Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 2
Lookedatfromadistance,however,thehenresolveditselfintoabonnet,andthecountenanceofastoutoldladybeameddownintotheroom.SeveraloldcopiesofTownTattlelayonthetabletogetherwithacopyofSimonCalledPeter,andsomeofthesmallscandalmagazinesofBroadway.Mrs.Wilsonwasfirstconcernedwiththedog.Areluctantelevator-boywentforaboxfullofstrawandsomemilk,towhichheaddedonhisowninitiativeatinoflarge,harddog-biscuits—oneofwhichdecomposedapatheticallyinthesaucerofmilkallafternoon.MeanwhileTombroughtoutabottleofwhiskeyfromalockedbureaudoor.
Ihavebeendrunkjusttwiceinmylife,andthesecondtimewasthatafternoon;soeverythingthathappenedhasadim,hazycastoverit,althoughuntilaftereighto’clocktheapartmentwasfullofcheerfulsun.SittingonTom’slapMrs.Wilsoncalledupseveralpeopleonthetelephone;thentherewerenocigarettes,andIwentouttobuysomeatthedrugstoreonthecorner.WhenIcamebacktheyhaddisappeared,soIsatdowndiscreetlyintheliving-roomandreadachapterofSimonCalledPeter—eitheritwasterriblestufforthewhiskeydistortedthings,becauseitdidn’tmakeanysensetome.
JustasTomandMyrtle(afterthefirstdrinkMrs.WilsonandIcalledeachotherbyourfirstnames)reappeared,companycommencedtoarriveattheapartment-door.
Thesister,Catherine,wasaslender,worldlygirlofaboutthirty,withasolid,stickybobofredhair,andacomplexionpowderedmilkywhite.Hereye-browshadbeenpluckedandthendrawnonagainatamorerakishangle,buttheeffortsofnaturetowardtherestorationoftheoldalignmentgaveablurredairtoherface.Whenshemovedabouttherewasanincessantclickingasinnumerablepotterybraceletsjingledupanddownuponherarms.
