飘-第21章

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hat　Honey’s　coquetries　and　proprietary　airs　were　no　credit　to　him；　for　she　was　so　boy…crazy　he　imagined　she　would　use　them　on　any　man　who　gave　her　the　opportunity。　Charles　was　not　excited　over　the　prospect　of　marrying　her；　for　she　stirred　in　him　none　of　the　emotions　of　wild　romance　that　his　beloved　books　had　assured　him　were　proper　for　a　lover。　He　had　always　yearned　to　be　loved　by　some　beautiful；　dashing　creature　full　of　fire　and　mischief。
　And　here　was　Scarlett　O’Hara　teasing　him　about　breaking　her　heart！
　He　tried　to　think　of　something　to　say　and　couldn’t；　and　silently　he　blessed　her　because　she　kept　up　a　steady　chatter　which　relieved　him　of　any　necessity　for　conversation。　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　don’t　you　go　off　philandering　with　those　other　girls；　because　I’m　mighty　jealous；”　came　the　incredible　words　from　red　lips　with　a　dimple　on　each　side；　and　briskly　black　lashes　swept　demurely　over　green　eyes。
　“I　won’t；”　he　finally　managed　to　breathe；　never　dreaming　that　she　was　thinking　he　looked　like　a　calf　waiting　for　the　butcher。
　Tapping　him　lightly　on　the　arm　with　her　folded　fan；　she　turned　to　start　up　the　stairs　and　her　eyes　again　fell　on　the　man　called　Rhett　Butler　who　stood　alone　a　few　feet　away　from　Charles。　Evidently　he　had　overheard　the　whole　conversation；　for　he　grinned　up　at　her　as　maliciously　as　a　tomcat；　and　again　his　eyes　went　over　her；　in　a　gaze　totally　devoid　of　the　deference　she　was　accustomed　to。
　“God’s　nightgown！”　said　Scarlett　to　herself　in　indignation；　using　Gerald’s　favorite　oath。　“He　looks　as　if—as　if　he　knew　what　I　looked　like　without　my　shimmy；”　and；　tossing　her　head；　she　went　up　the　steps。
　In　the　bedroom　where　the　wraps　were　laid；　she　found　Cathleen　Calvert　preening　before　the　mirror　and　biting　her　lips　to　make　them　look　redder。　There　were　fresh　roses　in　her　sash　that　matched　her　cheeks；　and　her　cornflower…blue　eyes　were　dancing　with　excitement。
　“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；　a　weather　eye　on　the　next　room　where　Dilcey　and　the　Wilkes　girls’　mammy　were　gossiping。　“I　can’t　imagine　how　Mr。　Wilkes　must　feel　having　him　here；　but　he　was　visiting　Mr。　Kennedy　in　Jonesboro—something　about　buying　cotton—and；　of　course；　Mr。　Kennedy　had　to　bring　him　along　with　him。　He　couldn’t　just　go　off　and　leave　him。”
　“What　is　the　matter　with　him？”
　“My　dear；　he　isn’t　received！”
　“Not　really！”
　“No。”
　Scarlett　digested　this　in　silence；　for　she　had　never　before　been　under　the　same　roof　with　anyone　who　was　not　received。　It　was　very　exciting。
　“What　did　he　do？”
　“Oh；　Scarlett；　he　has　the　most　terrible　reputation。　His　name　is　Rhett　Butler　and　he’s　from　Charleston　and　his　folks　are　some　of　the　nicest　people　there；　but　they　won’t　even　speak　to　him。　Caro　Rhett　told　me　about　him　last　summer。　He　isn’t　any　kin　to　her　family；　but　she　knows　all　about　him；　everybody　does。　He　was　expelled　from　West　Point。　Imagine！　And　for　things　too　bad　for　Caro　to　know。　And　then　there　was　that　business　about　the　girl　he　didn’t　marry。”
　“Do　tell　me！”
　“Darling；　don’t　you　know　anything？　Caro　told　me　all　about　it　last　summer　and　her　mama　would　die　if　she　thought　Caro　even　knew　about　it。　Well；　this　Mr。　Butler　took　a　Charleston　girl　out　buggy　riding。　I　never　did　know　who　she　was；　but　I’ve　got　my　suspicions。　She　couldn’t　have　been　very　nice　or　she　wouldn’t　have　gone　out　with　him　in　the　late　afternoon　without　a　chaperon。　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；　hoping　for　the　worst。
　“He　refused　to　marry　her　the　next　day！”
　“Oh；”　said　Scarlett；　her　hopes　dashed。
　“He　said　he　hadn’t—er—done　anything　to　her　and　he　didn’t　see　why　he　should　marry　her。　And；　of　course；　her　brother　called　him　out；　and　Mr。　Butler　said　he’d　rather　be　shot　than　marry　a　stupid　fool。　And　so　they　fought　a　duel　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；　and　just　in　time；　for　Dilcey　came　back　into　the　room　to　oversee　the　toilet　of　her　charge。
　“Did　she　have　a　baby？”　whispered　Scarlett　in　Cathleen’s　ear。
　Cathleen　shook　her　head　violently。　“But　she　was　ruined　just　the　same；”　she　hissed　back。
　I　wish　I　had　gotten　Ashley　to　compromise　me；　thought　Scarlett　suddenly。　He’d　be　too　much　of　a　gentleman　not　to　marry　me。　But　somehow；　unbidden；　she　had　a　feeling　of　respect　for　Rhett　Butler　for　refusing　to　marry　a　girl　who　was　a　fool。
　
　Scarlett　sat　on　a　high　rosewood　ottoman；　under　the　shade　of　a　huge　oak　in　the　rear　of　the　house；　her　flounces　and　ruffles　billowing　about　her　and　two　inches　of　green　morocco　slippers—all　that　a　lady　could　show　and　still　remain　a　lady—peeping　from　beneath　them。　She　had　scarcely　touched　plate　in　her　hands　and　seven　cavaliers　about　her。　The　barbecue　had　reached　its　peak　and　the　warm　air　was　full　of　laughter　and　talk；　the　click　of　silver　on　porcelain　and　the　rich　heavy　smells　of　roasting　meats　and　redolent　gravies。　Occasionally　when　the　slight　breeze　veered；　puffs　of　smoke　from　the　long　barbecue　pits　floated　over　the　crowd　and　were　greeted　with　squeals　of　mock　dismay　from　the　ladies　and　violent　flappings　of　palmetto　fans。
　Most　of　the　young　ladies　were　seated　with　partners　on　the　long　benches　that　faced　the　tables；　but　Scarlett；　realizing　that　a　girl　has　only　two　sides　and　only　one　man　can　sit　on　each　of　these　sides；　had　elected　to　sit　apart　so　she　could　gather　about　her　as　many　men　as　possible。
　Under　the　arbor　sat　the　married　women；　their　dark　dresses　decorous　notes　in　the　surrounding　color　and　gaiety。　Matrons；　regardless　of　their　ages；　always　grouped　together　apart　from　the　bright…eyed　girls；　beaux　and　laughter；　for　there　were　no　married　belles　in　the　South。　From　Grandma　Fontaine；　who　was　belching　frankly　with　the　privilege　of　her　age；　to　seventeen…year…old　Alice　Munroe；　struggling　against　the　nausea　of　a　first　pregnancy；　they　had　their　heads　together　in　the　endless　genealogical　and　obstetrical　discussions　that　made　such　gatherings　very　pleasant　and　instructive　affairs。
　Casting　contemptuous　glances　at　them；　Scarlett　thought　that　they　looked　like　a　clump　of　fat　crows。　Married　women　never　had　any　fun。　It　did　not　occur　to　her　that　if　she　married　Ashley　she　would　automatically　be　relegated　to　arbors　and　front　parlors　with　staid　matrons　in　dull　silks；　as　staid　and　dull　as　they　and　not　a　part　of　the　fun　and　frolicking。　Like　most　girls；　her　imagination　carried　her　just　as　far　as　the　altar　and　no　further。　Besides；　she　was　too　unhappy　now　to　pursue　an　abstraction。
　She　dropped　her　eyes　to　her　plate　and　nibbled　daintily　on　a　beaten　biscuit　with　an　elegance　and　an　utter　lack　of　appetite　that　would　have　won　Mammy’s　approval。　For　all　that　she　had　a　superfluity　of　beaux；　she　had　never　been　more　miserable　in　her　life。　In　some　way　that　she　could　not　understand；　her　plans　of　last　night　had　failed　utterly　so　far　as　Ashley　was　concerned。　She　had　attracted　other　beaux　by　the　dozens；　but　not　Ashley；　and　all　the　fears　of　yesterday　afternoon　were　sweeping　back　upon　her；　making　her　heart　beat　fast　and　then　slow；　and　color　flame　and　whiten　in　her　cheeks。
　Ashley　had　made　no　attempt　to　join　the　circle　about　her；　in　fact　she　had　not　had　a　word　alone　with　him　since　arriving；　or　even　spoken　to　him　since　their　first　greeting。　He　had　come　forward　to　welcome　her　when　she　came　into　the　back　garden；　but　Melanie　had　been　on　his　arm　then；　Melanie　who　hardly　came　up　to　his　shoulder。
　She　was　a　tiny；　frailly　built　girl；　who　gave　the　appearance　of　a　child　masquerading　in　her　mother’s　enormous　hoop　skirts—an　illusion　that　was　heightened　by　the　shy；　almost　frightened　look　in　her　too　large　brown　eyes。　She　had　a　cloud　of　curly　dark　hair　which　was　so　sternly　repressed　beneath　its　net　that　no　vagrant　tendrils　escaped；　and　this　dark　mass；　with　its　long　widow’s　peak；　accentuated　the　heart　shape　of　her　face。　Too　wide　across　the　cheek　bones；　too　pointed　at　the　chin；　it　was　a　sweet；　timid　face　but　a　plain　face；　and　she　had　no　feminine　tricks　of　allure　to　make　observers　forget　its　plainness。　She　looked—and　was—as　simple　as　earth；　as　good　as　bread；　as　transparent　as　spring　water。　But　for　all　her　plainness　of　feature　and　smallness　of　stature；　there　was　a　sedate　dignity　about　her　movements　that　was　oddly　touching　and　far　older　than　her　seventeen　years。
　Her　gray　organdie　dress；　with　its　cherry…colored　satin　sash；　disguised　with　its　billows　and　ruffles　how　childishly　undeveloped　her　body　was；　and　the　yellow　hat　with　long　cherry　streamers　made　her　creamy　skin　glow。　Her　heavy　earbobs　with　their　long　gold　fringe　hung　down　from　loops　of　tidily　netted　hair；　swinging　close　to　her　brown　eyes；　eyes　that　had　the　still　gleam　of　a　forest　pool　in　winter　when　brown　leaves　shine　up　through　quiet　water。
　She　had　smiled　with　timid　liking　when　she　greeted　Scarlett　and　told　her　how　pretty　her　green　dress　was；　and　Scarlett　had　been　hard　put　to　be　even　civil　in　reply；　so　violently　did　she　want　to　speak　alone　with　Ashley。　Since　then；　Ashley　had　sat　on　a　stool　at　Melanie’s　feet；　apart　from　the　other　guests；　and　talked　quietly　with　her；　smiling　the　slow　drowsy　smile　that　Scarlett　loved。　What　made　matters　worse　was　that　under　his　smile　a　little　sparkle　had　come　into　Melanie’s　eyes；　so　that　even　Scarlett　had　to　admit　that　she　looked　almost　pretty。　As　Melanie　looked　at　Ashley；　her　plain　face　lit　up　as　with　an　inner　fire；　for　if　ever　a　loving　heart　showed　itself　upon　a　face；　it　was　showing　now　on　Melanie　Hamilton’s。
　Scarlett　tried　to　keep　her　eyes　from　these　two　but　could　not；　and　after　each　glance　she　redoubled　her　gaiety　with　her　cavaliers；　laughing；　saying　daring　things；　teasing；　tossing　her　head　at　their　compliments　until　her　earrings　danced。　She　said　“fiddle…dee…dee”　many　times；　declared　that　the　truth　wasn’t　in　any　of　them；　and　vowed　that　she’d　never　believe　anything　any　man　told　her。　But　Ashley　did　not　seem　to　notice　her　at　all。　He　only　looked　up　at　Melanie　and　talked　on；　and　Melanie　looked　down　at　him　with　an　expression　that　radiated　the　fact　that　she　belonged　to　him。
　So；　Scarlett　was　miserable。
　To　the　outward　eye；　never　had　a　girl　less　cause　to　he　miserable。　She　was　undoubtedly　the　belle　of　the　barbecue；　the　center　of　attention。　The　furore　she　was　causing　among　the　men；　coupled　with　the　heart　burnings　of　the　other　girls；　would　have　pleased　her　enormously　at　any　other　time。
　Charles　Hamilton；　emboldened　by　her　notice；　was　firmly　planted　on　her　right；　refusing　to　be　dislodged　by　the　combined　efforts　of　the　Tarteton　twins。　He　held　her　fan　in　one　hand　and　his　untouched　plate　of　barbecue　in　the　other　and　stubbornly　refused　to　meet　the　eyes　of　Honey；　who　seemed　on　the　verge　of　an　outburst　of　tears。　Cade　lounged　gracefully　on　her　left；　plucking　at　her　skirt　to　attract　her　attention　and　staring　up　with　smoldering　eyes　at　Stuart　Already　the　air　was　electric　between