The recent protestations of Hurstwood had given her courage to say this.
"Oh, yes I do--course I do--what put that into your head ?" He had stopped his trifling before the mirror now and crossed over to her.

For the first time Carrie felt as if she must move away from him.
"But you've been saying that so long," she said, looking with her pretty face upturned into his.
"Well, and I mean it too, but it takes money to live as I want to.
Now, when I get this increase, I can come pretty near fixing things all right, and I'll do it.

Now, don't you worry, girlie." He patted her reassuringly upon the shoulder, but Carrie felt how really futile had been her hopes.

She could clearly see that this easy-going soul intended no move in her behalf.

He was simply letting things drift because he preferred the free round of his present state to any legal trammellings.
In contrast, Hurstwood appeared strong and sincere.