Page 24 - The Great Gatsby

14 The Great Gatsby Meeting Tom's mistress 15

We arrived ar Tom's apartment on 158th Street, and 1 made Mrs Wilson looked scornful. 'This crazy old thing? I just slip
an attempt to say goodbye. But Tom wanted me to come up to it on sometimes when I don't care what I look likc.'
thc apartment, and Mrs Wilson said she would relephone her 'If Chester could only get you,_in that position,' continued
sister Carherine ro join us, so I wenr up wirh thcm. Mrs McKee, 'I think he could make something of it.'
The apartment was on che top floor - a small living room, We ali stared in silence at Mrs Wilson, who pushed back her
a small dining room, a small bcdroom, and a bath. lt was hair from her eyes and looked back at us with her brightest
crowded with furniture that was much too large for it. Tom smile. Mr McKee looked at her carefully, bis head 011 one side.
brought out a bottle of whisky from a locked cupboard. 'I'd change che light,' he said afrer a moment.
I havc been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time 'I wouldn't think of changing the light-' cried Mrs McKee.
was that afternoon, so everything rhat happened has a misty 'Shh!' said her husband, deep in artistic thought, and we ali
qualiry abour it. Sitting on Tom's knees Mrs Wilson called up looked at Myrtle again. Suddenly Tom yawned and srood up.
severa! people on the phone, then I wenr out to buy cigarettes. 'You McKees, have something to drink,' he said. 'Get some
When I carne back, they had both disappeared, so I politely sat more ice, Myrtle, befo re everybody goes to sleep.'
down and waited in the living room.Justas T o m and Myrtle 'I told that boy about the ice.' Myrtle rolled her eyes upwards.
reappeared (after che first drink Mrs Wilson and I called each 'These people! You have to keep an eye on them all the time.'
other by our first names), guests started arriving. She looked at me and laughed poimlessly. Then she marched
The sister, Catherinc, was a slcnder, worldly girl of abour purposefully into the kitchen, clearly wanting us to think she
thirty, with red hair. Therc was also a man callcd Chestcr had ten hircd cooks in rhere, waiting for her orders.
McKee, from che fiar bclow. He had just shavcd, and therc was Her sister, Catherine, sat down beside me on the sofa.
still a tiny bit of shaving soap on his face. I learnt that he 'Do you live down on Long Island, too?' she asked.
was a photographer. His wife was loud, slow, handsome, 'I live ar West Egg.'
and horrible. She told me proudly that her husband had 'Really? I was down there at a party about a 111011th ago. At
photographed her one hundred and twcnty-seven times since Gatsby's. Do you know him?'
they ha<l been married. ' 'I live next door to him.'
Mrs Wilson had changed her clothes and was wearing 'Well, thcy say he's a relation of Kaiser Wilhelm's. That's
an expensive afternoon dress. With the inBuence of the dress, her where ali his money comes from - the German royal family.'
character had also changed. The warm vitality that had been so 'Really ?' I was interested.
remarkable in the garage had become overpowering arrogance. 'I'm afraid of him. I'd hate him to know anything about me.'
'My dear,' she rold her sister loudly, 'most of these servants She looked over at Tom and Myrtle, then whispered,
will cheat you every time. Ali they think of is money.' 'Neither of them can stand the person they're married to.'
'I like your dress,' remarked Mrs McKee, 'it's wonderful.' 'Can't they?'