And Daisy ought to have something in her life, murmured Jordan to me.
Does she want to see Gatsby?
Shes not to know about it. Gatsby doesnt want her to know. Youre just supposed to invite her to tea.
We passed a barrier of dark trees, and then the facade of Fifty-ninth Street, a block of delicate pale light, beamed down into the park. Unlike Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, I had no girl whose disembodied face floated along the dark cornices and blinding signs, and so I drew up the girl beside me, tightening my arms. Her wan, scornful mouth smiled, and so I drew her up again closer, this time to my face.
Chapter V
At first I thought it was another party, a wild rout that had resolved itself into hide-and-go-seek or sardines-in-the-box with all the house thrown open to the game. But there wasnt a sound. Only wind in the trees, which blew the wires and made the lights go off and on again as if the house had winked into the darkness. As my taxi groaned, away I saw Gatsby walking toward me across his lawn.
Your place looks like the Worlds Fair, I said.
Does it? He turned his eyes toward it absently. I have been glancing into some of the rooms. Lets go to Coney Island , old sport. In my car.
Its too late.
Well, suppose we take a plunge in the swimming-pool? I havent made use of it all summer.
Ive got to go to bed.
All right.
He waited, looking at me with suppressed eagerness.
I talked with Miss Baker, I said after a moment. Im going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her over here to tea.
Oh, thats all right, he said carelessly. I dont want to put you to any trouble.
What day would suit you?
What day would suit you? he corrected me quickly. I dont want to put you to any trouble, you see.
How about the day after tomorrow?
He considered for a moment. Then, with reluctance:
I want to get the grass cut, he said.
We both looked down at the grass there was a sharp line where my ragged lawn ended and the darker, well-kept expanse of his began. I suspected that he meant my grass.
Theres another little thing, he said uncertainly, and hesitated.
Would you rather put it off for a few days? I asked.
Oh, it isnt about that. At least He fumbled with a series of beginnings. Why, I thought why, look here, old sport, you dont make much money, do you?
Not very much.
This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.
I thought you didnt, if youll pardon my you see, I carry on a little business on the side, a sort of side line, you understand. And I thought that if you dont make very much Youre selling bonds, arent you, old sport?
Trying to.
Well, this would interest you. It wouldnt take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money. It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing.
I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice except to cut him off there.
Ive got my hands full, I said. Im much obliged but I couldnt take on any more work.
You wouldnt have to do any business with Wolfshiem. Evidently he thought that I was shying away from the gonnegtion mentioned at lunch, but I assured him he was wrong. He waited a moment longer, hoping Id begin a conversation, but I was too absorbed to be responsive, so he went unwillingly home.
The evening had made me light-headed and happy; I think I walked into a deep sleep as I entered my front
door. So I dont know whether or not Gatsby went to Coney Island, or for how many hours he glanced into rooms while his house blazed gaudily on. I called up Daisy from the office next morning, and invited her to come to tea.
Dont bring Tom, I warned her.
What?
Dont bring Tom.
Who is Tom? she asked innocently.
The day agreed upon was pouring rain. At eleven oclock a man in a raincoat, dragging a lawn-mower, tapped at my front door and said that Mr. Gatsby had sent him over to cut my grass. This reminded me that I had forgotten to tell my Finn to come back, so I drove into West Egg Village to search for her among soggy whitewashed alleys and to buy some cups and lemons and flowers.
The flowers were unnecessary, for at two oclock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsbys, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-coloured tie, hurried in. He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes.
Is everything all right? he asked immediately.
The grass looks fine, if thats what you mean.
What grass? he inquired blankly. Oh, the grass in the yard. He looked out the window at it, but, judging from his expression, I dont believe he saw a thing.
Looks very good, he remarked vaguely. One of the papers said they thought the rain would stop about four. I think it was The Journal. Have you got everything you need in the shape of of tea?
I took him into the pantry, where he looked a little reproachfully at the Finn. Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop.