飘-第180章

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　have　to　handcuff　you　to　my　wrist　for　the　next　nine　months。”
　She　sat　up　in　his　lap　and　stared　into　his　face　with　frank　curiosity。　Under　her　gaze　it　was　suddenly　smooth　and　bland　as　though　wiped　clear　by　magic。　His　eyebrows　were　up　and　the　corner　of　his　mouth　was　down。
　“Do　I　mean　so　much　to　you？”　she　questioned；　dropping　her　eyelids。
　He　gave　her　a　level　look　as　though　estimating　how　much　coquetry　was　behind　the　question。　Reading　the　true　meaning　of　her　demeanor；　he　made　casual　answer。
　“Well；　yes。　You　see；　I’ve　invested　a　good　deal　of　money　in　you；　and　I’d　hate　to　lose　it。”
　
　？
　Melanie　came　out　of　Scarlett’s　room；　weary　from　the　strain　but　happy　to　tears　at　the　birth　of　Scarlett’s　daughter。　Rhett　stood　tensely　in　the　hall；　surrounded　by　cigar　butts　which　had　burned　holes　in　the　fine　carpet
　“You　can　go　in　now；　Captain　Butler；”　she　said　shyly。
　Rhett　went　swiftly　past　her　into　the　room　and　Melanie　had　a　brief　glimpse　of　him　bending　over　the　small　naked　baby　in　Mammy’s　lap　before　Dr。　Meade　shut　the　door。　Melanie　sank　into　a　chair；　her　face　pinkening　with　embarrassment　that　she　had　unintentionally　witnessed　so　intimate　a　scene。
　“Ah！”　she　thought　“How　sweet！　How　worried　poor　Captain　Butler　has　been！　And　he　did　not　take　a　single　drink　all　this　time！　How　nice　of　him。　So　many　gentlemen　are　so　intoxicated　by　the　time　their　babies　are　born。　I　fear　he　needs　a　drink　badly。　Dare　I　suggest　it？　No；　that　would　be　very　forward　of　me。”
　She　sank　gratefully　into　a　chair；　her　back；　which　always　ached　these　days；　feeling　as　though　it　would　break　in　two　at　the　waist　line。　Oh；　how　fortunate　Scarlett　was　to　have　Captain　Butler　just　outside　her　door　while　the　baby　was　being　born！　If　only　she　had　had　Ashley　with　her　that　dreadful　day　Beau　came　she　would　not　have　suffered　half　so　much。　If　only　that　small　girl　behind　those　closed　doors　were　hers　and　not　Scarlett’s！　Oh；　how　wicked　I　am；　she　thought　guiltily。　I　am　coveting　her　baby　and　Scarlett　has　been　so　good　to　me。　Forgive　me；　Lord。　I　wouldn’t　really　want　Scarlett’s　baby　but—but　I　would　so　like　a　baby　of　my　own！
　She　pushed　a　small　cushion　behind　her　aching　back　and　thought　hungrily　of　a　daughter　of　her　own。　But　Dr。　Meade　had　never　changed　his　opinion　on　that　subject。　And　though　she　was　quite　willing　to　risk　her　life　for　another　child；　Ashley　would　not　hear　of　it。　A　daughter。　How　Ashley　would　love　a　daughter！
　A　daughter！　Mercy！　She　sat　up　in　alarm。　I　never　told　Captain　Butler　it　was　a　girl！　And　of　course　he　was　expecting　a　boy。　Oh；　how　dreadful！
　Melanie　knew　that　to　a　woman　a　child　of　either　sex　was　equally　welcome　but　to　a　man；　and　especially　such　a　self…willed　man　as　Captain　Butler；　a　girl　would　be　a　blow；　a　reflection　upon　his　manhood。　Oh；　how　thankful　she　was　that　God　had　permitted　her　only　child　to　be　a　boy！　She　knew　that；　had　she　been　the　wife　of　the　fearsome　Captain　Butler；　she　would　have　thankfully　died　in　childbirth　rather　than　present　him　with　a　daughter　as　his　first…born。
　But　Mammy；　waddling　grinning　from　the　room；　set　her　mind　at　ease—and　at　the　same　time　made　her　wonder　just　what　kind　of　man　Captain　Butler　really　was。
　“Wen　Ah　wuz　bathin’　dat　chile；　jes’　now；”　said　Mammy；　“Ah　kinder　‘pologized　ter　Mist’　Rhett　‘bout　it　not　bein’　a　boy。　But；　Lawd；　Miss　Melly；　you　know　whut　he　say？　He　say；　Hesh　yo　mouf；　Mammy！　Who　want　a　boy？　Boys　ain’　no　fun。　Dey’s　jes’　a　passel　of　trouble。　Gals　is　whut　is　fun。　Ah　wouldn’　swap　disyere　gal　fer　a　baker’s　dozen　of　boys。’　Den　he　try　ter　snatch　de　chile　frum　me；　buck　nekked　as　she　wuz　an’　Ah　slap　his　wrist　an’　say　‘B’have　yo’seff；　Mist’　Rhett！　Ah’ll　jes’　bide　mah　time　tell　you　gits　a　boy；　an’　den　Ah’ll　laff　out　loud　to　hear　you　holler　fer　joy。’　He　grin　an’　shake　his　haid　an’　say；　‘Mammy；　you　is　a　fool。　Boys　ain’　no　use　ter　nobody。　Ain’　Ah　a　proof　of　dat？’　Yas’m；　Miss　Melly；　he　ack　lak　a　gempmum　‘bout　it；”　finished　Mammy　graciously。　It　was　not　lost　on　Melanie　that　Rhett’s　conduct　had　gone　far　toward　redeeming　him　in　Mammy’s　eyes。　“Maybe　Ah　done　been　a　mite　wrong　‘bout　Mist’　Rhett。　Dis　sho　is　a　happy　day　ter　me；　Miss　Melly。　Ah　done　diapered　three　ginrations　of　Robillard　gals；　an’　it　sho　is　a　happy　day。”
　“Oh；　yes；　it　is　a　happy　day；　Mammy。　The　happiest　days　are　the　days　when　babies　come！”
　To　one　person　in　the　house　it　was　not　a　happy　day。　Scolded　and　for　the　most　part　ignored；　Wade　Hampton　idled　miserably　about　the　dining　room。　Early　that　morning；　Mammy　had　waked　him　abruptly；　dressed　him　hurriedly　and　sent　him　with　Ella　to　Aunt　Pitty’s　house　for　breakfast。　The　only　explanation　he　received　was　that　his　mother　was　sick　and　the　noise　of　his　playing　might　upset　her。　Aunt　Pitty’s　house　was　in　an　uproar；　for　the　news　of　Scarlett’s　sickness　had　sent　the　old　lady　to　bed　in　a　state　with　Cookie　in　attendance；　and　breakfast　was　a　scant　meal　that　Peter　concocted　for　the　children。　As　the　morning　wore　on　fear　began　to　possess　Wade’s　soul。　Suppose　Mother　died？　Other　boys’　mothers　had　died。　He　had　seen　the　hearses　move　away　from　the　house　and　heard　his　small　friends　sobbing。　Suppose　Mother　should　die？　Wade　loved　his　mother　very　much；　almost　as　much　as　he　feared　her；　and　the　thought　of　her　being　carried　away　in　a　black　hearse　behind　black　horses　with　plumes　on　their　bridles　made　his　small　chest　ache　so　that　he　could　hardly　breathe。
　When　noon　came　and　Peter　was　busy　in　the　kitchen；　Wade　slipped　out　the　front　door　and　hurried　home　as　fast　as　his　short　legs　could　carry　him；　fear　speeding　him。　Uncle　Rhett　or　Aunt　Melly　or　Mammy　surely　would　tell　him　the　truth。　But　Uncle　Rhett　and　Aunt　Melly　were　not　to　be　seen　and　Mammy　and　Dilcey　sped　up　and　down　the　back　stairs　with　towels　and　basins　of　hot　water　and　did　not　once　notice　him　in　the　front　hall。　From　upstairs　he　could　hear　occasionally　the　curt　tones　of　Dr。　Meade　whenever　a　door　opened。　Once　he　heard　his　mother　groan　and　he　burst　into　sobbing　hiccoughs。　He　knew　she　was　going　to　die。　For　comfort；　he　made　overtures　to　the　honey…colored　cat　which　lay　on　the　sunny　window　sill　in　the　front　hall。　But　Tom；　full　of　years　and　irritable　at　disturbances；　switched　his　tail　and　spat　softly。
　Finally；　Mammy；　coming　down　the　front　stairs；　her　apron　rumpled　and　spotted；　her　head　rag　awry；　saw　him　and　scowled。　Mammy　had　always　been　Wade’s　mainstay　and　her　frown　made　him　tremble。
　“You　is　de　wustes’　boy　Ah　ever　seed；”　she　said。　“Ain’　Ah　done　sont　you　ter　Miss　Pitty’s？　Gwan　back　dar！”
　“Is　Mother　going　to—will　she　die？”
　“You　is　de　troublesomes’　chile　Ah　ever　seed！　Die？　Gawdlmighty；　no！　Lawd；　boys　is　a　tawment。　Ah　doan　see　why　de　Lawd　sen’s　boys　ter　folks。　Now；　gwan　way　from　here。”
　But　Wade　did　not　go。　He　retreated　behind　the　portieres　in　the　hall；　only　half　convinced　by　her　words。　The　remark　about　the　troublesomeness　of　boys　stung；　for　he　had　always　tried　his　best　to　be　good。　Aunt　Melly　hurried　down　the　stairs　half　an　hour　later；　pale　and　tired　but　smiling　to　herself。　She　looked　thunderstruck　when　she　saw　his　woebegone　face　in　the　shadows　of　the　drapery。　Usually　Aunt　Melly　had　all　the　time　in　the　world　to　give　him。　She　never　said；　as　Mother　so　often　did：　“Don’t　bother　me　now。　I’m　in　a　hurry”　or　“Run　away；　Wade。　I　am　busy。”
　But　this　morning　she　said：　“Wade；　you’ve　been　very　naughty。　Why　didn’t　you　stay　at　Aunt　Pitty’s？”
　“Is　Mother　going　to　die？”
　“Gracious；　no；　Wade！　Don’t　be　a　silly　child；”　and　then；　relenting：　“Dr。　Meade　has　just　brought　her　a　nice　little　baby；　a　sweet　little　sister　for　you　to　play　with；　and　if　you　are　real　good　you　can　see　her　tonight。　Now；　run　out　and　play　and　don’t　make　any　noise。”
　Wade　slipped　into　the　quiet　dining　room；　his　small　and　insecure　world　tottering。　Was　there　no　place　for　a　worried　little　seven…year…old　boy　on　this　sunshiny　day　when　the　grown…ups　acted　so　curiously？　He　sat　down　on　the　window　still　in　the　alcove　and　nibbled　a　bit　of　the　elephant’s　ear　which　grew　in　a　box　in　the　sun。　It　was　so　peppery　that　it　stung　his　eyes　to　tears　and　he　began　to　cry。　Mother　was　probably　dying；　nobody　paid　him　any　heed　and　one　and　all；　they　rushed　about　because　of　a　new　baby—a　girl　baby。　Wade　had　little　interest　in　babies；　still　less　in　girls。　The　only　little　girl　he　knew　intimately　was　Ella　and；　so　far；　she　had　done　nothing　to　command　his　respect　or　liking。
　After　a　long　interval　Dr。　Meade　and　Uncle　Rhett　came　down　the　stairs　and　stood　talking　in　the　hall　in　low　voices。　After　the　door　shut　behind　the　doctor；　Uncle　Rhett　came　swiftly　into　the　dining　room　and　poured　himself　a　large　drink　from　the　decanter　before　he　saw　Wade。　Wade　shrank　back；　expecting　to　be　told　again　that　he　was　naughty　and　must　return　to　Aunt　Pitty’s；　but　instead；　Uncle　Rhett　smiled。　Wade　had　never　seen　him　smile　like　that　or　look　so　happy　and；　encouraged；　he　leaped　from　the　sill　and　ran　to　him。
　“You’ve　got　a　sister；”　said　Rhett；　squeezing　him。　“By　God；　the　most　beautiful　baby　you　ever　saw！　Now；　why　are　you　crying？”
　“Mother—”
　“Your　mother’s　eating　a　great　big　dinner；　chicken　and　rice　and　gravy　and　coffee；　and　we’re　going　to　make　her　some　ice　cream　in　a　little　while　and　you　can　have　two　plates　if　you　want　them。　And　I’ll　show　you　your　sister　too。”
　Weak　with　relief；　Wade　tried　to　be　polite　about　his　new　sister　but　failed。　Everyone　was　interested　in　this　girl。　No　one　cared　anything　about　him　any　more；　not　even　Aunt　Melly　or　Uncle　Rhett。
　“Uncle　Rhett；”　he　began；　“do　people　like　girls　better　than　boys？”
　Rhett　set　down　his　glass　and　looked　sharply　into　the　small　face　and　instant　comprehension　came　into　his　eyes。
　“No；　I　can’t　say　they　do；”　he　answered　seriously；　as　though　giving　the　matter　due　thought。　“It’s　just　that　girls　are　more　trouble　than　boys　and　people　are　apt　to　worry　more　about　troublesome　people　than　those　who　aren’t。”
　“Mammy　just　said　boys　were　troublesome。”
　“Well；　Mammy　was　upset。　She　didn’t　mean　it。”
　“Uncle　Rhett；　wouldn’t　you　rather　have　had　a　little　boy　than　a　little　girl？”　questioned　Wade　hopefully。
　“No；”　answered　Rhett　swiftly　and；　seeing　the　boy’s　face　fall；　he　continued：　“Now；　why　should　I　want　a　boy　when　I’ve　already　got　one？”
　“You　have？”　cried　Wade；　his　month　falling　open　at　this　information。　“Where　is　he？”
　“Right　here；”　answered　Rhett　and；　picking　the　child　up；　drew　him　to　his　knee。　“You　are　boy　enough　for　me；　son。”
　For　a　moment；　the　security　and　happiness　of　being　wanted　was　so　great　that　Wade　almost　cried　again。　His　throat　worked　and　he　ducked　his　head　against　Rhett’s　waistcoat。
　“You　are　my　boy；　aren’t　you？”
　“Can　you　be—well；　two　men’s　boy？”　questioned　Wade；　loyalty　to　the　father　he　had　never　known　struggling　with　love　for　the　man　who　held　him　so　understandingly。
　“Yes；”　said　Rhett　firmly。　“Just　like　you　can　be　your　mother’s　boy　and　Aunt　Melly’s；　too。”
　Wade　digested　this　statement。　It　made　sense　to　him　and　he　smiled　and　wriggled　against　Rhett’s　arm　shyly。
　“You　understand　little　boys；　don’t　you；　Uncle　Rhett？”
　Rhett’s　dark　face　fell　into　its　old　harsh　lines　and　his　lip　twisted。
　“Yes；”　he　said　bitterly；　“I　understand　little　boys。”
　For　a　moment；　fear　came　back　to　Wade；　fear　and　a　sudden　sense　of　jealousy。　Uncle　Rhett　was　not　thinking　of　him　but　of　some　one　else。
　“