Gatsby, his hands still in his pockets[DSB1] , was reclining[DSB2] against the mantelpiece in a strained counterfeit[DSB3] of perfect[DSB4] ease, even of boredom. His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct[DSB5] mantelpiece clock, and from this position his distraught eyes[DSB6] stared down at Daisy, who was sitting, frightened but graceful[DSB7] , on the edge[DSB8] of a stiff[DSB9] chair.

“We’ve met before,” muttered[DSB10] Gatsby. His eyes glanced momentarily at me, and his lips parted with an abortive[DSB11] attempt at a laugh. Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously[DSB12] at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling[DSB13] fingers, and set it back in place. Then he sat down, rigidly[DSB14] , his elbow on the arm of the sofa and his chin in his hand.

“I’m sorry about the clock,” he said.

My own face had now assumed a deep tropical burn. I couldn’t muster up a single commonplace out of the thousand in my head.

“It’s an old clock,” I told them idiotically.

I think we all believed for a moment that it had smashed in pieces[DSB15] on the floor.

“We haven’t met for many years,” said Daisy, her voice as matter-of-fact as it could ever be[DSB16] .

“Five years next November[DSB17] .”

---

[DSB1]Nervous, something to hide; money

[DSB2]Fake relaxation

[DSB3]Connotes money

[DSB4]G. won’t settle for anything less.

[DSB5]Relates to dream; G. won’t let time pass.

[DSB6]G. doesn’t like what he sees

[DSB7]D. falling short of dream

[DSB8]D. not comfortable, not planning to stay long

[DSB9]Conversation not spontaneous

[DSB10]G’s lack of confidence

[DSB11]Reality falls short of G’s imagination

[DSB12]G. doesn’t consider consequences

[DSB13]G. frightened too

[DSB14]Connects to “stiff” chair , Comment 9

[DSB15]Ominous for dream

[DSB16]Daisy not as focused as G.

[DSB17]G. obsessed