My Plesure Reading 120-180

Hurstwood, however, was unaware that his son was at the theater that very same night. At breakfast the next day, his son mentioned that he had saw him there. Hurstwood replied that he went with Charlie Drouet and his wife, friends of Moy's who were visiting Chicago. Julia understood that Hurstwood's job sometimes required him to engage in social outings without her. However, he had several times declined to take her out because of work,including the previous night. Julia continued to pestered Hurstwood to go on social outings with her, and Hurstwood who in reality found his wife's company extremely dull, declined because he was "too busy." Julia became angry and notes that he had time for other people. Their mutual antagonism grew.
Meanwhile, through Mrs. Hale, Carrie learnt "to distinguish between degrees of wealth." She gazed longingly at stately mansions in Chicago, believing that certain happiness had to reside therein. Hurstwood visited her while Drouet was away, and she noted that he did not patronize her like Drouet. Hurstwood teld her that he knew she was not happy, and she asked him not to stare at her so intently. He touched her hand, startling her. After agreeing not to talk about their new intimacy, Hurstwood departed in high spirits. Carrie wondered if she had done something wrong.Hurstwood intended to make Carrie "confess an affection for him." His work schedule wss flexible, so he took an afternoon off to see her. They rode a horse-drawn carriage to the prairie outside of Chicago, where he declared that his times with her had been the happiest he had spent in years. He confessed that he loved her and asked that she declared her love for him. She replied with a kiss.