" You ought to have a piano here, Drouet,” said Hurstwood, smiling at Carrie, on the evening in question, " so that your wife could play.”

Drouet had not though of that.

" So we ought,” he observed readily.

" Oh, I don’t play,” ventured Carrie.

" It’s isn’t very difficult,” returned Hurstwood. " You could do very well in a few weeks.”

He was in the best form for entertaining this evening.  His clothes were particularly new and rich in appearance.  The coat lapels stood out with that medium tidiness which excellent cloth possesses.  The vast was of a rich Scotch plaid, set with a double row of round mother-of pearl buttons.  His cravat was shiny combination of nice threads, not loud, not inconspicuous.  What he wore did not strike the eye so forcibly as that which.  Drouet had on, but Carrie could see the elegance of the material.  Hurstwood’s shoes were of soft, black calf, polished only to a dull shine.  Drouet wore patent leather, but Carrie could not help feeling that there was a distinction in favor of the soft leather, where all else was so rich.  She noticed these things almost unconsciously.  They were things which would naturally flow from the situation.  She was used to Drouet’s appearance.

" Suppose we have a little game of euchre?” He was Hurstwood, after a light round of conversation.  He was rather dexterous in avoiding of Carrie’s past.  He kept away from personalities altogether, and confined himself to these things which did not concern individuals at all.  By his manner, he put Carrie at their ease, and by his deference and pleasantries he amused her.  He pretended to be seriously interested in all she said.

" I don’t know hoe to play,” said Carrie.

" Charlie, you are neglecting a part of your duty,” he observed to Drouet most affably. " Between us, though,” he went on, " we can show you.”

By this tact he made Drouet feel that he admired his choice.  There was something in his manner that showed that he was pleased to be there.  Drouet felt really closer to him than ever before.  It gave him more respect for Carrie.  Her appearance came into a new light, under Hurstwood’s appreciation.  The situation livened considerably.

" Now, let me see,” said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie’s shoulder very deferentially. " What have you?” He studied for a moment. " That’s rather good,” he said.

" You’re lucky.  Now, I’ll show you how to trounce your husband.  You take my advice.”

" Here,” said Drouet, " if you two are going to scheme together, I won’t stand a ghost of a show.  Hurstwood a regular sharp.”

" No, it’s your wife.  She brings me luck.  Why shouldn’t she win?”

Carrie looked gratefully at Hurstwood, and smiled at Drouet.  The former took the air of a mere friend.  He was simply there to enjoy himself.  Anything that Carrie did was pleasing to him, nothing more.