Великий Гэтсби

           IwasonmywaytogetroaringdrunkfromsheerembarrassmentwhenJordanBakercameoutofthehouseandstoodattheheadofthemarblesteps,leaningalittlebackwardandlookingwithcontemptuousinterestdownintothegarden.

           Welcomeornot,IfounditnecessarytoattachmyselftosomeonebeforeIshouldbegintoaddresscordialremarkstothepassers-by."Hello!"Iroared,advancingtowardher.Myvoiceseemedunnaturallyloudacrossthegarden.

           "Ithoughtyoumightbehere,"sherespondedabsentlyasIcameup."Irememberedyoulivednextdoorto——"Sheheldmyhandimpersonally,asapromisethatshe’dtakecareofmeinaminute,andgaveeartotwogirlsintwinyellowdresses,whostoppedatthefootofthesteps.

           "Hello!"theycriedtogether."Sorryyoudidn’twin."

           Thatwasforthegolftournament.Shehadlostinthefinalstheweekbefore.

           "Youdon’tknowwhoweare,"saidoneofthegirlsinyellow,"butwemetyouhereaboutamonthago."

           "You’vedyedyourhairsincethen,"remarkedJordan,andIstarted,butthegirlshadmovedcasuallyonandherremarkwasaddressedtotheprematuremoon,producedlikethesupper,nodoubt,outofacaterer’sbasket.WithJordan’sslendergoldenarmrestinginmine,wedescendedthestepsandsaunteredaboutthegarden.Atrayofcocktailsfloatedatusthroughthetwilight,andwesatdownatatablewiththetwogirlsinyellowandthreemen,eachoneintroducedtousasMr.Mumble.

           "Doyoucometothesepartiesoften?"inquiredJordanofthegirlbesideher.