A PUBLIC DISSENSION--A FINAL APPEAL There was no after-theatre lark, however, so far as Carrie was concerned.

She made her way homeward, thinking about her absence.
Hurstwood was asleep, but roused up to look as she passed through to her own bed.
"Is that you ?" he said.
"Yes," she answered.
The next morning at breakfast she felt like apologizing.
"I couldn't get home last evening," she said.
"Ah, Carrie," he answered, "what's the use saying that?
I don't care.
You needn't tell me that, though." "I couldn't," said Carrie, her color rising.

Then, seeing that he looked as if he said "I know," she exclaimed: "Oh, all right.

I don't care." From now on, her indifference to the flat was even greater.

There seemed no common ground on which they could talk to one another.