The game of a desperate man had begun.
Rent was paid, and now came the grocer.

Hurstwood managed by paying out of his own ten and collecting from Carrie at the end of the week.

Then he delayed a day next time settling with the grocer, and so soon had his ten back, with Oeslogge getting his pay on this Thursday or Friday for last Saturday's bill.
This entanglement made Carrie anxious for a change of some sort.
Hurstwood did not seem to realize that she had a right to anything.

He schemed to make what she earned cover all expenses, but seemed not to trouble over adding anything himself.
"He talks about worrying," thought Carrie.

"If he worried enough he couldn't sit there and wait for me.