Великий Гэтсби

           Whentheyconvincedherofthis,sheimmediatelyfainted,asifthatwastheintolerablepartoftheaffair.Someone,kindorcurious,tookherinhiscaranddroveherinthewakeofhersister’sbody.

           Untillongaftermidnightachangingcrowdlappedupagainstthefrontofthegarage,whileGeorgeWilsonrockedhimselfbackandforthonthecouchinside.Forawhilethedooroftheofficewasopen,andeveryonewhocameintothegarageglancedirresistiblythroughit.Finallysomeonesaiditwasashame,andclosedthedoor.Michaelisandseveralothermenwerewithhim;first,fourorfivemen,latertwoorthreemen.StilllaterMichaelishadtoaskthelaststrangertowaittherefifteenminuteslonger,whilehewentbacktohisownplaceandmadeapotofcoffee.Afterthat,hestayedtherealonewithWilsonuntildawn.

           Aboutthreeo’clockthequalityofWilson’sincoherentmutteringchanged—hegrewquieterandbegantotalkabouttheyellowcar.Heannouncedthathehadawayoffindingoutwhomtheyellowcarbelongedto,andthenheblurtedoutthatacoupleofmonthsagohiswifehadcomefromthecitywithherfacebruisedandhernoseswollen.

           Butwhenheheardhimselfsaythis,heflinchedandbegantocry"Oh,myGod!"againinhisgroaningvoice.Michaelismadeaclumsyattempttodistracthim.

           "Howlonghaveyoubeenmarried,George?Comeonthere,tryandsitstillaminuteandanswermyquestion.Howlonghaveyoubeenmarried?"

           "Twelveyears."

           "Everhadanychildren?Comeon,George,sitstill—Iaskedyouaquestion.Didyoueverhaveanychildren?"