.
he annoyed her frequently.
He was in his mid-thirties, older than any beau she had ever had, and she was as helpless as a child to control and handle him. He returned to Atlanta, and presented Scarlett, with overdone gallantry, a box of bonbons. Or claimed her at a dance, and she was usually amused.
Scarlett felt that he had no respect for any woman, unless perhaps for Melanie.
«I don’t see why you’re so much nicer to her than to me», said Scarlett petulantly. «I’m much prettier than she is».
«If I am ‘nicer’ to Mrs. Wilkes, it is because she deserves it. She is sincere unselfish».
One day Melanie said,
«Ashley writes me that we should not fight the Yankees. And that we are betrayed into it by statesmen and orators. He says nothing this war was just misery and dirt. He meant exactly what Captain Butler meant, only he didn’t say it in a rude way. And I don’t know what to think».
Scarlett knew that Rhett was not patriotic and she did not care. The little presents he brought her from Nassau were what mattered most to her.
One bright summer morning he appeared with a brightly trimmed hatbox in his hand and, when Scarlett was alone in the house, he opened it. There was a very nice bonnet in it!
«Put it on», said Rhett, smiling.
She flew across the room to the mirror and plopped it on her head.
«How do I look?» she cried.
«Oh, Rhett, whose bonnet is it? I’ll buy it».
«It’s your bonnet», he said.
«How much is it?» she asked suddenly.
«About two thousand dollars. It’s a gift».
She laughed.
«You are a clever, black-hearted wretch, Rhett Butler, and you know very well this bonnet’s too pretty to be refused. But Rhett, you mustn’t bring me anything else so expensive. It’s awfully kind of you, but I really can’t accept anything else».
«Indeed? Well, I shall bring you presents so long as it pleases me. And I warn you that I am not kind. I never do anything without reason».
«And what do you expect to get from me?»
«Guess».
«Well, if you think I’ll marry you to pay for the bonnet, I won’t», she said.
«Madam, you flatter yourself, I do not want to marry you or anyone else. I am not a marrying man».
«Indeed!» she cried. «I don’t even intend to kiss you, either».
«Oh, Scarlett, you are so young», he said. «And I shall kiss you, as you expect it», and leaning down carelessly, his mustache just grazed her cheek.
She burst into laughter.
The next day, Melanie ran in, her face was flushed and frightened. There were tears on her cheeks.
«Oh, Scarlett!» she cried. «I was talking to that that woman with red hair, named Belle Watling!»
Belle Watling was the most notorious woman in town. Many prostitutes had come into Atlanta, following the soldiers, but Belle stood out above the rest.
«What did she want?»
«I was walking home. And when I went by the Emersons’ yard, there she was, behind the hedge! She had some money and she wanted me to take it and use it for the hospital. I was so upset and anxious to get away, I just said: ‘Oh, yes, indeed, how sweet of you’ or something idiotic, and she smiled and said: ‘That’s right Christian of you’ and shoved this dirty handkerchief into my hand».
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 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
the first casualty lists – первые списки убитых