The room was large and stifling, and, though it was already four oclock, opening the windows admitted only a gust of hot shrubbery from the Park. Daisy went to the mirror and stood with her back to us, fixing her hair.
Its a swell suite, whispered Jordan respectfully, and everyone laughed.
Open another window, commanded Daisy, without turning around.
There arent any more.
Well, wed better telephone for an axe
The thing to do is to forget about the heat, said Tom impatiently. You make it ten times worse by crabbing about it.
He unrolled the bottle of whisky from the towel and put it on the table.
Why not let her alone, old sport? remarked Gatsby. Youre the one that wanted to come to town.
There was a moment of silence. The telephone book slipped from its nail and splashed to the floor, whereupon Jordan whispered, Excuse me but this time no one laughed.
Ill pick it up, I offered.
Ive got it. Gatsby examined the parted string, muttered Hum! in an interested way, and tossed the book on a chair.
Thats a great expression of yours, isnt it? said Tom sharply.
What is?
All this old sport business. Whered you pick that up?
Now see here, Tom, said Daisy, turning around from the mirror, if youre going to make personal remarks I wont stay here a minute. Call up and order some ice for the mint julep.
As Tom took up the receiver the compressed heat exploded into sound and we were listening to the portentous chords of Mendelssohn[90]s Wedding March from the ballroom below.
Imagine marrying anybody in this heat! cried Jordan dismally.
Still I was married in the middle of June, Daisy remembered, Louisville in June! Somebody fainted. Who was it fainted, Tom?
Biloxi, he answered shortly.
A man named Biloxi. Blocks Biloxi, and he made boxes thats a fact and he was from Biloxi, Tennessee.
They carried him into my house, appended Jordan, because we lived just two doors from the church. And he stayed three weeks, until Daddy told him he had to get out. The day after he left Daddy died. After a moment she added. There wasnt any connection.
I used to know a Bill Biloxi from Memphis[91], I remarked.
That was his cousin. I knew his whole family history before he left. He gave me an aluminium putter that I use today.
The music had died down as the ceremony began and now a long cheer floated in at the window, followed by intermittent cries of Yea ea ea! and finally by a burst of jazz as the dancing began.
Were getting old, said Daisy. If we were young wed rise and dance.
Remember Biloxi, Jordan warned her. Whered you know him, Tom?
Biloxi? He concentrated with an effort. I didnt know him. He was a friend of Daisys.
He was not, she denied. Id never seen him before. He came down in the private car.
Well, he said he knew you. He said he was raised in Louisville. Asa Bird brought him around at the last minute and asked if we had room for him.
Jordan smiled.
He was probably bumming his way home. He told me he was president of your class at Yale.
Tom and I looked at each other blankly.
Biloxi?
First place, we didnt have any president
Gatsbys foot beat a short, restless tattoo and Tom eyed him suddenly.
Gatsbys foot beat a short, restless tattoo and Tom eyed him suddenly.
By the way, Mr. Gatsby, I understand youre an Oxford man.
Not exactly.
Oh, yes, I understand you went to Oxford.
Yes I went there.
A pause. Then Toms voice, incredulous and insulting:
You must have gone there about the time Biloxi went to New Haven.
Another pause. A waiter knocked and came in with crushed mint and ice but the silence was unbroken by his thank you and the soft closing of the door. This tremendous detail was to be cleared up at last.
I told you I went there, said Gatsby.
I heard you, but Id like to know when.
It was in nineteen-nineteen, I only stayed five months. Thats why I cant really call myself an Oxford man.
Tom glanced around to see if we mirrored his unbelief. But we were all looking at Gatsby.
It was an opportunity they gave to some of the officers after the armistice, he continued. We could go to any of the universities in England or France.
I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith in him that Id experienced before.
Daisy rose, smiling faintly, and went to the table.
Open the whisky, Tom, she ordered, and Ill make you a mint julep. Then you wont seem so stupid to yourself Look at the mint!
Wait a minute, snapped Tom, I want to ask Mr. Gatsby one more question.
Go on, Gatsby said politely.
What kind of a row are you trying to cause in my house anyhow?
They were out in the open at last and Gatsby was content.
He isnt causing a row, Daisy looked desperately from one to the other. Youre causing a row. Please have a little self-control.
Self-control! repeated Tom incredulously. I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if thats the idea you can count me out Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next theyll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white.