Page 63 - The Great Gatsby

52 The Great Gatsby The truth about Gatsby 53

Later on, I sat on the front steps with Tom and Daisy, while 'She didn't like it,' he said immediately.
they waited for their driver ro bring che car to the door. 'Of course she <lid.'
'Who is this Gatsby, anyway?' demanded Tom suddenly. 'She didn't like it,' he insisted. 'She didn't have a good time.'
'Sorne big bootlegger?' He was silent, and l guessed at bis deep sadness.
'Where did you hear that?' I asked. 'I feel far away from her,' he said. 'It's hard to make her
'I didn't hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly rich understand.'
people are just big bootleggers, you know.' 'You mean about the dance?'
'Not Gatsby,' I said shortly. 'The dance?' He waved the idea away scornfully. 'Old sport,
He was silent for a moment. 'Well, he cercainly must have the dance is unimportant.'
worked hard to get this crowd of crazy people together.' He wanred nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to
'At least they're more interesting than the people we know,' Tom and say, 'I never loved you.' Then she and Gatsby could
Daisy said. decide what to do next. After she was free, he wanted them to
'You didn't look so intcrcsted.' rcturn to Louisville and be married from her house - j use as he
'Well, I was.' had intended five years ago.
'I'd ]ike to know what he is and what he does,' insisted Tom. 'And she doesn't undersrand,' he said. 'She used to be able
'And I think I'll make a point of finding out.' to understand. We'd sic for hours-'
'I can tell you right now,' she answered. 'He owned sorne 'I wouldn't ask too much of her,' I said daringl y. 'You can't
drug-stores, a lot of them. He built up the business himself.' repeat che pasr.'
Their car arrived and they got in. 'Can't repeat the pase!' he cried, shocked. 'Why, of course
'Good night, Nick,' said Daisy. you can!' He looked around him wildly. He seemed to think
She looked away from me and up to the top of the steps. We the past was hiding here in the shadow of his house, just out
eould hear Three o'clock in the Morning, a neat, sad little dance of reach of his hand.
song, coming from the open door. What was it in the song that 'I'm going to fix everything just the way it was befare,' he
seemed to be calling her back inside? What would happen now said determinedl y. 'She'll see.'
in the soft hours of darkness? Perhaps sorne unbelievable guest He talked a lot about the past, and I understood that he
would arrive, sorne lovely, bright-eyed young girl who with one wanted to rediscover something, sorne idea of himself perhaps,
look at Gatsby, in one magic, romantic moment, would undo t hat had gane into loving Daisy. His life had been con fu sed and
those five years of unchanging love. mcaningless since then, but if he could only return to a certain
I stayed late that night, because Gatsby asked me to wait �larting place and go over it ali slowly, he could find out what
until he was free. \Xlhen he carne clown the steps to the garden, t hat thing was . . •
where I was waiting, his eyes were tired. . .. One autumn night, five years before, they had been