into the house. Daisy put her elbows on the table and rested
her head in her hands.
‘We don’t know each other very well, Nick,’ she said softly.
‘You didn’t come to my wedding.’
‘I wasn’t back from the War.’
‘That’s true. Well, Nick, I’ve had a very bad time. I don’t
really care about anything any more. Shall I tell you what I said
when my daughter was born?’
‘Do.’
‘Well, when I knew I had a girl – I cried. Then I was glad.
I hope she’ll be a fool. That’s the best thing for a girl to be,
a beautiful little fool. I think life’s terrible, Nick. I’ve been
everywhere and done everything. And I hate it all!’
When Daisy was speaking, I believed her. I felt sorry for her,
too. Then I saw an unpleasant little smile on her lovely face and
I knew she had not been telling the truth.
Inside the house, Tom and Miss Baker were sitting on the
long couch. She was reading aloud from a magazine and the
light shone on her golden hair.
As Daisy and I came in, Miss Baker threw down the
magazine and stood up.
‘It’s ten o’clock,’ she said. ‘Time for me to be in bed.’
‘Jordan’s playing in the big golf match tomorrow,’ Daisy
explained.
‘Oh, you’re Jordan Baker,’ I said. I had seen her picture in
the newspapers. I had heard a story about her, too – how she
had behaved badly in a golf match.
‘Goodnight, Mr Carraway,’ Jordan said softly. ‘I’ll see you
again sometime.’
‘Of course you will,’ said Daisy. ‘I think I’ll arrange your
marriage. I’ll always invite you together and . . .’