《了不起的盖茨比·Chapter VIII》第9节
“I’m going to drain the pool today, Mr. Gatsby. Leaves’ll start falling pretty soon, and then there’s always trouble with the pipes.” “Don’t do it today,” Gatsby answered. He turned to me apologetically. “You know, old sport, I’ve never used that pool all summer?” I looked at my watch and stood up. “Twelve minutes to my train.” I didn’t want to go to the city. I wasn’t worth a decent stroke of work, but it was more than that—I didn’t want to leave Gatsby. I missed that train, and then another, before I could get myself away. “I’ll call you up,” I said finally. “Do, old sport.” “I’ll call you about noon.” We walked slowly down the steps. “I suppose Daisy’ll call too.” He looked at me anxiously, as if he hoped I’d corroborate this. “I suppose so.” “Well, goodbye.” We shook hands and I started away. Just before I reached the hedge I remembered something and turned around. “They’re a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile, as if we’d been in ecstatic cahoots on that fact all the time. His gorgeous pink rag of a suit made a bright spot of colour against the white steps, and I thought of the night when I first came to his ancestral home, three months before. The lawn and drive had been crowded with the faces of those who guessed at his corruption—and he had stood on those steps, concealing his incorruptible dream, as he waved them goodbye.
注释摘要
这一节发生在一个决定性的早晨，尼克刚刚听盖茨比讲完了他与黛西的整个往事。园丁走过来，说的是一件再日常不过的事：他要给游泳池放水，因为树叶快落了，会堵住水管。可盖茨比的回答“今天别弄”立刻让这句话变成了别的东西——他几乎是歉意地对尼克补了一句：“老兄，你知道吗，整个夏天我都没用过那个游泳池。”这句话里有一种令人心酸的错过。那池子是他这栋豪宅的中心，见证了整整…