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walking clown the strcet. The ground was white with moonlight, CHAPTER 7
and they stopped and mrned toward each othcr. It was a cool
night, but with that mysterious excitement in it which comes A HOT Df\Y IN TOWN
as the seasons changc. Out of the comer of his eye, Gatsby
saw that thc houses on thc street made a kind of ladder, which ºne Samrday night thc lights in Gatsby's house failed to
_
reached up to a secret place above thc trees. He could climb to go on, and as confusmgly as 1t had begun, his life as a
it, if he climbed alone, and once he was there he could drink party-giver was over. Cars came eagerly up to his house, stayed
the milk of life. just for a minute, then drove crossly away.' Wondering if he
His heart bcac faster and faster as Daisy's white face carne were sick, I went over to find out, but I was turned away by a
up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, he would butler l did not recognize, who was rude and unhelpful. My
never dream his wild dreams again. So he waited, listening for Finnish woman informed me that Garsby had sent away ali his
a moment longer to the music of the stars. Then he kissed her. servants a week ago, replacing them with new ones, who never
went into West Egg village.
At the touch of his lips, love opened like a flower and his new
life was born. Next day Gatsby called me on the phone.
Through ali he said - and it was horribly over-romantic - I 'Going away?' I asked.
was reminded of something I had heard somewhere a long 'No, old sport.'
time ago. Words tried to take shape in my mouth, and my lips 'I hear you've gor new servanrs.'
parted like a dumb man's. But they madc no sound, and what 'I wanted people who wouldn't talk about me in the village.
I had almost rernembered was forgotten for ever. Daisy comes over quite often - in the afternoons.'
So rhe parties and the famous peoplc, thc music and the
dancing - he had thrown chis kind of life away because Daisy
didn't like it.
'Look, old sport, Daisy askcd me to ring you. Will you come
to lunch at her house tomorrow? Miss Baker will be there.'
I accepted, wondering what was going to happen. I couldn't
believe Daisy and Gatsby would choose this occasion to tell
Tom about their affair.
T h c ncxt day was almost the last, certainly che warmest, of
the summer. Ac che Buchanans' house we were shown inro the
sitting room, which was cool and shaded from the sun. Daisy
and Jordan lay on an enormous sofa in their white dresses.