Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 9
OnenightIdidhearamaterialcarthere,andsawitslightsstopathisfrontsteps.ButIdidn’tinvestigate.Probablyitwassomefinalguestwhohadbeenawayattheendsoftheearthanddidn’tknowthatthepartywasover.
Onthelastnight,withmytrunkpackedandmycarsoldtothegrocer,Iwentoverandlookedatthathugeincoherentfailureofahouseoncemore.Onthewhitestepsanobsceneword,scrawledbysomeboywithapieceofbrick,stoodoutclearlyinthemoonlight,andIerasedit,drawingmyshoeraspinglyalongthestone.ThenIwandereddowntothebeachandsprawledoutonthesand.
Mostofthebigshoreplaceswereclosednowandtherewerehardlyanylightsexcepttheshadowy,movingglowofaferryboatacrosstheSound.AndasthemoonrosehighertheinessentialhousesbegantomeltawayuntilgraduallyIbecameawareoftheoldislandherethatfloweredonceforDutchsailors’eyes—afresh,greenbreastofthenewworld.Itsvanishedtrees,thetreesthathadmadewayforGatsby’shouse,hadoncepanderedinwhisperstothelastandgreatestofallhumandreams;foratransitoryenchantedmomentmanmusthaveheldhisbreathinthepresenceofthiscontinent,compelledintoanaestheticcontemplationheneitherunderstoodnordesired,facetofaceforthelasttimeinhistorywithsomethingcommensuratetohiscapacityforwonder.
AndasIsattherebroodingontheold,unknownworld,IthoughtofGatsby’swonderwhenhefirstpickedoutthegreenlightattheendofDaisy’sdock.Hehadcomealongwaytothisbluelawn,andhisdreammusthaveseemedsoclosethathecouldhardlyfailtograspit.
