Великий Гэтсби

           Ievenhopedforawhilethatshe’dthrowmeover,butshedidn’t,becauseshewasinlovewithmetoo.ShethoughtIknewalotbecauseIknewdifferentthingsfromher....Well,thereIwas,‘wayoffmyambitions,gettingdeeperinloveeveryminute,andallofasuddenIdidn’tcare.WhatwastheuseofdoinggreatthingsifIcouldhaveabettertimetellingherwhatIwasgoingtodo?"Onthelastafternoonbeforehewentabroad,hesatwithDaisyinhisarmsforalong,silenttime.Itwasacoldfallday,withfireintheroomandhercheeksflushed.Nowandthenshemovedandhechangedhisarmalittle,andoncehekissedherdarkshininghair.Theafternoonhadmadethemtranquilforawhile,asiftogivethemadeepmemoryforthelongpartingthenextdaypromised.Theyhadneverbeencloserintheirmonthoflove,norcommunicatedmoreprofoundlyonewithanother,thanwhenshebrushedsilentlipsagainsthiscoat’sshoulderorwhenhetouchedtheendofherfingers,gently,asthoughshewereasleep.

           Hedidextraordinarilywellinthewar.Hewasacaptainbeforehewenttothefront,andfollowingtheArgonnebattleshegothismajorityandthecommandofthedivisionalmachine-guns.AftertheArmisticehetriedfranticallytogethome,butsomecomplicationormisunderstandingsenthimtoOxfordinstead.Hewasworriednow—therewasaqualityofnervousdespairinDaisy’sletters.Shedidn’tseewhyhecouldn’tcome.Shewasfeelingthepressureoftheworldoutside,andshewantedtoseehimandfeelhispresencebesideherandbereassuredthatshewasdoingtherightthingafterall.

           ForDaisywasyoungandherartificialworldwasredolentoforchidsandpleasant,cheerfulsnobberyandorchestraswhichsettherhythmoftheyear,summingupthesadnessandsuggestivenessoflifeinnewtunes.