Nick returns to West Egg at night and, startled by the blaze of lights from Gatsby’s house, watches Gatsby stroll across his lawn. He tells Nick his house looks like a world’s fair, but Gatsby is preoccupied, suggesting a trip to Coney Island and a swim in the pool. Nick declines and mentions Jordan Baker, then says he will call Daisy the next day to invite her for tea, explicitly asking her not to bring Tom. The following morning, a rain‑soaked gardener arrives to cut Nick’s grass as a reminder of Gatsby’s earlier request. Nick purchases lemons, cups, and flowers and prepares for the tea. A greenhouse delivery brings many flower receptacles, and soon Gatsby enters in a white flannel suit, pale and sleepless. They set out the lemon cakes; the rain intensifies, and Gatsby, distracted, watches the garden before announcing he must leave, claiming no one is coming. As Gatsby exits, a car pulls up; Daisy steps out, drenched, smiling brightly, and greets Nick. She asks why she came alone, then follows Gatsby into the house. The interior is empty; a knock at the front door alerts Gatsby, who appears soaked, hands in his coat pockets, and enters the living‑room, where Daisy sits on a stiff chair. After a strained exchange about their past, Gatsby attempts a laugh, the mantel clock tilts, and he steadies it. Daisy remarks they haven’t seen each other for five years. Nick brings tea; the three sit awkwardly, and Gatsby whispers that the meeting was a terrible mistake, accusing both of embarrassment. Nick withdraws, and the rain drives him outside where he watches Gatsby’s mansion glow in the clearing sun. He reflects on a story of the house’s builder and the surrounding area. Inside, the guests move through lavish rooms—Marie‑Antoinette salons, a library, and a bedroom—where Gatsby shows off his extensive wardrobe. Dan Cody, a dead friend, is identified in a portrait. Klipspringer, the boarder, appears, later attempting unsuccessfully to play the piano. Gatsby proudly displays a series of fine shirts, causing Daisy to break down in tears over their beauty. The rain returns, and the group looks out at the Sound, noting the green light on Gatsby’s dock. Gatsby boasts that it took him three years to earn his fortune, correcting Nick’s belief that he inherited it, and confesses he lost most of it in the war panic and has been involved in drug and oil trades. He also mentions a confidential side business he had proposed to Nick, which Nick refused. Throughout, Gatsby’s behavior oscillates between euphoric confidence and bewildered doubt as he watches Daisy’s reactions. The chapter ends with Nick leaving the mansion, observing Gatsby and Daisy holding each other, their future uncertain.