All the time she wavered in mind, now persuading herself that she could buy it right away if she chose, now recalling to herself the actual condition.

At last the noon hour was dangerously near, and she had done nothing.

She must go now and return the money.
Drouet was on the corner when she came up.
"Hello," he said, "where is the jacket and"-- looking down--"the shoes ?" Carrie had thought to lead up to her decision in some intelligent way, but this swept the whole fore-schemed situation by the board.
"I came to tell you that--that I can't take the money." "Oh, that's it, is it ?" he returned.

"Well, you come on with me.

Let's go over here to Partridge's." Carrie walked with him.