Page 36 - The Great Gatsby

26 The Great Gatsby A party at Gatsby's 27

staying at my aunt's ... Mrs Sigourney Howard ... phone turned to the world was hiding soh1ething, and one day I found
book ... ' She was hurrying away as she spoke, to join her what ir was. When we were ac a house parcy cogecher, she !efe
friends who were waiting ro drive her home. a borrowed car out in the rain with thc top clown, and then
Feeling ashamed at staying so late, I went to say goodbye to lied about ic. And suddenly the story came back to me, the one
Garsby. T wanted to apologize for nor knowing who he was. that l hadn't been able to remember that night at Daisy's. At
'Don'r give ir another thought, old sport,' he said eagerly. her first big golf match someone had accused her of secretly
'And don't forget we're going out in the mororboat rogether moving her ball to a better position. In the end the story was
romorrow morning ar nine o'clock.' covered up, but it made me realize that Jordan Baker was
'Philadelphia wants you on the phone, sir,' said the butler hopelessly dishonest. Ir made no difference to me - dishonesry
behind his shoulder. in a woman is something you never blame deeply - and I soon
'Tell them T'II be right there,' he said. He smiled at me - and forgot about it.
suddenly I was glad I was among the last to leave, because it lt was during that same house parry that we had a strange
seemed important to him. 'Good night, old sport ... good conversation. lt started bccause she drovc so close to sorne
night. ' workmen that her car touched a button on one man's coat.
Once I had reached my front <loor, I looked back across ' 'You're a rotten driver,' I protested. 'Either you ought to be
the lawn. A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the more careful, or you oughtn't to drive at ali.'
windows and the great doors of Gatsby's mansion. Standing 'I am careful.'
on the porch was the lonely figure of che host, his hand raised 'No, you'rc not.'
in a formal goodbye. '\Xfell, other people are, and they'll keep out of my way. '
That was a busy summer for me. I worked hard, learning 'Supposc you mct someone just as careless as yourself?'
the bond business. I began to like New York, especially che 'I hope l never will,' she answered. 'l hate careless people.
adventurous feel of it at night. T liked to walk up Fifth Avenue That's why I like you.'
and choose romantic women from the crowd - 1 used to For a moment I thought I loved her. Bue T said nothing. T
imagine that in a few minutes I was going to enter their lives, knew that first I had to get myself out of that connection back
and no one would ever know. Sometimes I felt miserably lonely, home. For me, it had never been more than friendship, bue
and knew there were plenty of other young men who felt that there was a sort of understanding between us, and that had to
way roo. be gently broken off befare I was free.
For a while I lost sight of Jordan Baker, then in midsummer Everyone believes chey have at least one good poi ne, and chis
J found her again. At first I was delighted to go places with her, is mine: I am one of che few honest people I have ever known.
because everyone knew who she was. I wasn't actually in !ove,
but l felt a strong interest in her. The bored, arroganc face sbe
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