Великий Гэтсби

           Allmyauntsandunclestalkeditoverasiftheywerechoosingaprepschoolforme,andfinallysaid,"Why—ye—es,"withverygrave,hesitantfaces. Fatheragreedtofinancemeforayear, andaftervariousdelaysIcameEast,permanently,Ithought,inthespringoftwenty-two. 

           Thepracticalthingwastofindroomsinthecity, butitwasawarmseason,andIhadjustleftacountryofwidelawnsandfriendlytrees, sowhenayoungmanattheofficesuggestedthatwetakeahousetogetherinacommutingtown, itsoundedlikeagreatidea. Hefoundthehouse,aweather-beatencardboardbungalowateightyamonth, butatthelastminutethefirmorderedhimtoWashington, andIwentouttothecountryalone. Ihadadog—atleastIhadhimforafewdaysuntilheranaway —andanoldDodgeandaFinnishwoman, whomademybed andcookedbreakfastandmutteredFinnishwisdomtoherselfovertheelectricstove. 

           Itwaslonelyforadayorso untilonemorningsomeman,morerecentlyarrivedthanI,stoppedmeontheroad. 

           "HowdoyougettoWestEggvillage?"heaskedhelplessly. 

           Itoldhim. AndasIwalkedonIwaslonelynolonger. Iwasaguide,apathfinder,anoriginalsettler. Hehadcasuallyconferredonmethefreedomoftheneighborhood. 

           Andsowiththesunshineandthegreatburstsofleavesgrowingonthetrees, justasthingsgrowinfastmovies,Ihadthatfamiliarconviction thatlifewasbeginningoveragainwiththesummer. 

           Therewassomuchtoread, foronething,andsomuchfinehealthtobepulleddownoutoftheyoungbreath-givingair. Iboughtadozenvolumesonbankingandcreditandinvestmentsecurities, andtheystoodonmyshelfinredandgoldlikenewmoneyfromthemint, promisingtounfoldtheshiningsecretsthatonlyMidasandMorganandMaecenasknew.