Kitabı oku: «Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3», sayfa 7
Melanie held out a handkerchief, in which some coins were knotted.
«Let’s see how much money is in here. It feels heavy», said Scarlett.
She untied the knot and a handful of gold coins rolled out on the bed.
«Scarlett, there’s fifty dollars here! And in gold!» cried Melanie.
But Scarlett was not listening. She was looking at the dirty handkerchief. There was a monogram in the corner in which were the initials «R. K. B». In her top drawer was a handkerchief just like this, one that Rhett Butler had given her only yesterday to wrap about the stems of wild flowers. She had planned to return it to him.
So Rhett came to that Watling and gave her money. Oh, men were so vile, and Rhett Butler was the worst of them all! She crumbled the handkerchief in her hand, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. As she passed the stove, she shoved the handkerchief into the flames.
Chapter X
Scarlett, Melanie and Miss Pittypat sat in front of the Daily Examiner office in the carriage. They wanted to learn the first news of Ashley. Somewhere Ashley was fighting, perhaps dying, and the newspaper office was the only place where she could learn the truth.
The first casualty lists15 were posted.
«Read it», whispered Melly. Scarlett read and her voice shook.
Oh, how long the list was! Three «Tarleton» names on that list. «Tarleton Brenton, Lieutenant; Tarleton Stuart, Corporal; Tarleton Thomas, private». And Boyd was buried somewhere in Virginia. All the Tarleton boys gone.
Sxarlett could not read any more. The boys with whom she had grown up, danced, flirted, kissed were on that list.
As the Christmas season approached, Ashley came home on furlough. Scarlett was frightened. Her emotions were sharpened by her long dreams of him. This Ashley Wilkes in his faded, patched uniform was a different man from that boy she had loved before the war. He stood in his old uniform, his pistol in its holster, Major Ashley Wilkes. Her same handsome Ashley, yet so very different.
He was home again. Melanie was too happy to be shy and reserved. And Scarlett was too glad to be jealous. Ashley was home at last!
Ashley had kissed his father, and then Aunt Pitty. Finally he turned to Scarlett and said: «Oh, Scarlett! You pretty, very pretty!» and kissed her on the cheek.
«Darling, you look like a ragamuffin», said Melanie. «Who did mend your uniform?»
«Really? My servant, Mose, mended it», said Ashley.
At supper they all asked him about the war. The war! Who cared about the war? Scarlett didn’t think Ashley cared very much for that subject either. She saw that Melanie’s cheeks were crimson and she was trembling. She seemed shyly happy. Melanie did not even look up when Ashley opened the bedroom door. Ashley said good night abruptly, and he did not meet Scarlett’s eyes either. The door closed behind them. Ashley was no longer hers. He was Melanie’s.
The week had passed swiftly, like a dream. Now Ashley was going away, back to Virginia, back to the long marches in the sleet, to pain and hardship.
Scarlett sat on the divan in the parlor. She knew that perhaps she had the chance to talk to him. Why hadn’t she made the opportunity during this last week? But always, Melanie was at his side, always friends and neighbors and relatives were in the house.
Finally he came down the steps. Alone! He came down the steps slowly. When he came into the parlor, his eyes were somber. He was trying to smile but his face was white. She rose as he entered.
«Ashley», she begged abruptly, «may I go to the train with you?»
«Please don’t. Father and the girls will be there».
«Then I won’t go», she said. «See, Ashley! I’ve a present for you».
It was a long yellow sash.
«Scarlett, it’s beautiful! Did you make it yourself? But I know you’ve cut up a dress or a shawl to make it».
«Oh, Ashley, I’ll do everything for you!»
«Will you?» he questioned. «Then, there’s something you can do for me, Scarlett».
«What is it?» she asked joyfully.
«Scarlett, will you look after Melanie for me? Take care of her. She’s so frail and she doesn’t realize it. And she’s so gentle and timid. Scarlett, will you promise?»
«Oh, yes!» she cried, for at that moment. «Ashley, Ashley! I can’t let you go away!»
«Scarlett! Scarlett! You are so fine and strong and good».
«Oh, Ashley», she whispered happily, thrilling at his words and his touch on her face. «Nobody else but you ever…»
«I think that perhaps I know you better than most people and that I can see beautiful things in you that others can’t notice».
Where were the magic three words? But they did not come.
She cried «Oh!» in a childish whisper and sat down with tears.
Ashley said «Good-bye», very softly, and walked into the dark front hall.
«Kiss me», she whispered. «Kiss me good-bye».
«No, Scarlett, no», he said in a low voice.
«I love you», she said.
«Good-bye», he said hoarsely.
Chapter XI
January and February of 1864 passed, full of cold rains and wild winds. After hard fighting, nearly all of Tennessee was now held by the Union troops.
Scarlett was happy those two months. Ashley loved her. She was sure of that now, and this conviction was very pleasant.
«When the war is over!» she thought. «When it’s over, then…»
When the war is over, everything will be settled, somehow. If Ashley loves her, he simply will not be able to live with Melanie.
But then, a divorce was impossible. And Ellen and Gerald, staunch Catholics, will never permit her to marry a divorced man. It will mean leaving the Church! In a choice between the Church and Ashley, Scarlett will choose Ashley.
Everything will be all right when the war is over. If Ashley loves her, he’ll find a way. In March the hideous blow fell. Melanie told her she was going to have a baby. She must go home to Tara, home, where she belonged. But, as they sat at the table in the morning, a telegram came.
It was to Melanie from Ashley’s servant, Mose.
«Regret to inform you Major Wilkes missing sincescouting expedition16 three days ago. Colonel Sloan».
Her door opened and Melanie entered.
«Scarlett», she said. «I know my darling is dead!»
They fell on the bed. Ashley is dead!
«At least», Melanie whispered, «I’ve got his baby».
«And I», thought Scarlett, «I’ve got nothing… except the look on his face when he told me good-bye».
One afternoon, Melanie came home from town and Rhett Butler. She had fainted at the telegraph office and Rhett had escorted her home. He carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.
«Mrs. Wilkes», he questioned abruptly, «you are going to have a baby, are you not?»
She nodded.
«Then you must take better care of yourself. If you permit me, Mrs. Wilkes, I will use my influence in Washington to learn about Mr. Wilkes’ fate. If he is a prisoner, he will be on the Federal lists».
«Oh, you are so kind», cried Melanie. «How can people say such dreadful things about you?»
It was a month before he had news. Ashley was not dead! He had been wounded and taken prisoner. He was at Rock Island, a prison camp in Illinois.
Oh, Ashley was in that horrible place! Ashley was alive but he was wounded and at Rock Island.
«Oh, Captain Butler, isn’t there some way… Can’t you use your influence…» cried Melanie.
«I hadn’t told you before, Mrs. Wilkes, but your husband had a chance to get out and refused it».
«Oh, no!» cried Melanie in disbelief.
«Yes, indeed. The Yankees are recruiting men for frontier service to fight the Indians, recruiting them from among Confederate prisoners. Any prisoner who will take the oath of allegiance and enlist for Indian service for two years will be released and sent West. Mr. Wilkes refused».
«Oh, how could he?» cried Scarlett. «Why didn’t he take the oath and then desert and come home?»
«How can you even suggest that?” said Melanie. “Betray his own Confederacy and then betray the Yankees! I’ll be proud of him if he dies in prison. Of course, he refused».
Later Scarlett asked Rhett:
«And you, for example, won’t you enlist with the Yankees and then desert?»
«Of course», said Rhett.
«Then why didn’t Ashley do it?»
«He’s a gentleman», said Rhett.
