Великий Гэтсби

           Hewouldn’tconsiderit.Hecouldn’tpossiblyleaveDaisyuntilheknewwhatshewasgoingtodo.HewasclutchingatsomelasthopeandIcouldn’tbeartoshakehimfree.

           ItwasthisnightthathetoldmethestrangestoryofhisyouthwithDanCody—toldittomebecause"JayGatsby."hadbrokenuplikeglassagainstTom’shardmalice,andthelongsecretextravaganzawasplayedout.Ithinkthathewouldhaveacknowledgedanythingnow,withoutreserve,buthewantedtotalkaboutDaisy.

           Shewasthefirst"nice"girlhehadeverknown.Invariousunrevealedcapacitieshehadcomeincontactwithsuchpeople,butalwayswithindiscerniblebarbedwirebetween.Hefoundherexcitinglydesirable.Hewenttoherhouse,atfirstwithotherofficersfromCampTaylor,thenalone.Itamazedhim—hehadneverbeeninsuchabeautifulhousebefore,butwhatgaveitanairofbreathlessintensity,wasthatDaisylivedthere—itwasascasualathingtoherashistentoutatcampwastohim.Therewasaripemysteryaboutit,ahintofbedroomsup-stairsmorebeautifulandcoolthanotherbedrooms,ofgayandradiantactivitiestakingplacethroughitscorridors,andofromancesthatwerenotmustyandlaidawayalreadyinlavenderbutfreshandbreathingandredolentofthisyear’sshiningmotor-carsandofdanceswhoseflowerswerescarcelywithered.Itexcitedhim,too,thatmanymenhadalreadylovedDaisy—itincreasedhervalueinhiseyes.Hefelttheirpresenceallaboutthehouse,pervadingtheairwiththeshadesandechoesofstillvibrantemotions.

           ButheknewthathewasinDaisy’shousebyacolossalaccident.HowevergloriousmightbehisfutureasJayGatsby,hewasatpresentapennilessyoungmanwithoutapast,andatanymomenttheinvisiblecloakofhisuniformmightslipfromhisshoulders.