Sister Carrie

ing gazed upon and understood for what she was-a wage-seeker. She had never done this thing before, and lacked courage. To avoid a certain indefinable shame she felt at being caught spying about for a

a young man in a grey checked suit. That he had anything to do with the concern, she could not tell, but because he happened to be looking in her direction her weakening heart misgave her and she hurried by, too overcome with shame to enter. Over the way stood a great six-story structure, labelled Storm and King, which she viewed with rising hope. It was a wholesale dry goods concern and employed women. She could see them moving about now and then upon the upper floors. This place she decided

t the various corners she read names such as Madison, Monroe, La Salle, Clark, Dearborn, State, and still she went, her feet beginning to tire upon the broad stone flagging. She was pleased in part that the streets were bright a

ate windows of which she saw an enclosed executive department, hidden by frosted glass. Without this enclosure, but just within the street entrance, sat a grey-haired gentleman at a small t

ld gentleman, looking at her somew

-I mean, do you need an

. "Not just at present. Come in some time

ished her. She had expected that it would be more difficult, that something cold and harsh would be said--she

It was a clothing company, and more people were in evidence--w

boy approa

u wish to see

and spoke to one of a group of three men who were c

The greeting drove all c

any help?" sh

abruptly, and tur

the door for her, and gladly sank into the obscuring crowd.

came, and with it hunger. She hunted out an unassuming restaurant and entered, but was disturbed to find that the prices were exorbitant for the size of her purse. A bowl

in. Some gentlemen were conferring close at hand, but took no notice of her. She was left standing, gazing nervously upon the floor. W

wish to see?"

e," she answered. "I am loo

ed to a chair against the neighbouring wall. He went on leisurely writin

man at the desk, "this you

about towards Carrie, and s

miss?" he inquired, su

I can get a posit

t?" he

g in particular

ence in the wholesale dry goo

," she r

enographer or

, s

here," he said. "We emplo

the door, when something about h

ked at anything be

r," she

get anything to do in a wholesale house of thi

edged that

rather genially, "I would try the department

hole nature relieved by this

ard the door, "you try the depar

and now proceeded to seek them. The words of Mr. McManus had somehow managed to restore her courage, which had fallen low, and she dared to hope that this new line would offer her something. Some time she spent in wandering up and down, thinking to encounter the buildings by chance

, bustling, successful affairs, with a host of clerks and a swarm of patrons. Carrie passed along the busy aisles, much affected by the remarkable displays of trinkets, dress goods, stationery, and jewelry. Each separate counter was a show place of dazzling interest and attraction. She could not help feeling the claim of each trinket and valuable upon her personally, and yet she did not stop. There was nothing there which she could not hav

ve, high-strung nature, cast unduly upon a cold, calculating, and unpoetic world.

f the city. Neither had she before known the nature and appearance of the shop girls with whom she now compared poorly. They were pretty in the main, some even handsome, with an air of independence and indifference which added, in the case of the more favoured, a certain piquancy. Their clothes were neat, in many instances fine, and wherever she encountered the eye of one it was only to r

s ahead of her, applicants like herself, but with more of that self-satisfied and independent air which experience of the city

was sitting at a roll-top desk near the windo

," said

t," he said, ey

," she r

just now with some experience

t, hardly certain whether th

laimed. "Remember we

o move quickly

ack. "Give me your name and addre

ich she had just experienced, but the whole abashing trend of the day. She was tired and nervous. She abandoned the thought of

ay along the south side of that imposing thoroughfare, when a piece of wrapping paper, written on with mar

d a moment,

ter laboured quite a company of girls and some men. The former were drabby-looking creatures, stained in face with oil and dust, clad in thin, shapeless, cotton dresses and shod with more or less worn shoes. Many of them had their sleeves rolled up, revealing bare arms, and in

ble by sidelong glances, no one paid her the least attention. She waited until the whole department was aware of her presence. T

t to see me

aid Carrie, already learn

w to stitch cap

," she r

experience at this kind

ed that sh

experienced help, though. We've hardly got time to break people in." He paused and looked a

ie, emboldened by a certain softness in the

a half," he

t checked herself and allowed her

looking her over as one would a package. "You can come on Mo

" said Carr

bring an apr

anding by the elevator, never

uld take the place, modest as her aspirations were. She had been used to better than that. Her mere experience and the free out-of-door life of the country caused her nature to revolt at such confinement. Dirt had never been her share. Her sister's flat was clean. T

away abruptly with the most chilling formality. In others where she applied only the experienced were required. She met with pai

individual, who looked after a miserably lighted

r own helplessness without quite realising the wisp on the tide that she was. She cast about vainly for some possible place to apply, but found no door which she had the courage to enter. It would be the same thing all over. The old humiliation of her plea, rewarded by curt denial. Sick at heart and in body, she turned to the west, the direction of Minnie's flat, which she had now fixed in mind, and began that wearisome, baffled retreat which the seeker for employment at nightfall too often makes. In passing through

s it?"

something to do

ndly. "What kind of work is it you wan

answered

might go around to the side and inquire upstairs. They did

entrance and was taken up by t

e," said the elevator

nformation that Mr. Brown said she should sit dow

ea of the general character of the place, and Carri

he inquired concerning the nature of her errand. "H

," said

rmed, "Well, I don't know as I have anything for

able. She had not expected that he would offer her less than s

re at eight o'clock Monday morning. I th

noticed that men and women were smiling. Scraps of conversation and notes of laughter floated to her. The air was light. People were already pouring out of the buildings, their labour ended for the day. She noticed that they were pleased, and thoughts of her sister's home and the meal th

elt that life was better, that it was livelier, sprightlier. She boarded a car in the best of spirits, feeling her blood still flowing pleasa