《嘉莉妹妹》像一股强劲的自由的西风，席卷了密不透风美国，自从马克·吐温和惠特曼以来，给我们闷热的千家万户吹进了新鲜的空气。

　　——1930年诺贝尔文学奖得主（辛克莱·刘易斯）

　　大概世界自上古以来存在过的一切忧郁、阴暗和沉重，在作者笔下都有反映……他神情沮丧，他不知如何改变生活，因而他描绘生活一如所见——其实，毫不伪装。

　　——美国作家（舍伍德·安德森）

　　misgivings-and they were as plentiful as the moments of the day-she was still happy.She could not repress her delight in doing this little thing which，to an ordinary observer，had no importance at all.　　Hurstwood was charmed by the development of the fact that the girl had capabilities There is nothing so inspiring in life as the sight of a legitimate ambition， no matter how incipient.It gives color，force，and beauty to the possessor.　　Carrie was now lightened by a touch of this divine afflatus.She drew to herself commendationca from her two admirers which she had not earned.Their affection for her naturally heightened their perception of what she was trying to do and their approval of what she did.Her inexperience conserved her own exuberant fancy，which ran riot with every straw of opportunity，making of it a golden divining rod whereby the treasure of life was to be discovered.　　"Let's see，" said Hurstwood，"I ought to know some of the boys in the lodge.I'm an Elk myself."　　"Oh，you mustn't let him know I told you."　　"That's so，"said the manager.　　"I'd like for you to be there，if you want to come，but I don't see how you can unless he asks you."　　"I'll be there，"said Hurstwood affectionately."I can fix it so he won't know you told me.You leave it to me."　　This interest of the manager was a large thing in itself for the performance，for his standing among the Elks was something worth talking about.Already he was thinking of a box with some friends，and flowers for Came.He would make it a dress-suit affair and give the little girl a chance.　　Within a day or two，Drouet dropped into the Adams Street resort，and he was at once spied by Hurstwood.It was at five in the afternoon and the place was crowded with merchants， actors，managers，politicians，a goodly company of rotund，rosy figures，silk-hatted，starchy-bosomed，beringed and bescarfpinned to the queen's taste.John L.Sullivan，the pugilist，was at one end of the glittering bar， surrounded by a company of loudly dressed sports， who were　　holding a most animated conversation.Drouet came across the floor with a festive stride，a new pair of tan shoes squeaking audibly at his progress.　　"Well，sir，" said Hurstwood， " I was wondering what had become of you.I thought you had gone out of town again."　　Drouet laughed.　　"If you don't report more regularly we'll have to cut you off the list."　　" Couldn't help it，"said the drummer，"I've been busy."　　They strolled over toward the bar amid the noisy， shifting company of notables.The dressy manager was shaken by the hand three times in as many minutes.　　"I hear your lodge is going to give a performance，" observed Hurstwood，in the most of ihand manner.　　"Yes，who told you?"　　"No one，" said Hurstwood."They just sent me a couple of tickets，which I can have for two dollars.Is it going to be any good?"　　"I don't know，" replied the drummer."They've been trying to get me to get some woman to take a part."　　"I wasn't intending to go，" said the manager easily."I'll subscribe，of course.How are things over there?"　　"All right.They're going to fit things up out of the proceeds."　　"Well，"said the manager，"I hope they make a success of it.　　Have another?"　　He did not intend to say any more.Now，if he should appear on the scene with a few friends，he could say that he had been urged to come along.Drouet had a desire to wipe out the possibility of confusion.　　"I think the girl is going to take a part in it，" he said abruptly，after thinking it over.　　"You don't say so! How did that happen?"　　"Well，they were short and wanted me to find them someone.I told Carrie，and she seems to want to try."　　" Good for her，" said the manager."It'll be a real nice affair.Do her good，too.Has she ever had any experience?"　　" Not a bit."　　" Oh，well，it isn't anything very serious."　　" She's clever，though，" said Drouet， casting off any imputation against Carrie's ability."She picks up her part quick enough."　　"You don't say so! " said the manager.　　"Yes，sir; she surprised me the other night.By George，if she didn't."　　" We must give her a nice little send-off，" said the manager."I'll look after the flowers."　　Drouet smiled at his good nature.　　"After the show you must come with me and we'll have a little supper."　　"I think she'll do all right，"said Drouet.　　"I want to see her.She's got to do all right.We'll make her，" and the manager gave one of his quick， steely half-smlles， which was a compound of good nature and shrewdness.　　Carrie， meanwhile， attended the first rehearsal.At this performance Mr.Quincel presided，aided by Mr.Millice，a young man who had some qualifications of past experience，which were not exactly understood by any one.He was so experienced and so businesslike，how ever，that he came very near being rude-failing to rememberias resort，and he was at once spied by Hurstwood.It was at five in the　　afternoon and the place was crowded with merchants， actors，managers，politiaans，a goodly company of rotund，rosy figures，silk-hatted，starchy-bosomed，beringed and bescarfpinned to the queen's taste.John L.Sullivan，the pugilist，was at one end of the glittering bar， surrounded by a corupany of loudly dressed sports， who were holding a most animated conversation.Drouet came across the floor　　with a festive stride，a new pair of tan shoes squeaking audibly at his progress.　　" Well，sir， " said Hurstwood， "I was wondering what had become of you.I thought you had gone out of town again."　　Drouet laughed.　　"If you don't report more regularly we'll have to cut you off the list."　　" Couldn't help it，" said the drummer，"I've been busy."　　They strolled over toward the bar amid the noisy， shifting company of notables.The dressy manager was shaken by the hand three times in as many minutes.　　"I hear your lodge is going to give a performance，" observed Hurstwood，in the most offthand manner.　　"Yes，who told you?"　　"No one，" said Hurstwood."They just sent me a couple of tickets，which I can have for two dollars.Is it going to be any good?"　　"I don't know，" replied the drummer."They've been trying to get me to get some woman to take a part."　　"I wasn't intending to go，" said the manager easily."I'll subscribe，of course.How are things over there?"　　"All right.They're going to fit things up out of the proceeds."　　"Well，"said the manager，"I hope they make a success of it.　　Have another?"　　……