Великий Гэтсби

           Ilookedaround.Mostoftheremainingwomenwerenowhavingfightswithmensaidtobetheirhusbands.EvenJordan’sparty,thequartetfromEastEgg,wererentasunderbydissension.Oneofthemenwastalkingwithcuriousintensitytoayoungactress,andhiswife,afterattemptingtolaughatthesituationinadignifiedandindifferentway,brokedownentirelyandresortedtoflankattacks—atintervalssheappearedsuddenlyathissidelikeanangrydiamond,andhissed:"Youpromised!"intohisear.

           Thereluctancetogohomewasnotconfinedtowaywardmen.Thehallwasatpresentoccupiedbytwodeplorablysobermenandtheirhighlyindignantwives.Thewivesweresympathizingwitheachotherinslightlyraisedvoices.

           "WheneverheseesI’mhavingagoodtimehewantstogohome."

           "Neverheardanythingsoselfishinmylife."

           "We’realwaysthefirstonestoleave."

           "Soarewe."

           "Well,we’realmostthelastto-night,"saidoneofthemensheepishly."Theorchestralefthalfanhourago."

           Inspiteofthewives’agreementthatsuchmalevolencewasbeyondcredibility,thedisputeendedinashortstruggle,andbothwiveswerelifted,kicking,intothenight.

           AsIwaitedformyhatinthehallthedoorofthelibraryopenedandJordanBakerandGatsbycameouttogether.Hewassayingsomelastwordtoher,buttheeagernessinhismannertightenedabruptlyintoformalityasseveralpeopleapproachedhimtosaygood-bye.