Page 74 - The Great Gatsby

64 The Creat Gatsby A hot day in town 65

sit back and let Mr Nobody from Nowhere make !ove to your Gatsby walked over and stood beside her. 'Daisy, just tell
wife. Well, if chat's the idea, you can count me out!' him the tn1th - that you never loved him. Then you can forgct
'I've goc sorncthing to tell you, old sport-' began Gatsby. your life with him for ever.'
Bue Daisy guessed at bis intention. She hesitated. Perhaps she realized at last what she was
'Please don't!' she cried helplessl y. 'Let's all go home!' doing, ancl perhaps she had never intencled to go chis far. But
'That's a good idea,' I said, getting up. 'Come on, Tom. it was clone now. It was too late.
Nobody wants a drink.' 'I never loved him,' shc said, with obvious unwillingness.
'I want to know what Mr Gatsby has to tell me.' 'Not at Kapiolani?' asked Torn suddenly. 'Not rhat day
'Your wifc doesn't !ove you ,' said Gatsby. 'She's never loved carried you clown from the mountain to keep your shoes dry?'
you. She !oves me.' There was a clumsy fondness in his voice. 'Daisy ?'
'You must be crazy!' cried Tom automatically. 'Please don't.' She looked ar Gatsby. 'There, Jay,' she saicl,
Gatsby jumped to his feet. 'She never loved you, do you bu t her ha nd was trern bling as she tried to light a cigarette.
hear? She only married you because I was poor ancl she was Sudclenly she threw the cigarette on the carpet.
tirecl of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her 'Oh, you want too much!' she cried to Gatsb y. 'l !ove you
heart she never loved anyone except me!' now - isn't that enough? I can't help what's pase.' She began
Tom turned co Daisy. '\'Vhat's been going on?' he askecl. to sob helplessl y. 'I did !ove him once - bue I lovecl you too.'
'I told you what's been going on,' saicl Gatsby. 'Going on for Gatsby's eyes opened and closecl.
five years - and you didn't know.' 'You loved me too?' he rcpcaced.
'You've been seeing this man for five years?' Tom askecl 'Evcn that's a lie,' saicl Tom fiercel y. 'She clidn't know you
Daisy sharply. were alive. Why - there're things between Daisy and me that
'Noc seeing,' said Gatsb y. 'We couldn't mect. But both of us you'll never know, things that neither of us can ever forget.'
lovecl each other ali that time, old sport, and you dicln't know.' The worcls seemecl to bite into Gatsby.
'I don't know what happened five years ago, before I mee 'I want to speak to Daisy alone,' he insisted. 'She's ali
Daisy. But che rest of that's a damned lie. Daisy loved me when cxcited now-'
she married me ancl she \oves me now.' 'Even alone l can't say I never loved T o m,' she said pitifull y.
'No,' Gatsby said, shaking his heacl. 'It wouldn't be true.' She turned to her husband. 'Not that it
'The trouble is, she sometimes gets foolish ideas in her head matters to you,' she addecl.
and doesn't know what she's doing. What's more, I !ove Daisy 'Of course it matters. I'm going to take better care of you
roo. Once in a while I go off and make a fool of myself, but from now on.'
I always come back, and in my heart I \ove her ali che time.' 'You clon't understand,' Gatsby said wildly. 'You're not
'You're horrible,' said Daisy. 'So many affairs .. . ' going to take care of her any more.'