Page 51 - The Great Gatsby

40 The Great Gatsby Gatsby and Daisy meet again 41

clock,' l told them stupidl y. I think we ali believed for a soundcd like rhe murmur of their voices, but in the new
moment that it had smashed in pieces on the floor. silence, l felt thar silence had fallen within the house too.
'We haven't met for many years,' said Daisy, almost calmly. I went in - after making every possiblc noise in the kitchen
'Five years next November.' but J don't believe they heard a sound. They werc sitting at
The automatic quality of Gatsby's answer made us ali feel either end of the sofa, and every sign of embarrassment was
even more embarrassed. I made the desperate suggestion that gane. Daisy had been cr.ying, and was drying her tears. But
they help me make tea in the kitchen, and they were borh on there was a surprising change in Gatsby. He simply shonc with
their feet when the Finnish woman brought the teapot in. delighc; his new-found happiness filled che little room.
In the welcomc confusion of cups and cakes, things were 'Oh, helio, ole! sport,' he said. I could have been a friend he
better. Gatsby sat down in the shadows, and watched Daisy hadn't seen for years. I chought for a moment he was going to
and me talking, with dark, unhappy eyes. Bur at the first shake hands.
possible momem I got up and said I had to !cave them. 'It's stopped raining.'
'Where are you going?' demanded Gatsby in immediate 'Has it?' When he realized what T was talking about, he
alarm. 'l've got to speak to you before you go.' He followed me smiled and repeated thc news to Daisy. 'What do you think of
wildly into the kitchen, closed the <loor, and whispered, 'Oh, thar? lt's stopped raining.'
God!' in a miserable way. 'l'm glad, Jay.' Her chroat, full of achingly sad beauty, told
'What's the matter?' only of her unexpected jo y.
'This is a terrible mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake.' 'I want you and Daisy to come over to my house,' he said.
'You're just embarrassed, that's ali,' and luckily I added, 'l'd like to show her around.'
'Daisy's embarrasscd too.' 'You're sure you want me to come?'
This carne as a great surprise to him. 'Absolutely, ole! sport.'
'You're behaving like a little boy,' I went on. 'Not only thar, Daisy went upstairs to wash her face, while Gatsby and I
'but you're being rude. Daisy's sitting in there ali alone.' waited on the lawn.
Frowning, he raised his hand to stop my words, and, 'My house looks well, doesn't it?' he demanded.
opening the door cautiously, went back into che living room. I agreed that it was very handsome.
I walked out the back way - just as Gatsby had done half an 'Yes.' His eyes wenc over every detail of ir. 'It took me just
hour earlier - and waited under a huge black cree in the middle three years to earn the money that bought it.'
of my lawn. Once more ir was pouring, and there was nothing 'I rhought you inherited your mone y. '
to look at from under che tree except Gatsby's enormous 'I did, old sport,' he said automarically, 'but I lost most of it
mansion. when the money markets crashcd afcer the war.'
After half an hour the sun shone again. The rain had Before I could answer, Daisy carne out of the house.