飘-第141章

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　“I　haven’t　thanked　you　for　what　you　and　Frank　did　for　Tony；”　he　said。　“It　was　you　who　helped　him　get　away；　wasn’t　it？　It　was　fine　of　you。　I　heard　in　a　roundabout　way　that　he　was　safe　in　Texas。　I　was　afraid　to　write　and　ask　you—but　did　you　or　Frank　lend　him　any　money？　I　want　to　repay—”
　“Oh；　Alex；　please　hush！　Not　now！”　cried　Scarlett　For　once；　money　meant　nothing　to　her。
　Alex　was　silent　for　a　moment。
　“I’ll　get　Will　for　you；”　he　said；　“and　we’ll　all　be　over　tomorrow　for　the　funeral。”
　As　he　picked　up　the　sack　of　oats　and　turned　away；　a　wobbly…wheeled　wagon　swayed　out　of　a　side　street　and　creaked　up　to　them。　Will　called　from　the　seat：　“I’m　sorry　I’m　late；　Scarlett。”
　Climbing　awkwardly　down　from　the　wagon；　he　stumped　toward　her　and；　bending；　kissed　her　cheek。　Will　had　never　kissed　her　before；　had　never　failed　to　precede　her　name　with　“Miss”　and；　while　it　surprised　her；　it　warmed　her　heart　and　pleased　her　very　much。　He　lifted　her　carefully　over　the　wheel　and　into　the　wagon　and；　looking　down；　she　saw　that　it　was　the　same　old　rickety　wagon　in　which　she　had　fled　from　Atlanta。　How　had　it　ever　held　together　so　long？　Will　must　have　kept　it　patched　up　very　well。　It　made　her　slightly　sick　to　look　at　it　and　to　remember　that　night。　If　it　took　the　shoes　off　her　feet　or　food　from　Aunt　Pitty’s　table；　she’d　see　that　there　was　a　new　wagon　at　Tara　and　this　one　burned。
　Will　did　not　speak　at　first　and　Scarlett　was　grateful。　He　threw　his　battered　straw　hat　into　the　back　of　the　wagon；　clucked　to　the　horse　and　they　moved　off。　Will　was　just　the　same；　lank　and　gangling；　pink　of　hair；　mild　of　eye；　patient　as　a　draft　animal。
　They　left　the　village　behind　and　turned　into　the　red　road　to　Tara。　A　faint　pink　still　lingered　about　the　edges　of　the　sky　and　fat　feathery　clouds　were　tinged　with　gold　and　palest　green。　The　stillness　of　the　country　twilight　came　down　about　them　as　calming　as　a　prayer。　How　had　she　ever　borne　it；　she　thought；　away　for　all　these　months；　away　from　the　fresh　smell　of　country　air；　the　plowed　earth　and　the　sweetness　of　summer　nights？　The　moist　red　earth　smelled　so　good；　so　familiar；　so　friendly；　she　wanted　to　get　out　and　scoop　up　a　handful。　The　honeysuckle　which　draped　the　gullied　red　sides　of　the　road　in　tangled　greenery　was　piercingly　fragrant　as　always　after　rain；　the　sweetest　perfume　in　the　world。　Above　their　heads　a　flock　of　chimney　swallows　whirled　suddenly　on　swift　wings　and　now　and　then　a　rabbit　scurried　startled　across　the　road；　his　white　tail　bobbing　like　an　eiderdown　powder　puff。　She　saw　with　pleasure　that　the　cotton　stood　well；　as　they　passed　between　plowed　fields　where　the　green　bushes　reared　themselves　sturdily　out　of　the　red　earth。　How　beautiful　all　this　was！　The　soft　gray　mist　in　the　swampy　bottoms；　the　red　earth　and　growing　cotton；　the　sloping　fields　with　curving　green　rows　and　the　black　pines　rising　behind　everything　like　sable　walls。　How　had　she　ever　stayed　in　Atlanta　so　long？
　“Scarlett；　before　I　tell　you　about　Mr。　O’Hara—and　I　want　to　tell　you　everything　before　you　get　home—I　want　to　ask　your　opinion　on　a　matter。　I　figger　you’re　the　head　of　the　house　now。”
　“What　is　it；　Will？”
　He　turned　his　mild　sober　gaze　on　her　for　a　moment。
　“I　just　wanted　your　approval　to　my　marryin’　Suellen。”
　Scarlett　clutched　the　seat；　so　surprised　that　she　almost　fell　backwards。　Marry　Suellen！　She’d　never　thought　of　anybody　marrying　Suellen　since　she　had　taken　Frank　Kennedy　from　her。　Who　would　have　Suellen？
　“Goodness；　Will！”
　“Then　I　take　it　you　don’t　mind？”
　“Mind？　No；　but—　Why；　Will；　you’ve　taken　my　breath　away！　You　marry　Suellen？　Will；　I　always　thought　you　were　sweet　on　Carreen。”
　Will　kept　his　eyes　on　the　horse　and　flapped　the　reins。　His　profile　did　not　change　but　she　thought　he　sighed　slightly。
　“Maybe　I　was；”　he　said。
　“Well；　won’t　she　have　you？”
　“I　never　asked　her。”
　“Oh；　Will；　you’re　a　fool。　Ask　her。　She’s　worth　two　of　Suellen！”
　“Scarlett；　you　don’t　know　a　lot　of　things　that’s　been　going　on　at　Tara。　You　ain’t　favored　us　with　much　of　your　attention　these　last　months。”
　“I　haven’t；　haven’t　I？”　she　flared。　“What　do　you　suppose　I’ve　been　doing　in　Atlanta？　Riding　around　in　a　coach　and　four　and　going　to　balls？　Haven’t　I　sent　you　money　every　month？　Haven’t　I　paid　the　taxes　and　fixed　the　roof　and　bought　the　new　plow　and　the　mules？　Haven’t—”
　“Now；　don’t　fly　off　the　handle　and　get　your　Irish　up；”　he　interrupted　imperturbably。　“If　anybody　knows　what　you’ve　done；　I　do；　and　it’s　been　two　men’s　work。”
　Slightly　mollified；　she　questioned；　“Well　then；　what　do　you　mean？”
　“Well；　you’ve　kept　the　roof　over　us　and　food　in　the　pantry　and　I　ain’t　denyin’　that；　but　you　ain’t　given　much　thought　to　what’s　been　goin’　on　in　anybody’s　head　here　at　Tara。　I　ain’t　blamin’　you；　Scarlett。　That’s　just　your　way。　You　warn’t　never　very　much　interested　in　what　was　in　folks’　heads。　But　what　I’m　tryin’　to　tell　you　is　that　I　didn’t　never　ask　Miss　Carreen　because　I　knew　it　wouldn’t　be　no　use。　She’s　been　like　a　little　sister　to　me　and　I　guess　she　talks　to　me　plainer　than　to　anybody　in　the　world。　But　she　never　got　over　that　dead　boy　and　she　never　will。　And　I　might　as　well　tell　you　now　she’s　aimin’　to　go　in　a　convent　over　to　Charleston。”
　“Are　you　joking？”
　“Well；　I　knew　it　would　take　you　back　and　I　just　want　to　ask　you；　Scarlett；　don’t　you　argue　with　her　about　it　or　scold　her　or　laugh　at　her。　Let　her　go。　It’s　all　she　wants　now。　Her　heart’s　broken。”
　“But　God’s　nightgown！　Lots　of　people’s　hearts　have　been　broken　and　they　didn’t　run　off　to　convents。　Look　at　me。　I　lost　a　husband。”
　“But　your　heart　warn’t　broken；”　Will　said　calmly　and；　picking　up　a　straw　from　the　bottom　of　the　wagon；　he　put　it　in　his　mouth　and　chewed　slowly。　That　remark　took　the　wind　out　of　her。　As　always　when　she　heard　the　truth　spoken；　no　matter　how　unpalatable　it　was；　basic　honesty　forced　her　to　acknowledge　it　as　truth。　She　was　silent　a　moment；　trying　to　accustom　herself　to　the　idea　of　Carreen　as　a　nun。
　“Promise　you　won’t　fuss　at　her。”
　“Oh；　well；　I　promise；”　and　then　she　looked　at　him　with　a　new　understanding　and　some　amazement。　Will　had　loved　Carreen；　loved　her　now　enough　to　take　her　part　and　make　her　retreat　easy。　And　yet　he　wanted　to　marry　Suellen。
　“Well；　what’s　all　this　about　Suellen？　You　don’t　care　for　her；　do　you？”
　“Oh；　yes；　I　do　in　a　way；”　he　said　removing　the　straw　and　surveying　it　as　if　it　were　highly　interesting。　“Suellen　ain’t　as　bad　as　you　think；　Scarlett。　I　think　we’ll　get　along　right　well。　The　only　trouble　with　Suellen　is　that　she　needs　a　husband　and　some　children　and　that’s　just　what　every　woman　needs。”
　The　wagon　jolted　over　the　rutty　road　and　for　a　few　minutes　while　the　two　sat　silent　Scarlett’s　mind　was　busy。　There　must　be　something　more　to　it　than　appeared　on　the　surface；　something　deeper；　more　important；　to　make　the　mild　and　soft…spoken　Will　want　to　marry　a　complaining　nagger　like　Suellen。
　“You　haven’t　told　me　the　real　reason；　Will。　If　I’m　head　of　the　family；　I’ve　got　a　right　to　know。”
　“That’s　right；”　said　Will；　“and　I　guess　you’ll　understand。　I　can’t　leave　Tara。　It’s　home　to　me；　Scarlett；　the　only　real　home　I　ever　knew　and　I　love　every　stone　of　it。　I’ve　worked　on　it　like　it　was　mine。　And　when　you　put　out　work　on　somethin’；　you　come　to　love　it。　You　know　what　I　mean？”
　She　knew　what　he　meant　and　her　heart　went　out　in　a　surge　of　warm　affection　for　him；　hearing　him　say　he；　too；　loved　the　thing　she　loved　best。
　“And　I　figger　it　this　way。　With　your　pa　gone　and　Carreen　a　nun；　there’ll　be　just　me　and　Suellen　left　here　and；　of　course；　I　couldn’t　live　on　at　Tara　without　marryin’　Suellen。　You　know　how　folks　talk。”
　“But—but　Will；　there’s　Melanie　and　Ashley—”
　At　Ashley’s　name　he　turned　and　looked　at　her；　his　pale　eyes　unfathomable。　She　had　the　old　feeling　that　Will　knew　all　about　her　and　Ashley；　understood　all　and　did　not　either　censure　or　approve。
　“They’ll　be　goin’　soon。”
　“Going？　Where？　Tara　is　their　home　as　well　as　yours。”
　“No；　it　ain’t　their　home。　That’s　just　what’s　eatin’　on　Ashley。　It　ain’t　his　home　and　he　don’t　feel　like　he’s　earnin’　his　keep。　He’s　a　mighty　pore　farmer　and　he　knows　it。　God　knows　he　tries　his　best　but　he　warn’t　cut　out　for　farmin’　and　you　know　it　as　well　as　I　do。　If　he　splits　kindlin’；　like　as　not　he’ll　slice　off　his　foot。　He　can’t　no　more　keep　a　plow　straight　in　a　furrow　than　little　Beau　can；　and　what　he　don’t　know　about　makin’　things　grow　would　fill　a　book。　It　ain’t　his　fault。　He　just　warn’t　bred　for　it。　And　it　worries　him　that　he’s　a　man　livin’　at　Tara　on　a　woman’s　charity　and　not　givin’　much　in　return。”
　“Charity？　Has　he　ever　said—”
　“No；　he’s　never　said　a　word。　You　know　Ashley。　But　I　can　tell。　Last　night　when　we　were　sittin’　up　with　your　pa；　I　tole　him　I　had　asked　Suellen　and　she’d　said　Yes。　And　then　Ashley　said　that　relieved　him　because　he’d　been　feelin’　like　a　dog；　stayin’　on　at　Tara；　and　he　knew　he　and　Miss　Melly　would　have　to　keep　stayin’　on；　now　that　Mr。　O’Hara　was　dead；　just　to　keep　folks　from　talkin’　about　me　and　Suellen。　So　then　he　told　me　he　was　aimin’　to　leave　Tara　and　get　work。”
　“Work？　What　kind？　Where？”
　“I　don’t　know　exactly　what　he’ll　do　but　he　said　he　was　goin’　up　North。　He’s　got　a　Yankee　friend　in　New　York　who　wrote　him　about　workin’　in　a　bank　up　there。”
　“Oh；　no！”　cried　Scarlett　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart　and；　at　the　cry；　Will　gave　her　the　same　look　as　before。
　“Maybe　‘twould　be　better　all　‘round　if　he　did　go　North。”
　“No！　No！　I　don’t　think　so。”
　Her　mind　was　working　feverishly。　Ashley　couldn’t　go　North！　She　might　never　see　him　again。　Even　though　she　had　not　seen　him　in　months；　had　not　spoken　to　him　alone　since　that　fateful　scene　in　the　orchard；　there　had　not　been　a　day　when　she　had　not　thought　of　him；　been　glad　he　was　sheltered　under　her　roof。　She　had　never　sent　a　dollar　to　Will　that　she　had　not　been　pleased　that　it　would　make　Ashley’s　life　easier。　Of　course；　he　wasn’t　any　good　as　a　farmer。　Ashley　was　bred　for　better　things；　she　thought　proudly。　He　was　born　to　rule；　to　live　in　a　large　house；　ride　fine　horses；　read　books　of　poetry　and　tell　negroes　what　to　do。　That　there　were　no　more　mansions　and　horses　and　negroes　and　few　books　did　not　alter　matters。　Ashley　wasn’t　bred　to　plow　and　split　rails。　No　wonder　he　wanted　to　leave　Tara。
　But　she　could　not　let　him　go　away　from　Georgia。　If　necessary；　she　would　bully　Frank　into　giving　him　a　job　in　the　store；　make　Frank　turn　off　the　boy　he　now　had　behind　the　counter。　But；　no—Ashley’s　place　was　no　more　behind　a　counter　than　it　was　behind　a　plow。　A　Wilkes　a　shopkeeper！　Oh；　never　that！　There　must　be　something—why；　her　mill　of　course！　Her　relief　at　the　thought　was　so　great　that　she　smiled。　But　would　he　accept　an　offer　from　her？　Would　he　still　think　it　was　charity？　She　must　manage　it　so　he　would　think　he　was　doing　her　a　favor。　She　would　discharge　Mr。　Johnson　and　put　Ashley　in　charge　of　the　old　mill　while　Hugh　operated　the　new　one。　She　would　explain　to　Ashley　how　Frank’s　ill　health　and　the　pressure　of　work　at　the　store　kept　him　from　helping　her；　and　she　would　plead　her　condition　as　another　reason　w