Page 23 - The Great Gatsby

12 The Great Gatsby Meeting Tom's mistress 13

have thought I had nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon, past her ghost-like husband, shook hands with Tom, looking
which rather annoyed me. hím full in thc face. Then she ran her tongue around her lips,
We got off the train and walked back along the road under .1nd, without turning to look at Wj\�on, spoke to him in a soft,
Doctor Eckleburg's staring eyes. lt was like a desert around us. i.:oarse voice.
There was only one small building standing on its own on the 'Get sorne cbairs, why don't you, so somebody can sit
edge of the ash-heaps. It contained three shops. One was for down.'
rent, and another was an all-night restaurant; the third was a Wilson hurried back to the little office. A white ashen dust
garage, with a sign saying Repairs GEORG E B. WILSON Cars i.:overed his dark suit and everything around him - except his
bought and sold. I followed Tom inside. wife. She moved close to Tom.
The garage looked unused and almost empty. The only car 'I want to see you,' said Tom quietly. 'Get on the next train.'
visible was a dust-covered old Ford in a dark corner. I thought 'Ali right,' said Mrs Wilson. She moved away from Tom just
this shadow of a garage must be a pretence, and that luxurious, .1s George Wilson carne out of his office with two chairs.
romantic apartments must be hidden upstairs. Then the owner We waited for her clown the road, out of sight. A thin, gray­
himself appeared at che <loor of an office. He was a fair-haired, looking child was playing near the ash-heaps by the road.
dull-looking man, pale, and almost handsome. When he saw us, 'Terrible place, isn't it,' said Tom, frowning at Doctor
a hopeful look carne inro his light blue eyes. Eckleburg.
'Helio, Wilson,' said Tom cheerfully. 'How's business?' 'Awful.'
'I can't complain,' answered Wilson doubtfully. 'When are 'It <loes her good to get away.'
you going to sel! me that car?' 'Doesn't her husband ask questions?'
'Next week . l've got my man working on it now.' 'Wilson? He thinks she goes to see her sister in New York.
'Works pretty slow, don't he?' 1 le's so dumb he docsn't know he's alive.'
'No, he doesn't,' said Tom coldl y. 'And if you fcel that way So Tom Buchanan and his girl and I went up together to
about it, maybe I'd better sel! it to someonc else.' New York - or not quite together, because Mrs Wilson sat
'I don't mean that,' explained Wilso� quickly. ' I just-' separately from us, in case there were other East Eggers on the
His voice died away and Tom looked ímpatiently around the train.
garage. I heard footstcps on the stairs, and in a moment the When we got out of the train, Mrs Wilson bought two
thickish figure of a woman darkened the office doorway . She magazines and a bottle of perfume at the station shop. Then
was in her mid-thirties, and heavily-built, but carried herself she noticed an old man with a basket of little dogs for sale,
sensuousl y. T h ere was nothing of beauty in her face, but she and told Tom she wanted one. Tom was not enthusiastic, but
had an immediately noticeable vitality - her whole body seemed handed over sorne money and Mrs Wilson chose her dog. In the
to be giving off waves of heat. She smiled slowly and, walking Laxi she held it delightedly in her arms.