Великий Гэтсби

           Shewentwithaslightlyoldercrowd—whenshewentwithanyoneatall.Wildrumorswerecirculatingabouther—howhermotherhadfoundherpackingherbagonewinternighttogotoNewYorkandsaygood-bytoasoldierwhowasgoingoverseas.Shewaseffectuallyprevented,butshewasn’tonspeakingtermswithherfamilyforseveralweeks.Afterthatshedidn’tplayaroundwiththesoldiersanymore,butonlywithafewflat-footed,short-sightedyoungmenintown,whocouldn’tgetintothearmyatall.

           Bythenextautumnshewasgayagain,gayasever.ShehadadebutaftertheArmistice,andinFebruaryshewaspresumablyengagedtoamanfromNewOrleans.InJuneshemarriedTomBuchananofChicago,withmorepompandcircumstancethanLouisvilleeverknewbefore.Hecamedownwithahundredpeopleinfourprivatecars,andhiredawholeflooroftheMuhlbachHotel,andthedaybeforetheweddinghegaveherastringofpearlsvaluedatthreehundredandfiftythousanddollars.

           Iwasbridesmaid.Icameintoherroomhalfanhourbeforethebridaldinner,andfoundherlyingonherbedaslovelyastheJunenightinherflowereddress—andasdrunkasamonkey.ShehadabottleofSauterneinonehandandaletterintheother.

           "’Gratulateme,"shemuttered."Neverhadadrinkbefore,butohhowIdoenjoyit."

           "What’sthematter,Daisy?"

           Iwasscared,Icantellyou;I’dneverseenagirllikethatbefore.

           "Here,deares’."Shegropedaroundinawaste-basketshehadwithheronthebedandpulledoutthestringofpearls.