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r,Myrtle,beforeeverybodygoestosleep.”
“Itoldthatboyabouttheice.”Myrtleraisedhereyebrowsindespairattheshiftlessnessofthelowerorders.“Thesepeople!Youhavetokeepafterthemallthetime.”
Shelookedatmeandlaughedpointlessly.Thensheflouncedovertothedog,kisseditwithecstasy,andsweptintothekitchen,implyingthatadozenchefsawaitedherordersthere.
“I’vedonesomenicethingsoutonLongIsland,”assertedMr.McKee.
Tomlookedathimblankly.
“Twoofthemwehaveframeddownstairs.”
“Twowhat?”demandedTom.
“Twostudies.OneofthemIcallMontaukPoint—TheGulls,andtheotherIcallMontaukPoint—TheSea.”
ThesisterCatherinesatdownbesidemeonthecouch.
“DoyoulivedownonLongIsland,too?”sheinquired.
“IliveatWestEgg.”
“Really?Iwasdownthereatapartyaboutamonthago.AtamannamedGatsby’s.Doyouknowhim?”
“Ilivenextdoortohim.”
“Well,theysayhe’sanepheworacousinofKaiserWilhelm’s.That’swhereallhismoneycomesfrom.”
“Really?”
Shenodded.
“I’mscaredofhim.I’dhatetohavehimgetanythingonme.”
ThisabsorbinginformationaboutmyneighbourwasinterruptedbyMrs.McKee’spointingsuddenlyatCatherine:
“Chester,Ithinkyoucoulddosomethingwithher,”shebrokeout,butMr.McKeeonlynoddedinaboredway,andturnedhisattentiontoTom.
“I’dliketodomoreworkonLongIsland,ifIcouldgettheentry.AllIaskisthattheyshouldgivemeastart.”
“AskMyrtle,”saidTom,breakingintoashortshoutoflaughterasMrs.Wilsonenteredwithatray.“She’llgiveyoualetterofintroduction,won’tyou,Myrtle?”
“Dowhat?”sheasked,startled.
“You’llgiveMcKeealetterofintroductiontoyourhusband,sohecandosomestudiesofhim.”Hislipsmovedsilentlyforamomentasheinvented,“?‘GeorgeB.WilsonattheGasolinePump,’orsomethinglikethat.”
Catherineleanedclosetomeandwhisperedinmyear:
“Neitherofthemcanstandthepersonthey’remarriedto.”
“Can’tthey?”
“Can’tstandthem.”ShelookedatMyrtleandthenatTom.“WhatIsayis,whygoonlivingwiththemiftheycan’tstandthem?IfIwasthemI’dgetadivorceandgetmarriedtoeachotherrightaway.”
“Doesn’tshelikeWilsoneither?”
Theanswertothiswasunexpected.ItcamefromMyrtle,whohadoverheardthequestion,anditwasviolentandobscene.
“Yousee,”criedCatherinetriumphantly.Sheloweredhervoiceagain.“It’sreallyhiswifethat’skeepingthemapart.She’saCatholic,andtheydon’tbelieveindivorce.”
DaisywasnotaCatholic,andIwasalittleshockedattheelaboratenessofthelie.
“Whentheydogetmarried,”continuedCatherine,“they’regoingWesttoliveforawhileuntilitblowsover.”
“It’dbemorediscreettogotoEurope.”
“Oh,doyoulikeEurope?”sheexclaimedsurprisingly.“IjustgotbackfromMonteCarlo.”
“Really.”
“Justlastyear.Iwentovertherewithanothergirl.”
“Staylong?”
“No,wejustwenttoMonteCarloandback.WewentbywayofMarseilles.Wehadovertwelvehundreddollarswhenwestarted,butwegotgypedoutofitallintwodaysintheprivaterooms.Wehadanawfultimegettingback,Icantellyou.God,howIhatedthattown!”
ThelateafternoonskybloomedinthewindowforamomentlikethebluehoneyoftheMediterranean—thentheshrillvoiceofMrs.McKeecalledmebackintotheroom.
“Ialmostmadeamistake,too,”shedeclaredvigorously.“Ialmostmarriedalittlekikewho’dbeenaftermeforyears.Iknewhewasbelowme.Everybodykeptsayingtome:‘Lucille,thatman’swaybelowyou!’ButifIhadn’tmetChester,he’dofgotmesure.”
“Yes,butlisten,”saidMyrtleWilson,noddingherheadupanddown,“atleastyoudidn’tmarryhim.”
“IknowIdidn’t.”
“Well,Imarriedhim,”saidMyrtle,ambiguously.“Andthat’sthedifferencebetweenyourcaseandmine.”
“Whydidyou,Myrtle?”demandedCatherine.“Nobodyforcedyouto.”
Myrtleconsidered.
“ImarriedhimbecauseIthoughthewasagentleman,”shesaidfinally.“Ithoughtheknewsomethingaboutbreeding,buthewasn’tfittolickmyshoe.”
“Youwerecrazyabouthimforawhile,”saidCatherine.
“Crazyabouthim!”criedMyrtleincredulously.“WhosaidIwascrazyabouthim?IneverwasanymorecrazyabouthimthanIwasaboutthatmanthere.”
Shepointedsuddenlyatme,andeveryonelookedatmeaccusingly.ItriedtoshowbymyexpressionthatIexpectednoaffection.
“TheonlycrazyIwaswaswhenImarriedhim.IknewrightawayImadeamistake.Heborrowedsomebody’sbestsuittogetmarri
