Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

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 lists^[15] 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 since scouting expedition^[16] 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.

Chapter XII

The Yankees under General Sherman were in Georgia again, above Dalton, one hundred miles northwest of Atlanta. An army of refugees fell back before them. Rich and poor, black and white, women and children, the old, the dying, the crippled, the wounded, the women in pregnancy, crowded the road to Atlanta on trains, afoot, on horseback, in carriages and wagons.

The wounded flooded Atlanta and the town was appalled. The hospitals overflowed and wounded lay on the floors of empty stores and in the warehouses. Every hotel, boarding house and private residence was crowded with sufferers. There was endless cooking and lifting and turning and fanning, endless hours of washing and rerolling bandages and picking lint.

On the day when the first wounded from Kennesaw Mountain were coming in, Scarlett silently cursed the wounded and the whole Southern Confederacy. She was sick of all this nursing. This very day she will tell Mrs. Merriwether that Ellen had written her to come home for a visit.

But that worthy matron said:

«Don’t let me hear any more such foolishness, Scarlett Hamilton. I’ll write your mother today and tell her how much we need you, and I’m sure she’ll understand and let you stay. Now, put on your apron and trot over to Dr. Meade. He needs someone to help with the dressings».

«Oh, God», thought Scarlett drearily, «that’s just the trouble. I shall die if I smell these stinks

She went hastily up the two short blocks to Peachtree Street. She was standing on the corner, ashamed to go home to Aunt Pitty’s but determined not to go back to the hospital, when Rhett Butler drove by.

«You look like the ragpicker’s child», he observed. Why was he so rude?

«Drive me somewhere where nobody will see me. I won’t go back to the hospital!»

«A traitor to Our Glorious Cause!»

He was well dressed. His coat and trousers were new, not ragged. His brown face was bland.

«You little fraud», he said. «You dance all night with the soldiers and give them roses and ribbons and tell them how you’d die for the Cause, and after that you decamp hastily».

«I’m just sick and tired of that old hospital», she said. «And every day more and more wounded come in. It’s all General Johnston’s fault».

«My dear, I wear no uniform and wave no sword and the fortunes of the Confederacy mean nothing at all to me».

«Rhett, look, down the street! That crowd of men! They aren’t soldiers. Why, they’re darkies!»

There was a great cloud of red dust coming up the street and from the cloud came the sound of a hundred or more negro voices. Scarlett looked curiously at the black men, picks and shovels over their shoulders. Then her eyes saw Big Sam, the foreman of Tara! But what was Big Sam doing here, so far away from home?

The giant caught sight of her and his black face split in a grin of delighted recognition. He halted, dropped his shovel and started toward her: «Oh God! It’s Miss Scarlett! Elijah, Apostle, Prophet, it’s Miss Scarlett!»

There was confusion in the ranks. The crowd halted, and Big Sam, followed by three other large negroes, ran across the road to the carriage. An officer shouted,

«Get back in line, you fellows! Get back, I tell you! Why it’s Mrs. Hamilton. Good morning, Ma’m, and you, too, sir».

«Oh, Captain Randall, don’t scold them! They are our people. This is Big Sam our foreman, and Elijah and Apostle and Prophet from Tara. How are you, boys? What are you boys doing so far from Tara?»

«They came and took us», answered Big Sam. «Because we are the biggest and the strongest men at Tara». His white teeth showed proudly.

«Oh, turn the horse around. I’m going home, back home to Tara, right away. You know the Yankees will never get to Atlanta».

«I’ll bet you they will be here within the month. I’ll bet you a box of bonbons against a kiss».

«I’d better kiss a pig», she said coolly. «Captain Butler, I wish to go back to the hospital».

«Do you indeed, my angel?»

He turned the horse’s head and they started back toward Five Points.

«I’m waiting», he said, «when you grow up a little more. I don’t like to kiss children. The memory of the estimable Ashley Wilkes is going to fade».

At the mention of Ashley’s name, sudden pain went through her, sudden hot tears stung her lids. Fade? The memory of Ashley will never fade. She was too angry to speak and they rode along in silence for some while.

«I understand practically everything about you and Ashley, now», Rhett resumed. «You still cherish a romantic schoolgirl passion for him. And Mrs. Wilkes knows nothing».

«Go to hell!» she said tensely. «And let me out of this carriage. I don’t want to speak to you».

He stopped the carriage. She sprang down.

Chapter XIII

The cannon at Kennesaw Mountain could be heard faintly, far away. Occasionally it was loud enough to be heard even above the rattle of traffic at noon. People tried not to listen to it, tried to talk, to laugh, to carry on their business, but always ears were strained for the sound. Will General Johnston hold the Yankees this time? Will he?

Panic lay just beneath the surface. Sherman was at the very doors of Atlanta. Another retreat will bring the Confederates into the town. Give us a general who won’t retreat! Give us a man who will stand and fight!

Scarlett and Maybelle Merriwether Picard were given permission to leave the hospital and watch the men go out. Scarlett felt cold as she watched the motley ranks. Desperate rabble of bombproofers, old men and little boys! There were some young men in the lines, but there were so many old men and young boys! The sight of them made her heart contract with pity and with fear. Many of the men were totally unarmed, for the Confederacy had neither rifles nor ammunition. Johnston had lost around ten thousand men in his retreat. He needed ten thousand more fresh troops.

As the artillery rumbled by, a negro on a mule caught her eye. Scarlett saw him she cried: «It’s Mose! Ashley’s Mose! What is he doing here? Mose! Stop!»

A sergeant, riding behind him, called: «Stay on that mule, boy, or I’ll light a fire under you!»

«Oh, just a minute, Sergeant!” Scarlett said. “Don’t get down, Mose. What are you doing here?»

«Off to the war, again, Miss Scarlett. This time with Mister John instead of Mister Ashley».

«Mr. Wilkes!» Scarlett was stunned. Mr. Wilkes was nearly seventy. «Where is he?»

«Back there, Miss Scarlett!»

«Sorry, lady. Move on, boy!» said the sergeant.

Scarlett stood for a moment. Oh, no! She thought. It can’t be. Mr. Wilkes is too old. And he doesn’t like war any more than Ashley did!

When he saw her standing in the mud, Mr. Wilkes drew rein with a smile of pleasure and came toward her.

«I hoped to see you, Scarlett. But there was no time».

«Oh, Mr. Wilkes», she cried desperately. «Don’t go! Why must you go?»

«Ah, so you think I’m too old!» he smiled, and it was Ashley’s smile in an older face. «Perhaps I am too old to march but not to ride and shoot. Your mother and father and the girls are well and they sent you their love. Your father wanted to join us».

«Oh, not Pa!» cried Scarlett in terror. «Not Pa! He isn’t going to the war, is he?»

«No, but he was. Of course, he can’t walk far with his stiff knee. You need have no shame about it. After all, someone must stay home and raise crops for the army. I’ve sent India and Honey to Macon to stay with the Burrs and Mr. O’Hara is looking after Twelve Oaks as well as Tara. I must go, my dear. Let me kiss your pretty face».

Scarlett was fond of Mr. Wilkes. Once, long ago, she had hoped to be his daughter-in-law.

«How is Melanie?»

«She is well».

«Ah!» His eyes looked at her but through her. «I want to see my first grandchild. Good-bye, my dear».

The retreat from Dalton to Kennesaw Mountain had taken from early May to mid-June. Atlanta was crowded with visitors, refugees, families of wounded men in the hospitals, wives and mothers of soldiers. In addition, bevies of belles from the country districts descended upon the town^[17]. Scarlett did not like these sixteen-year-olds. A widow with a child was at a disadvantage with these pretty minxes, she thought. But between hospital duties in the day time and parties at night, she hardly ever saw Wade. Sometimes she actually forgot that she had a child.

Fight and retreat! Fight and retreat! And every retreat was bringing the Yankees closer to the town. Peachtree Creek was only five miles away! What was the General thinking about?

But the Yankees were coming closer and closer.

Scarlett and many other ladies sat on the roofs of stores, and watched the fighting on the day of the battle of Atlanta. But soon they fled to the cellars, and that night the exodus of women, children and old people from the city began. Mrs. Merriwether and Mrs. Elsing refused to leave. They were needed at the hospital, they said proudly, they weren’t afraid of the Yankees. But Mrs. Whiting went and many other ladies of Scarlett’s circle. Aunt Pitty was among the first to pack her trunks. Her nerves, she said, were delicate and she could not endure noises. She will go to Macon and stay with her cousin, old Mrs. Burr, and the girls should come with her.

Scarlett did not want to go to Macon. No, she told Aunt Pitty, I’ll go home to Tara and Melly can go to Macon with you.

At this Melanie began to cry:

«Dear, don’t go to Tara and leave me! I’ll be so lonely without you. Oh, Scarlett, I’ll just die if you aren’t with me! Yes… Yes, I know Aunt Pitty is sweet. But after all, she’s never had a baby, and sometimes she makes me nervous. Don’t desert me, darling. You’ve been just like a sister to me, and besides», she smiled wanly, «you promised Ashley to take care of me. He told me he was going to ask you».

Scarlett looked at her in wonderment. How could Melly love her so? How could Melly be so stupid as not to guess the secret of her love of Ashley? Yes, she had promised Ashley to take care of Melanie. Oh, Ashley! Ashley! you must be dead, dead these many months!

«Well», she said shortly, «I did promise him that. But I won’t go to Macon and stay with that old cat… I’m going home to Tara and you can come with me».

«Oh, I’d like that! Your mother is so sweet!»

Dr. Meade arrived.

«It’s out of the question for you to go to Macon, Miss Melly. The trains are crowded. In your condition…»

«But I want to go to Tara with Scarlett».

«No. The train to Tara is the train to Macon and the same conditions prevail. Moreover, no one knows just where the Yankees are now, they are everywhere. It’s no trip for a woman in a delicate condition. Besides, there’s not a doctor in the County since old Dr. Fontaine joined the army».

«But there are midwives…»

«No», he answered brusquely. «It is dangerous. You don’t want to have the baby on the train or in a buggy, do you? Stay right here where I can watch you, and you must stay in bed. After all, there’s not so much danger here. Now, Miss Pitty, you go right on to Macon and leave the young ladies here».

«Alone?» she cried, aghast.

«They are matrons», said the doctor testily. «And Mrs. Meade is just two houses away. Good Heavens, Miss Pitty! This is war time. We can’t think of the proprieties now. We must think of Miss Melly».

He stamped out of the room. Scarlett joined him.

«I shall talk frankly to you, Miss Scarlett», he began. «You seem to be a young woman of common sense. I doubt if Miss Melly can stand the trip. She is going to have a difficult time, so I don’t want any ignorant darky midwife with her. And now, Miss, you stay with Miss Melly till the baby comes. Not afraid, are you?»

«Oh, no!» lied Scarlett, stoutly.

«That’s a brave girl. The baby will be here in another five weeks, but you never can tell. It may come any day».

So Aunt Pittypat went to Macon, she took Uncle Peter and Cookie with her. The carriage and horse she donated to the hospital in a burst of patriotism which she immediately regretted. And Scarlett and Melanie were left alone with Wade and Prissy in a house.

Chapter XIV

In those first days of the siege, when the Yankees crashed here and there against the defenses of the city, Scarlett was very frightened. She silently cursed Melanie. The doctor had forbidden Melanie to walk and Scarlett had to stay with her. What will she do if the baby comes?

These matters she discussed with Prissy in whispers one evening. Prissy calmed her fears,

«Miss Scarlett, I can manage. I know all about birthing. Just leave it to me».

As Scarlett lay on her pillow, there always rose the memory of Ashley’s face with a little smile on his lips: «You’ll take care of Melanie, won’t you? You’re so strong. Promise me». And she had promised. Somewhere, Ashley lay dead.

Wade irritated Scarlett. He was afraid to go to bed at night, afraid of the dark, afraid to sleep.

It was not often that Scarlett was alone those days and she did not like it. When she was alone she had to think and thoughts were not pleasant.

«Oh, Ashley!» she sobbed, dropping her head into her hands.

She heard the front gate click and she hastily raised her head. She saw Rhett Butler

«So you are here. Why did you stay?»

«To keep Melanie company».

«Damn it», he said, and in the lamplight she saw that he was frowning. «Is Mrs. Wilkes still here? It’s quite dangerous for her in her condition. So you stayed with Mrs. Wilkes! This is the strangest situation I ever encountered!»

«I see nothing strange about it», she answered uncomfortably.

«No? My impression is that you can hardly endure Mrs. Wilkes. You think her silly and stupid and her patriotic notions bore you».

«Because she’s Charlie’s sister… and like a sister to me», answered Scarlett with dignity.

«You mean because she’s Ashley’s Wilkes’ widow».

«I had a letter from Tara today. The Yankees are close to home and my little sister is ill with typhoid. I want to go home! But I can’t».

«Well, don’t cry about it», he said. «You are much safer here in Atlanta than at Tara. The Yankees won’t hurt you and typhoid will».

She laughed nervously.

«Don’t giggle», he said, and taking her hand, he turned it over and kissed her palm. Something vital, electric, leaped from him to her at the touch of his warm mouth, something that caressed her whole body thrillingly. His lips traveled to her wrist. She tried to draw back her hand.

She wasn’t in love with him, she told herself confusedly. She was in love with Ashley. But how to explain this feeling?

He laughed softly.

«Don’t pull away! I won’t hurt you!»

«Hurt me? I’m not afraid of you, Rhett Butler, or of any man!» she cried.

«An admirable sentiment, but please lower your voice. Mrs. Wilkes might hear you. And compose yourself. Scarlett, you do like me, don’t you?»

That was more like what she was expecting.

«Well, sometimes», she answered cautiously. «When you aren’t acting like a varmint».

«I think you like me because I am a varmint».

This was not the turn she had anticipated.

«That’s not true! I like nice men… gentlemen».

He kissed her palm again.

«But you like me. Could you ever love me, Scarlett? May I call you ‘dear,’ Mrs. Hamilton? I shall call you ‘dear’ whether you like it or not».

«You don’t love me?»

«No, indeed. Did you hope that I did?»

«Don’t be so presumptuous!»

«You hoped! You are charming and talented. No, I don’t love you. But I like you tremendously… for the elasticity of your conscience, for the selfishness which you don’t hide, and for the shrewd practicality. I like you because I have those same qualities in me. I realize you still cherish the memory of the godlike and woodenheaded Mr. Wilkes. But there must be room in your heart for me too. Scarlett, I am making you a declaration. I have wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you, in the hall of Twelve Oaks. I want you more than I have ever wanted any woman. And I’ve waited longer for you than I’ve ever waited for any woman».

She was breathless with surprise at his last words. In spite of all his insults, he did love her.

«Are you asking me to marry you?»

He dropped her hand and laughed loudly.

«Good Lord, no! Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t a marrying man?»

«But… but… what…»

He rose to his feet and made her a burlesque bow.

«Dear», he said quietly, «I am asking you to be my mistress».

Mistress!

She was vilely insulted. He thinks her such a fool! Rage, vanity and disappointment threw her mind into a turmoil. She blurted out the first words which came to her lips…

«Mistress! What will I get out of that except a passel of brats^[18]?»

Then she realized what she had said. She pressed her handkerchief to her mouth. He laughed.

«That’s why I like you! You are the only frank woman I know, the only woman who looks on the practical side of matters. You don’t think about sin and morality. Any other woman will swoon first and then show me the door».

Scarlett leaped to her feet, her face red with shame. How could she say such a thing! She must scream. She must faint. She must turn coldly away in silence. Too late now!

«I will show you the door», she shouted. «Get out! How dare you say such things to me! Get out and don’t ever come back here. I’ll… I’ll tell my father and he’ll kill you!»

He picked up his hat and bowed. His teeth were showing in a smile beneath his mustache. He was not ashamed, he was amused at what she had said, and he was watching her with alert interest.

Oh, he was detestable! She grabbed hold of the door to shut it with a bang, but the hook was too heavy for her.

«May I help you?» he asked.

She stormed up the stairs. And he slammed the door for her.