The Sun Also Rises Read Online Free

sitting there. Frances was dancing. Mrs. Braddocks brought up somebody and introduced him as Robert Prentiss. He was from New York by way of Chicago, and was a rising new novelist. He had some sort of an English accent. I asked him to have a drink.

    â€œThanks so much,” he said, “I’ve just had one.”

    â€œHave another.”

    â€œThanks, I will then.”

    We got the daughter of the house over and each had a
fine à l’eau.

    â€œYou’re from Kansas City, they tell me,” he said.

    â€œYes.”

    â€œDo you find Paris amusing?”

    â€œYes.”

    â€œReally?”

    I was a little drunk. Not drunk in any positive sense but just enough to be careless.

    â€œFor God’s sake,” I said, “yes. Don’t you?”

    â€œOh, how charmingly you get angry,” he said. “I wish I had that faculty.”

    I got up and walked over toward the dancing floor. Mrs. Braddocks followed me. “Don’t be cross with Robert,” she said. “He’s still only a child, you know.”

    â€œI wasn’t cross,” I said. “I just thought perhaps I was going to throw up.”

    â€œYour fiancée is having a great success,” Mrs. Braddocks looked out on the floor where Georgette was dancing in the arms of the tall, dark one, called Lett.

    â€œIsn’t she?” I said.

    â€œRather,” said Mrs. Braddocks.

    Cohn came up. “Come on, Jake,” he said, “have a drink.” We walked over to the bar. “What’s the matter with you? You seem all worked up over something?”

    â€œNothing. This whole show makes me sick is all.”

    Brett came up to the bar.

    â€œHello, you chaps.”

    â€œHello, Brett,” I said. “Why aren’t you tight?”

    â€œNever going to get tight anymore. I say, give a chap a brandy and soda.”

    She stood holding the glass and I saw Robert Cohn looking at her. He looked a great deal as his compatriot must have looked when he saw the promised land. Cohn, of course, was much younger. But he had that look of eager, deserving expectation.

    Brett was damned good looking. She wore a slipover jersey sweater and a tweed skirt, and her hair was brushed back like a boy’s. She started all that. She was built with curves like the hull of a racing yacht, and you missed none of it with that wool jersey.

    â€œIt’s a fine crowd you’re with, Brett,” I said.

    â€œAren’t they lovely? And you, my dear. Where did you get it?”

    â€œAt the Napolitain.”

    â€œAnd have you had a lovely evening?”

    â€œOh, priceless,” I said.

    Brett laughed. “It’s wrong of you, Jake. It’s an insult to all of us. Look at Frances there, and Jo.”

    This for Cohn’s benefit.

    â€œIt’s in restraint of trade,” Brett said. She laughed again.

    â€œYou’re wonderfully sober,” I said.

    â€œYes. Aren’t I? And when one’s with the crowd I’m with, one can drink in such safety, too.”

    The music started and Robert Cohn said: “Will you dance this with me, Lady Brett?”

    Brett smiled at him. “I’ve promised to dance this with Jacob,” she laughed. “You’ve a hell of a biblical name, Jake.”

    â€œHow about the next?” asked Cohn.

    â€œWe’re going,” Brett said. “We’ve a date up at Montmartre.”

    Dancing, I looked over Brett’s shoulder and saw Cohn, standing at the bar, still watching her.

    â€œYou’ve made a new one there,” I said to her.

    â€œDon’t talk about it. Poor chap. I never knew it till just now.”

    â€œOh, well,” I said. “I suppose you like to add them up.”

    â€œDon’t talk like a fool.”

    â€œYou do.”

    â€œOh, well. What if I do?”

    â€œNothing,” I said. We were dancing to the accordion and someone was playing the