Page 31 - The Great Gatsby

A party at Gatsby's 21
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CHA !'TER 3 and ended up at Gatsby's <loor. Sometimes they arrived and
departed without meeting rheir host ar ali.
A PARIJ AT GATSBY'S But I had been actually invitcd. Early that Saturday morning
Gatsby's driver, in a pale blue uniform, crosscd my lawn with a
hcre was music from my neighbor's house through the surprisingly formal note from his employer, inviting me to his
Tsummer nights. In his blue gardens, men and girls came party that evening.
and went like night-flying insects among the whispcrings and As soon as J arrived, I tried hard to find my host. But the two
the champagne and the stars. In the afternoons I watched his or three people I asked stared at me so strangely that I turned
guests swimming from his priva te beach, and on weekends his away from them and walked toward the safcty of the cocktail
Rolls-Royce became a bus, carrying people to and from the ciry table. lt was the only place in the crowded garden where a
between nine in the morning and long past midnight. And on single man could stand around wirhout looking purposeless
Mondays eight servants, incl uding an extra gardener, worked and alone.
ali day to make the house and garden perfect again after the Afrer a while I saw Jordan Baker come out of the house
weekend. and look clown, with scornful interest, into the garden. 1 was
By seven o'clock every Saturday night, the orchestra has delighted to sce someone I recognized, and grected her warmly.
arrivcd. The last swimmers have come in from the bcach and 'I thought you might be hcre,' she replied. 'I remembered
are dressing upstairs; there are at least five rows of cars from you lived next <loor to�'
New York parked in front of the house, and already the halls 'Helio, Jordan!' cricd two girls in yellow dresses, who were
and rooms are full of colorful dresses and the latest, strangest passing. 'Sorry you didn't win your match last week.'
haircuts. Cocktails are being served in thc garden, until the They moved on, and with Jordan's slender golden arm
air is alive with cheerful talk and laughter, and introductions resting in mine, we walkcd around the garden. Soon we sat
immediately forgotten, and enthusiastic meetings between clown at a table with the two girls in yellow, and three men
women who never knew each other's names. whose names I did nor catch.
The lights grow brighter as the earth moves away from the 'Do you come to these parties often?' Jordan asked the girl
sun, and now rhe orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music. beside her, whosc name was Lucille.
The voices are louder and higher, and laughter is easier minute 'Yes, I like to come,' Lucillc said. 'I never care what I do, so I
by minute. Suddenly a girl dances out alone on to the lawn, :1lways have a good time. When I was here last, I tore my dress
and the party has begun. on a chair, and he asked me my name and address. Well, in less
I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house, than a week I got a parce! with a new evening dress in it.'
I was one of the few guests who had acrnally been invited. 'Did you keep ir?' asked Jordan.
People were not invited - they went there. They got into cars 'Sure I did. lt cost two hundred and sixty-five dollars.'