" What did you do that for, Carrie?” asked Minnie, when she saw it.

" Oh, I need one,” said Carrie.

" You foolish girl.”

Carrie resented this, though she did not reply.  She was not going to be a common shop-girl, she though; they need not think it, either.

One the first Saturday night Carrie paid her board, four dollars.  Minnie had a quaver of conscience as she took it, but did not know how to explain to Hanson if she took less.  That worthy gave up just four dollar less toward the household expenses with a smile of satisfaction.  He contemplated increasing his Building and Loan payments.  As for Carrie, she studied over the problem of finding clothes and amusement on fifty cents a week.  She brooded over this until she was in a state of mental rebellion.

" I’m going up the street for a walk,” she said after supper.

" Not alone, are you? asked Hanson.

" Yes,” returned Carrie.

" I wouldn’t,” said Minnie.

" I want to see something,” said Carrie, and by the tone she put into the last word they realized for the first time she was not pleased with them.

" What’s the matter with her?” asked Hanson, when she went into the front room to get her hat.

" I don’t know,” said Minnie.

" Well, she ought to know better than to want to go out alone.”

Carrie did not go very far, after all.  She returned and stood in the door.  The next day they went out to Garfield Park, but it did not please her.  She did not look well enough.  In the shop next day she heard the highly colored reports which girls give of their trivial amusements.  They had been happy.  On several days it rained and she used up car fare.  One night she got thoroughly that evening she sat alone in the front room looking out upon the street, where the lights were reflected on the wet pavements, thinking.  She had imagination enough to be moody.

On Saturday she paid another four dollars and pocketed her fifty cents in despair.  The speaking acquaintanceship which she formed with some of the girls at the shop discovered to her the fact that they had more of their earnings to use for themselves than she did.  They had young men of the kind whom she, since her experience with Drouet, felt above, who took them about.  She came to thoroughly dislike the light-headed young fellows of the shop.  Not one of them had a show of refinement.  She saw only their workday side.

There came a day when the first premonitory blast of winter swept over the city.  It scudded the fleecy clouds in the heavens, trailed long, thin streamers of smoke from the tall stacks, and raced about the streets and corners in sharp and sudden puffs.  Carrie now felt the problem of winter clothes.  What was she to do?  She had no winter jacket, no hat, no shoes.  It was difficult to speak to Minnie about this, but at last she summoned the courage.