Великий Гэтсби
Chapter 3
"Withme?"sheexclaimedinsurprise.
"Yes,madame."
Shegotupslowly,raisinghereyebrowsatmeinastonishment,andfollowedthebutlertowardthehouse.Inoticedthatsheworeherevening-dress,allherdresses,likesportsclothes—therewasajauntinessabouthermovementsasifshehadfirstlearnedtowalkupongolfcoursesonclean,crispmornings.
Iwasaloneanditwasalmosttwo.Forsometimeconfusedandintriguingsoundshadissuedfromalong,many-windowedroomwhichoverhungtheterrace.EludingJordan’sundergraduate,whowasnowengagedinanobstetricalconversationwithtwochorusgirls,andwhoimploredmetojoinhim,Iwentinside.
Thelargeroomwasfullofpeople.Oneofthegirlsinyellowwasplayingthepiano,andbesideherstoodatall,red-hairedyoungladyfromafamouschorus,engagedinsong.Shehaddrunkaquantityofchampagne,andduringthecourseofhersongshehaddecided,ineptly,thateverythingwasvery,verysad—shewasnotonlysinging,shewasweepingtoo.Whenevertherewasapauseinthesongshefilleditwithgasping,brokensobs,andthentookupthelyricagaininaquaveringsoprano.Thetearscourseddownhercheeks—notfreely,however,forwhentheycameintocontactwithherheavilybeadedeyelashestheyassumedaninkycolor,andpursuedtherestoftheirwayinslowblackrivulets.Ahumoroussuggestionwasmadethatshesingthenotesonherface,whereuponshethrewupherhands,sankintoachair,andwentoffintoadeepvinoussleep.
"Shehadafightwithamanwhosayshe’sherhusband,"explainedagirlatmyelbow.
