Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 1
Thetelephoneranginside,startlingly,andasDaisyshookherheaddecisivelyatTomthesubjectofthestables,infactallsubjects,vanishedintoair.AmongthebrokenfragmentsofthelastfiveminutesattableIrememberthecandlesbeinglitagain,pointlessly,andIwasconsciousofwantingtolooksquarelyateveryone,andyettoavoidalleyes.Icouldn’tguesswhatDaisyandTomwerethinking,butIdoubtifevenMissBaker,whoseemedtohavemasteredacertainhardyscepticism,wasableutterlytoputthisfifthguest’sshrillmetallicurgencyoutofmind.Toacertaintemperamentthesituationmighthaveseemedintriguing—myowninstinctwastotelephoneimmediatelyforthepolice.
Thehorses,needlesstosay,werenotmentionedagain.TomandMissBaker,withseveralfeetoftwilightbetweenthem,strolledbackintothelibrary,asiftoavigilbesideaperfectlytangiblebody,while,tryingtolookpleasantlyinterestedandalittledeaf,IfollowedDaisyaroundachainofconnectingverandastotheporchinfront.Initsdeepgloomwesatdownsidebysideonawickersettee.
Daisytookherfaceinherhandsasiffeelingitslovelyshape,andhereyesmovedgraduallyoutintothevelvetdusk.Isawthatturbulentemotionspossessedher,soIaskedwhatIthoughtwouldbesomesedativequestionsaboutherlittlegirl.
"Wedon’tknoweachotherverywell,Nick,"shesaidsuddenly."Evenifwearecousins.Youdidn’tcometomywedding."
"Iwasn’tbackfromthewar."
"That’strue."Shehesitated."Well,I’vehadaverybadtime,Nick,andI’mprettycynicalabouteverything."
Evidentlyshehadreasontobe.Iwaitedbutshedidn’tsayanymore,and
