
　　 Lest this order of individual should permanently pass, let me put down some of the most striking characteristics of his most successful manner and method. Good clothes, of course, were the first essential, the things without which he was nothing. A strong physical nature, actuated by a keen desire for the feminine, was the next. A mind free of any consideration of the problems or forces of the world and actuated not by greed, but an insatiable love of variable pleasure. His method was always simple. Its principal element was daring, backed, of course, by an intense desire and admiration for the sex. Let him meet with a young woman once and he would approach her with an air of kindly familiarity, not unmixed with pleading, which would result in most cases in a tolerant acceptance. If she showed any tendency to coquetry he would be apt to straighten her tie, or if she "took up" with him at all, to call her by her first name. If he visited a department store it was to lounge familiarly over the counter and ask some leading questions. In more exclusive circles, on the train or in waiting stations, he went slower. If some seemingly vulnerable object appeared he was all attention-- to pass the compliments of the day, to lead the way to the parlor car, carrying her grip, or, failing that, to take a seat next her with the hope of being able to court her to her destination. Pillows, books, a footstool, the shade lowered; all these figured in the things which he could do. If, when she reached her destination he did not alight and attend her baggage for her, it was because, in his own estimation, he had signally failed.
　　 A woman should some day write the complete philosophy of clothes. No matter how young, it is one of the things she wholly comprehends. There is an indescribably faint line in the matter of man's apparel which somehow divides for her those who are worth glancing at and those who are not. Once an individual has passed this faint line on the way downward he will get no glance from her. There is another line at which the dress of a man will cause her to study her own. This line the individual at her elbow now marked for Carrie. She became conscious of an inequality. Her own plain blue dress, with its black cotton tape trimmings, now seemed to her shabby. She felt the worn state of her shoes.
　　 "Let's see," he went on, "I know quite a number of people in your town. Morgenroth the clothier and Gibson the dry goods man."
　　 "Oh, do you?" she interrupted, aroused by memories of longings their show windows had cost her.
　　 At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. In a few minutes he had come about into her seat. He talked of sales of clothing, his travels, Chicago, and the amusements of that city.
　　 "If you are going there, you will enjoy it immensely. Have you relatives?"
　　 "I am going to visit my sister," she explained.
　　 "You want to see Lincoln Park," he said, "and Michigan Boulevard. They are putting up great buildings there. It's a second New York--great. So much to see--theatres, crowds, fine houses--oh, you'll like that."
　　 There was a little ache in her fancy of all he described. Her insignificance in the presence of so much magnificence faintly affected her. She realised that hers was not to be a round of pleasure, and yet there was something promising in all the material prospect he set forth. There was something satisfactory in the attention of this individual with his good clothes. She could not help smiling as he told her of some popular actress of whom she reminded him. She was not silly, and yet attention of this sort had its weight.
　　 "You will be in Chicago some little time, won't you?" he observed at one turn of the now easy conversation.
　　 "I don't know," said Carrie vaguely--a flash vision of the possibility of her not securing employment rising in her mind.
　　 "Several weeks, anyhow," he said, looking steadily into her eyes.
　　 There was much more passing now than the mere words indicated. He recognised the indescribable thing that made up for fascination and beauty in her. She realised that she was of interest to him from the one standpoint which a woman both delights in and fears. Her manner was simple, though for the very reason that she had not yet learned the many little affectations with which women conceal their true feelings. Some things she did appeared bold. A clever companion--had she ever had one-- would have warned her never to look a man in the eyes so steadily.
　　 "Why do you ask?" she said.
　　 "Well, I'm going to be there several weeks. I'm going to study stock at our place and get new samples. I might show you 'round."
　　 "I don't know whether you can or not. I mean I don't know whether I can. I shall be living with my sister, and----"
　　 "Well, if she minds, we'll fix that." He took out his pencil and a little pocket note-book as if it were all settled. "What is your address there?"
　　 She fumbled her purse which contained the address slip.
　　 He reached down in his hip pocket and took out a fat purse. It was filled with slips of paper, some mileage books, a roll of greenbacks. It impressed her deeply. Such a purse had never been carried by any one attentive to her. Indeed, an experienced traveller, a brisk man of the world, had never come within such close range before. The purse, the shiny tan shoes, the smart new suit, and the air with which he did things, built up for her a dim world of fortune, of which he was the centre. It disposed her pleasantly toward all he might do.
　　 He took out a neat business card, on which was engraved Bartlett, Caryoe & Company, and down in the left-hand corner, Chas. H. Drouet.
　　 "That's me," he said, putting the card in her hand and touching his name. "It's pronounced Drew-eh. Our family was French, on my father's side."
　　 She looked at it while he put up his purse. Then he got out a letter from a bunch in his coat pocket. "This is the house I travel for," he went on, pointing to a picture on it, "corner of State and Lake." There was pride in his voice. He felt that it was something to be connected with such a place, and he made her feel that way.
　　 "What is your address?" he began again, fixing his pencil to write.
　　 She looked at his hand.
　　 "Carrie Meeber," she said slowly. "Three hundred and fifty-four West Van Buren Street, care S. C. Hanson."
　　 He wrote it carefully down and got out the purse again. "You'll be at home if I come around Monday night?" he said.
　　 "I think so," she answered.
　　 How true it is that words are but the vague shadows of the volumes we mean. Little audible links, they are, chaining together great inaudible feelings and purposes. Here were these two, bandying little phrases, drawing purses, looking at cards, and both unconscious of how inarticulate all their real feelings were. Neither was wise enough to be sure of the working of the mind of the other. He could not tell how his luring succeeded. She could not realise that she was drifting, until he secured her address. Now she felt that she had yielded something--he, that he had gained a victory. Already they felt that they were somehow associated. Already he took control in directing the conversation. His words were easy. Her manner was relaxed.
　　 They were nearing Chicago. Signs were everywhere numerous. Trains flashed by them. Across wide stretches of flat, open prairie they could see lines of telegraph poles stalking across the fields toward the great city. Far away were indications of suburban towns, some big smokestacks towering high in the air.
　　 Frequently there were two-story frame houses standing out in the open fields, without fence or trees, lone outposts of the approaching army of homes.
　　 To the child, the genius with imagination, or the wholly untravelled, the approach to a great city for the first time is a wonderful thing. Particularly if it be evening--that mystic period between the glare and gloom of the world when life is changing from one sphere or condition to another. Ah, the promise of the night. What does it not hold for the weary! What old illusion of hope is not here forever repeated! Says the soul of the toiler to itself, "I shall soon be free. I shall be in the ways and the hosts of the merry. The streets, the lamps, the lighted chamber set for dining, are for me. The theatre, the halls, the parties, the ways of rest and the paths of song--these are mine in the night." Though all humanity be still enclosed in the shops, the thrill runs abroad. It is in the air. The dullest feel something which they may not always express or describe. It is the lifting of the burden of toil.
　　 Sister Carrie gazed out of the window. Her companion, affected by her wonder, so contagious are all things, felt anew some interest in the city and pointed out its marvels.
　　 "This is Northwest Chicago," said Drouet. "This is the Chicago River," and he pointed to a little muddy creek, crowded with the huge masted wanderers from far-off waters nosing the black-posted banks. With a puff, a clang, and a clatter of rails it was gone. "Chicago is getting to be a great town," he went on. "It's a wonder. You'll find lots to see here."
　　 She did not hear this very well. Her heart was troubled by a kind of terror. The fact that she was alone, away from home, rushing into a great sea of life and endeavour, began to tell. She could not help but feel a little choked for breath--a little sick as her heart beat so fast. She half closed her eyes and tried to think it was nothing, that Columbia City was only a little way off.
　　 "Chicago! Chicago!" called the brakeman, slamming open the door. They were rushing into a more crowded yard, alive with the clatter and clang of life. She began to gather up her poor little grip and closed her hand firmly upon her purse. Drouet arose, kicked his legs to straighten his trousers, and seized his clean yellow grip.
　　 "I suppose your people will be here to meet you?" he said. "Let me carry your grip."
　　 "Oh, no," she said. "I'd rather you wouldn't. I'd rather you wouldn't be with me when I meet my sister."
　　 "All right," he said in all kindness. "I'll be near, though, in case she isn't here, and take you out there safely."
　　 "You're so kind," said Carrie, feeling the goodness of such attention in her strange situation.
　　 "Chicago!" called the brakeman, drawing the word out long. They were under a great shadowy train shed, where the lamps were already beginning to shine out, with passenger cars all about and the train moving at a snail's pace. The people in the car were all up and crowding about the door.
　　 "Well, here we are," said Drouet, leading the way to the door. "Good-bye, till I see you Monday."
　　 "Good-bye," she answered, taking his proffered hand.
　　 "Remember, I'll be looking till you find your sister."
　　 She smiled into his eyes.
　　 They filed out, and he affected to take no notice of her. A lean-faced, rather commonplace woman recognised Carrie on the platform and hurried forward.
　　 "Why, Sister Carrie!" she began, and there was embrace of welcome.
　　 Carrie realised the change of affectional atmosphere at once. Amid all the maze, uproar, and novelty she felt cold reality taking her by the hand. No world of light and merriment. No round of amusement. Her sister carried with her most of the grimness of shift and toil.
　　 "Why, how are all the folks at home?" she began; "how is father, and mother?"
　　 Carrie answered, but was looking away. Down the aisle, toward the gate leading into the waiting-room and the street, stood Drouet. He was looking back. When he saw that she saw him and was safe with her sister he turned to go, sending back the shadow of a smile. Only Carrie saw it. She felt something lost to her when he moved away. When he disappeared she felt his absence thoroughly. With her sister she was much alone, a lone figure in a tossing, thoughtless sea.