Page 27 - The Great Gatsby

16 The Great Gatsby Meeting Tom's mistress 17

'Can't stand them. What I say is, why go on living with them
if they can't stand them? If I was thcm, I'd get a divorce and get
married to each other as soon as JJ>OSsible.'
'Doesn't your sister like her husband, then?'
T h e answer to this was unexpected. It carne from Myrtle,
who had overheard the qucstion, and it was violent and rude.
'You see!' cried Catherine, pleased that she was right. Shc
went on in a lower voice, 'It's really Tom's wife that's keeping
them apare. She doesn't believe in divorce.'
I knew this wasn't true, and I was a little shocked at the lie.
Suddenly we heard the sharp, high voice of Mrs McKee
across the room. 'I almost married the wrong man,' she was
saying to Myrtle. 'I knew he was far below me socially. But if
1 hadn't met Chester, the nasty little man would have got me,
tha t's for sure.'
'But at least you didn't marry the wrong man,' said Myrtle.
'The difference between you and me is that I did.'
'Why did you marry George, Myrtle?' demanded Catherinc.
'I thought he knew how to behave to a lady, but he was no
good. l wouldn't let him lick my shoc.'
'You were crazy about him for a while,' said Catherine.
'Crazy about him!' cried Myrcle in horror. 'I never was any
more crazy about him than I was about that man there.'
She pointed suddenly at me, and everyone lookcd at me
nccusingl y. I tried to show by my exprcssion that I d idn't expcct
to be loved.
'She really ought to get away from him,' Catherine whispered
to me. 'They've been living over chac garage for eleven years.
/\nd Tom's the first boyfriend she ever had.'
A second bottle of whisky was now constantly in demand by
'Get some more ice, Myrtle, befare everybody goes to sleep.' .ti I present, except Catherine, who 'felt justas good on nothing