Великий Гэтсби

           "It’sabitch,"saidTomdecisively."Here’syourmoney.Goandbuytenmoredogswithit."

           WedroveovertoFifthAvenue,sowarmandsoft,almostpastoral,onthesummerSundayafternoonthatIwouldn’thavebeensurprisedtoseeagreatflockofwhitesheepturnthecorner.

           "Holdon,"Isaid,"Ihavetoleaveyouhere."

           "No,youdon’t,"interposedTomquickly.

           "Myrtle’llbehurtifyoudon’tcomeuptotheapartment.Won’tyou,Myrtle?"

           "Comeon,"sheurged."I’lltelephonemysisterCatherine.She’ssaidtobeverybeautifulbypeoplewhooughttoknow."

           "Well,I’dliketo,but—"

           Wewenton,cuttingbackagainovertheParktowardtheWestHundreds.At158thStreetthecabstoppedatonesliceinalongwhitecakeofapartment-houses.Throwingaregalhomecomingglancearoundtheneighborhood,Mrs.Wilsongatheredupherdogandherotherpurchases,andwenthaughtilyin.

           "I’mgoingtohavetheMcKeescomeup,"sheannouncedasweroseintheelevator."And,ofcourse,Igottocallupmysister,too."

           Theapartmentwasonthetopfloor—asmallliving-room,asmalldining-room,asmallbedroom,andabath.Theliving-roomwascrowdedtothedoorswithasetoftapestriedfurnitureentirelytoolargeforit,sothattomoveaboutwastostumblecontinuallyoverscenesofladiesswinginginthegardensofVersailles.Theonlypicturewasanover-enlargedphotograph,apparentlyahensittingonablurredrock.