He tried to put on a business air as he went in, but it was a feeble imitation.

The rocking chair in the dining room was comfortable.
He sank into it gladly, with several papers he had bought, and began to read.
As she was going through the room to begin preparing dinner, Carrie said: "The man was here for the rent to-day." "Oh, was he ?" said Hurstwood.
The least wrinkle crept into his brow as he remembered that this was February 2d, the time the man always called.

He fished down in his pocket for his purse, getting the first taste of paying out when nothing is coming in.

He looked at the fat, green roll as a sick man looks at the one possible saving cure.

Then he counted off twenty-eight dollars.
"Here you are," he said to Carrie, when she came through again.
He buried himself in his papers and read.