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.
Flushed with his impassioned gibberish, he saw himself standing alone on the last barrier of civilization.
Were all white here, murmured Jordan.
I know Im not very popular. I dont give big parties. I suppose youve got to make your house into a pigsty in order to have any friends in the modern world.
Angry as I was, as we all were, I was tempted to laugh whenever he opened his mouth. The transition from libertine to prig was so complete.
Ive got something to tell you, old sport began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention.
Please dont! she interrupted helplessly. Please lets all go home. Why dont we all go home?
Thats a good idea. I got up. Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink.
I want to know what Mr. Gatsby has to tell me.
Your wife doesnt love you, said Gatsby. Shes never loved you. She loves me.
You must be crazy! exclaimed Tom automatically.
Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with excitement.
She never loved you, do you hear? he cried. She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!
At this point Jordan and I tried to go, but Tom and Gatsby insisted with competitive firmness that we remain as though neither of them had anything to conceal and it would be a privilege to partake vicariously of their emotions.
Sit down, Daisy, Toms voice groped unsuccessfully for the paternal note. Whats been going on? I want to hear all about it.
I told you whats been going on, said Gatsby. Going on for five years and you didnt know.
Tom turned to Daisy sharply.
Youve been seeing this fellow for five years?
Not seeing, said Gatsby. No, we couldnt meet. But both of us loved each other all that time, old sport, and you didnt know. I used to laugh sometimes but there was no laughter in his eyes to think that you didnt know.
Oh thats all. Tom tapped his thick fingers together like a clergyman and leaned back in his chair.
Youre crazy! he exploded. I cant speak about what happened five years ago, because I didnt know Daisy then and Ill be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of thats a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.
No, said Gatsby, shaking his head.
She does, though. The trouble is that sometimes she gets foolish ideas in her head and doesnt know what shes doing. He nodded sagely. And whats more, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time.
Youre revolting, said Daisy. She turned to me, and her voice, dropping an octave lower, filled the room with thrilling scorn: Do you know why we left Chicago? Im surprised that they didnt treat you to the story of that little spree.
Gatsby walked over and stood beside her.
Daisy, thats all over now, he said earnestly. It doesnt matter anymore. Just tell him the truth that you never loved him and its all wiped out forever.
She looked at him blindly. Why how could I love him possibly?
You never loved him.
She hesitated. Her eyes fell on Jordan and me with a sort of appeal, as though she realized at last what she was doing and as though she had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. But it was done now. It was too late.
I never loved him, she said, with perceptible reluctance.
Not at Kapiolani[92]? demanded Tom suddenly.
No.
From the ballroom beneath, muffled and suffocating chords were drifting up on hot waves of air.
Not that day I carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry? There was a husky tenderness in his tone Daisy?
Please dont. Her voice was cold, but the rancour was gone from it. She looked at Gatsby. There, Jay, she said but her hand as she tried to light a cigarette was trembling. Suddenly she threw the cigarette and the burning match on the carpet.
Oh, you want too much! she cried to Gatsby. I love you now isnt that enough? I cant help whats past. She began to sob helplessly. I did love him once but I loved you too.
Gatsbys eyes opened and closed.
You loved me too? he repeated.
Even thats a lie, said Tom savagely. She didnt know you were alive. Why theres things between Daisy and me that youll never know, things that neither of us can ever forget.
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
I want to speak to Daisy alone, he insisted. Shes all excited now
Even alone I cant say I never loved Tom, she admitted in a pitiful voice. It wouldnt be true.
Of course it wouldnt, agreed Tom.
She turned to her husband.
As if it mattered to you, she said.
Of course it matters. Im going to take better care of you from now on.
You dont understand, said Gatsby, with a touch of panic. Youre not going to take care of her anymore.
Im not? Tom opened his eyes wide and laughed. He could afford to control himself now. Whys that?
Daisys leaving you.
Nonsense.
I am, though, she said with a visible effort.
Shes not leaving me! Toms words suddenly leaned down over Gatsby. Certainly not for a common swindler whod have to steal the ring he put on her finger.