Page 72 - The Great Gatsby

62 The Great Gatsby A hot day i11 tow11 63

prorecred, were slipping rapidly from his control. He drove listening to Mendclssohn's Wedding March from the wedding
faster and faster, with the doublc purpose of overtaking Daisy taking place in rhe hotel rooms below us.
and leaving Wilson behind. Soon we were in rhe city and in 'Imagine marrying anybody in chis hcat!' cried Jordan.
sight of the coupé. 'I was marricd in the middlc of Junc,' Daisy remembered. 'lt
'I love New York on summer afternoons when everyone's was so hot that somcbody fainted. Who was it, Tom ?'
away,' said Jordan. 'There's something very sensuous about ir.' 'A man called Biloxi,' he answercd shortl y. 'I didn't know
Thc word 'sensuous' obviously worried Tom cven more. him. He was a friend of Daisy's.'
The coupé came to a stop, and we drew up alongsidc. 'He was not,' she said. 'He told me he'd been ar collegc with
'Where are we going?' cried Daisy from thc window. you - he was president of your class ar Yale.'
'How abour rhe movies?' suggestcd Jordan. 'We didn't have any president ar Yale,' T said. 'l don't
'lt's so hot!' complaincd Daisy. 'You go. We'll drive around rcmember him - 1 don't supposc he evcr went there.'
and meet you afterwards.' Gatsby's foot beat resrlessly on rhe floor, and Tom cycd him
Thcre followed a long, noisy discussion about what to do unpleasantly. 'By che way, Mr Gatsby, 1 undcrstand you're an
next. In che end, though we ali said it was a crazy idea, wc Oxford man. You must have been rhere about rhe rime Biloxi
hircd a privare sitting room in che Plaza Hotel, and rhat's wenr ro Yale.'
where we found ourselves half an hour later. There was a long pause. This imporrant detail was ro be
The room was large and hot, and even opening thc windows cleared up ar last.
only let in warm air. 'I went there in 1919,' said Gatsby. 'l only stayed five months.
'Open another window,' commanded Daisy. That's why I can't really call myself an Oxford man. After the
war sorne of the officers were offered the chance to go to any
'The thing to do is to forget che heat,' said Tom impatientl y.
'You make it ten times worse by complaining about it.' of the universities in England or Francc.'
'Why not leave her alonc, old sport?' rcmarked Gatsby. 1 wanted ro get up and shake his hand - I suddenly believed
'You're the one who wanted to come to town.' in him ali over again. Daisy was smiling now.
There was a moment of silence. '\Vait a minute,' said T o m angrily, 'l want to ask Mr Gatsby
'That's a great expression of yours, isn't ir?' said Tom one more question.'
sharply. 'Go 011,' Gatsby said politcly.
'What is?' 'What kind of trouble are you trying to cause in my house?'
'Ali chis "old sport" business. Where did you pick that up?' They were out in the open at last, and Gatsby was happy.
'Now see here, Tom,' said Daisy, 'if you're going to make 'He isn't causing any troublc.' Daisy looked desperately
personal remarks, 1 won't stay here a minute.' from one to rhe other. 'You are. Pleasc have a little sclf-control.'
Suddenly the heat cxploded into sound, and we were 'Self-concrol!' repeated Tom. '1 suppose the latest ching is ro