Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

It was late, and Scarlett went to bed. She dropped her head upon her folded hands, and her thoughts went sadly back to Ashley. How can he plan to marry Melanie when he really loves her, Scarlett? And when he knows how much she loves him? Then, suddenly, an idea, shining and new, flashed like a comet through her brain.

«Why, Ashley hasn’t an idea that I’m in love with him!»

Her mind stood still as if paralyzed for a long, breathless instant.

«How could he know? I’ve always acted so prissy and ladylike around him he probably thinks I don’t care a thing about him. Yes, that’s why he’s never spoken! He thinks his love is hopeless. And that’s why he’s looked so…»

Her mind went swiftly back to those times when he was looking at her in that strange manner.

«He thinks I’m in love with Brent or Stuart or Cade. But if he knows I love him…»

This was the answer to Ashley’s reticence, to his strange conduct. He didn’t know! She had only to…

«Oh!» she thought rapturously. «What a fool I’ve been! I must think of some way to let him know. He won’t marry her if he knows I love him!»

Even now, it wasn’t too late! And Ashley’s engagement had not even been announced yet! Yes, there was plenty of time!

If no love lay between Ashley and Melanie but only a promise, then why wasn’t it possible for him to break that promise and marry her? Surely he will do it, if he knows that she, Scarlett, loves him. She must find some way to let him know. She will find some way! And then…

Lying in the bed, she pictured the whole scene in her mind. She saw the look of surprise and happiness that came over his face when he realized that she really loved him, and she heard the words he said asking her to be his wife.

By this time tomorrow night, she might be Mrs. Ashley Wilkes!

She sat up in bed, and for a long happy moment she was Mrs. Ashley Wilkes… Ashley’s bride!

Chapter IV

As the carriage bore Scarlett down the red road toward the Wilkes plantation, Scarlett had a feeling of pleasure.

«Perhaps it will be my wedding day!», thought Scarlett. «I’ll tell Ashley that I love him and he will marry me. Why not? I am sure he loves me, too»

The chimneys of Twelve Oaks began to show on the hill across the river.

«I’ll live there all my life and I’ll tell my children and my grandchildren how beautiful this spring was».

She was so happy at this thought that she began to sing.

«I don’t know why you’re so happy this morning», said Suellen crossly. «You know as well as I do that Ashley’s engagement is going to be announced tonight. And you cares about him».

«That’s all you know», said Scarlett.

«Susie, you know that’s not so», protested Carreen. «It’s Brent that Scarlett cares about».

Scarlett turned smiling green eyes upon her younger sister.

«Darling, I don’t care a thing about Brent», declared Scarlett. «And he doesn’t care a thing about me. He’s waiting for you!»

Carreen’s round little face became pink.

They crossed the river and the carriage mounted the hill. Scarlett loved Twelve Oaks even more than Tara.

The long picnic tables stood under the thickest shade. As the smell of fresh pork came to her, Scarlett wrinkled her nose appreciatively. She was full of food and tightly laced.

The whole County was here, thought Scarlett. The four Tarleton boys and their father leaned against the tall columns, the twins, Stuart and Brent, Boyd and Tom with their father, James Tarleton. Mr. Calvert was standing close by the side of his Yankee wife. On the porch steps stood John Wilkes. Beside him stood Honey Wilkes.

Frank Kennedy was hurrying to the carriage to assist Suellen. Frank Kennedy owned more land than anyone in the County, but he was forty, slight and nervous and had a thin beard. But where was Ashley? And Melanie and Charles?

Her eyes fell on a stranger. He was standing alone in the hall. He looked quite old, at least thirty-five. He was a tall man. Scarlett thought she had never seen a man with such wide shoulders, so heavy with muscles. He was dark of face, swarthy as a pirate, and his eyes were bold and black.

He turned as someone called:

«Rhett! Rhett Butler! Come here!»

«I must run upstairs and smooth my hair», she told Stuart and Brent. «You boys wait for me and don’t run off with any other girl or I’ll be furious».

Scarlett started up the wide stairs. As she did, a shy voice behind her called her name and she saw Charles Hamilton. He was a nice-looking boy with a riot of brown curls on his white forehead and brown eyes. But he was timid with girls. She had never paid him much attention, but the smile of pleasure with which she greeted him almost took his breath away.

«Charles Hamilton, you’re very handsome today! Have you come here from Atlanta just to break my poor heart?»

Charles almost stuttered with excitement. Charles was not excited over the prospect of marrying her. And here was Scarlett O’Hara teasing him about breaking her heart! It was too good to be true.

«Now, you wait right here till I come back, for I want to eat barbecue with you. And remember: I am jealous», came the incredible words from red lips.

«I will», he finally managed to whisper, he looked like a calf waiting for the butcher.

Rhett Butler who stood alone a few feet away from Charles. Evidently he had overheard the whole conversation.

In the bedroom, she found Cathleen Calvert.

«Cathleen», said Scarlett, trying to pull the corsage of her dress higher, «who is that nasty man downstairs named Butler?»

«My dear, don’t you know?» whispered Cathleen excitedly. «He isn’t received![6 - he isn’t received – его не принимают в обществе]»

«What did he do?»

«Oh, Scarlett, he’s from Charleston. Caro told me about him last summer. She knows all about him, everybody does. He was expelled from West Point. Imagine! And then there was that business about the girl he didn’t marry. This Mr. Butler took a Charleston girl out buggy riding. And, my dear, they stayed out nearly all night and walked home finally, saying the horse had run away and smashed the buggy and they had gotten lost in the woods. And guess what…»

«I can’t guess. Tell me», said Scarlett enthusiastically.

«He refused to marry her the next day!»

«Oh», said Scarlett.

«He said he hadn’t… er… done anything to her and he didn’t see why marry her. And, of course, her brother called him out[7 - called him out – вызвал его на дуэль], and Mr. Butler shot the girl’s brother and he died, and Mr. Butler had to leave Charleston and now nobody receives him», finished Cathleen triumphantly.

Scarlett attracted dozens beaux, but not Ashle. Ashley had made no attempt to join the circle about her. He just came forward to welcome her when she came into the back garden. And Melanie was always nearby.

She was a tiny girl. She looked and was as simple as earth. She smiled timidly. Ashley had sat on a stool at Melanie’s feet, apart from the other guests, and talked quietly with her. Ashley did not seem to notice her at all. He only looked up at Melanie and talked on. So, Scarlett was miserable.