Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 1
That’swhatIgetformarryingabruteofaman,agreat,big,hulkingphysicalspecimenofa——"
"Ihatethatwordhulking,"objectedTomcrossly,"eveninkidding."
"Hulking,"insistedDaisy.
SometimessheandMissBakertalkedatonce,unobtrusivelyandwithabanteringinconsequencethatwasneverquitechatter,thatwasascoolastheirwhitedressesandtheirimpersonaleyesintheabsenceofalldesire.Theywerehere,andtheyacceptedTomandme,makingonlyapolitepleasantefforttoentertainortobeentertained.Theyknewthatpresentlydinnerwouldbeoverandalittlelatertheeveningtoowouldbeoverandcasuallyputaway.ItwassharplydifferentfromtheWest,whereaneveningwashurriedfromphasetophasetowarditsclose,inacontinuallydisappointedanticipationorelseinsheernervousdreadofthemomentitself.
"Youmakemefeeluncivilized,Daisy,"Iconfessedonmysecondglassofcorkybutratherimpressiveclaret."Can’tyoutalkaboutcropsorsomething?"
Imeantnothinginparticularbythisremark,butitwastakenupinanunexpectedway.
"Civilization’sgoingtopieces,"brokeoutTomviolently."I’vegottentobeaterriblepessimistaboutthings.Haveyouread‘TheRiseoftheColoredEmpires’bythismanGoddard?"
"Why,no,"Ianswered,rathersurprisedbyhistone.
"Well,it’safinebook,andeverybodyoughttoreadit.Theideaisifwedon’tlookoutthewhiteracewillbe—willbeutterlysubmerged.It’sallscientificstuff;it’sbeenproved."
