飘-第22章
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act her attention and staring up with smoldering eyes at Stuart Already the air was electric between him and the twins and rude words had passed。 Frank Kennedy fussed about like a hen with one chick； running back and forth from the shade of the oak to the tables to fetch dainties to tempt Scarlett； as if there were not a dozen servants there for that purpose。 As a result； Suellen’s sullen resentment had passed beyond the point of ladylike concealment and she glowered at Scarlett Small Carreen could have cried because； for all Scarlett’s encouraging words that morning； Brent had done no more than say “Hello； Sis” and jerk her hair ribbon before turning his full attention to Scarlett。 Usually he was so kind and treated her with a careless deference that made her feel grown up； and Carreen secretly dreamed of the day when she would put her hair up and her skirts down and receive him as a real beau。 And now it seemed that Scarlett had him。 The Munroe girls were concealing their chagrin at the defection of the swarthy Fontaine boys； but they were annoyed at the way Tony and Alex stood about the circle； jockeying for a position near Scarlett should any of the others arise from their places。
They telegraphed their disapproval of Scarlett’s conduct to Hetty Tarleton by delicately raised eyebrows。 “Fast” was the only word for Scarlett。 Simultaneously； the three young ladies raised lacy parasols； said they had had quite enough to eat thank you； and； laying light fingers on the arms of the men nearest them； clamored sweetly to see the rose garden； the spring and the summerhouse。 This strategic retreat in good order was not lost on a woman present or observed by a man。
Scarlett giggled as she saw three men dragged out of the line of her charms to investigate landmarks familiar to the girls from childhood； and cut her eye sharply to see if Ashley had taken note。 But he was playing with the ends of Melanie’s sash and smiling up at her。 Pain twisted Scarlett’s heart。 She felt that she could claw Melanie’s ivory skin till the blood ran and take pleasure in doing it。
As her eyes wandered from Melanie； she caught the gaze of Rhett Butler； who was not mixing with the crowd but standing apart talking to John Wilkes。 He had been watching her and when she looked at him he laughed outright。 Scarlett had an uneasy feeling that this man who was not received was the only one present who knew what lay behind her wild gaiety and that it was affording him sardonic amusement。 She could have clawed him with pleasure too。
“If I can just live through this barbecue till this afternoon；” she thought； “all the girls will go upstairs to take naps to be fresh for tonight and I’ll stay downstairs and get to talk to Ashley。 Surely he must have noticed how popular I am。” She soothed her heart with another hope： “Of course； he has to be attentive to Melanie because； after all； she is his cousin and she isn’t popular at all； and if he didn’t look out for her she’d just be a wallflower。”
She took new courage at this thought and redoubled her efforts in the direction of Charles； whose brown eyes glowed down eagerly at her。 It was a wonderful day for Charles； a dream day； and he had fallen in love with Scarlett with no effort at all。 Before this new emotion； Honey receded into a dim haze。 Honey was a shrill…voiced sparrow and Scarlett a gleaming hummingbird。 She teased him and favored him and asked him questions and answered them herself； so that he appeared very clever without having to say a word。 The other boys were puzzled and annoyed by her obvious interest in him； for they knew Charles was too shy to hitch two consecutive words together； and politeness was being severely strained to conceal their growing rage。 Everyone was smoldering； and it would have been a positive triumph for Scarlett； except for Ashley。
When the last forkful of pork and chicken and mutton had been eaten； Scarlett hoped the time had come when India would rise and suggest that the ladies retire to the house。 It was two o’clock and the sun was warm overhead； but India； wearied with the three…day preparations for the barbecue； was only too glad to remain sitting beneath the arbor； shouting remarks to a deaf old gentleman from Fayetteville。
A lazy somnolence descended on the crowd。 The negroes idled about； clearing the long tables on which the food had been laid。 The laughter and talking became less animated and groups here and there fell silent。 All were waiting for their hostess to signal the end of the morning’s festivities。 Palmetto fans were wagging more slowly； and several gentlemen were nodding from the heat and overloaded stomachs。 The barbecue was over and all were content to take their ease while sun was at its height。
In this interval between the morning party and the evening’s ball； they seemed a placid； peaceful lot。 Only the young men retained the restless energy which had filled the whole throng a short while before。 Moving from group to group； drawling in their soft voices； they were as handsome as blooded stallions and as dangerous。 The languor of midday had taken hold of the gathering； but underneath lurked tempers that could rise to killing heights in a second and flare out as quickly。 Men and women； they were beautiful and wild； all a little violent under their pleasant ways and only a little tamed。
Some time dragged by while the sun grew hotter； and Scarlett and others looked again toward India。 Conversation was dying out when； in the lull； everyone in the grove heard Gerald’s voice raised in furious accents。 Standing some little distance away from the barbecue tables； he was at the peak of an argument with John Wilkes。
“God’s nightgown； man！ Pray for a peaceable settlement with the Yankees。 After we’ve fired on the rascals at Fort Sumter？ Peaceable？ The South should show by arms that she cannot be insulted and that she is not leaving the Union by the Union’s kindness but by her own strength！”
“Oh； my God！” thought Scarlett。 “He’s done it！ Now； we’ll all sit here till midnight。”
In an instant； the somnolence had fled from the lounging throng and something electric went snapping through the air。 The men sprang from benches and chain； arms in wide gestures； voices clashing for the right to be heard above other voices。 There had been no talk of politics or impending war all during the morning； because of Mr。 Wilkes’ request that the ladies should not be bored。 But now Gerald had bawled the words “Fort Sumter；” and every man present forgot his host’s admonition。
“Of course we’ll fight—” “Yankee thieves—” “We could lick them in a month—” “Why； one Southerner can lick twenty Yankees—” “Teach them a lesson they won’t soon forget—” “Peaceably？ They won’t let us go in peace—” “No； look how Mr。 Lincoln insulted our Commissioners！” “Yes； kept them hanging around for weeks—swearing he’d have Sumter evacuated！” They want war； we’ll make them sick of war—” And above all the voices； Gerald’s boomed。 All Scarlett could hear was “States’ rights； by God！” shouted over and over。 Gerald was having an excellent time； but not his daughter。
Secession； war—these words long since had become acutely boring to Scarlett from much repetition； but now she hated the sound of them； for they meant that the men would stand there for hours haranguing one another and she would have no chance to corner Ashley。 Of course there would be no war and the men all knew it。 They just loved to talk and hear themselves talk。
Charles Hamilton had not risen with the others and； finding himself comparatively alone with Scarlett； he leaned closer and； with the daring born of new love； whispered a confession。
“Miss O’Hara—I—I had already decided that if we did fight； I’d go over to South Carolina and join a troop there。 It’s said that Mr。 Wade Hampton is organizing a cavalry troop； and of course I would want to go with him。 He’s a splendid person and was my father’s best friend。”
Scarlett thought； “What am I supposed to do—give three cheers？” for Charles’ expression showed that he was baring his heart’s secrets to her。 She could think of nothing to say and so merely looked at him； wondering why men were such fools as to think women interested in such matters。 He took her expression to mean stunned approbation and went on rapidly； daringly—
“If I went—would—would you be sorry； Miss O’Hara？”
“I should cry into my pillow every night；” said Scarlett； meaning to be flippant； but he took the statement at face value and went red with pleasure。 Her hand was concealed in the folds of her dress and he cautiously wormed his hand to it and squeezed it； overwhelmed at his own boldness and at her acquiescence。
“Would you pray for me？”
“What a fool！” thought Scarlett bitterly； casting a surreptitious glance about her in the hope of being rescued from the conversation。
“Would you？”
“Oh—yes； indeed； Mr。 Hamilton。 Three Rosaries a night； at least！”
Charles gave a swift look about him； drew in his breath； stiffened the muscles of his stomach。 They were practically alone and he might never get another such opportunity。 And； even given another such Godsent occasion； his courage might fail him。
“Miss O’Hara—I must tell you something。 I—I love you！”
“Um？” said Scarlett absently； trying to peer through the crowd of arguing men to where Ashley still sat talking at Melanie’s feet。
“Yes！” whispered Charles； in a rapture that she had neither laughed； screamed nor fainted； as he had always imagined young girls did under such circumstances。 “I love you！ You are the most—the most—” and he found his tongue for the first time in his life。 “The most beautiful girl I’ve ever known and the sweetest and the kindest； and you have the dearest ways and I love you with all my heart。 I cannot hope that you could love anyone like me but； my dear Miss O’Hara； if you can give me any encouragement； I will do anything in the world to make you love me。 I will—”
Charles stopped； for he couldn’t think of anything difficult enough of accomplishment to really prove to Scarlett the depth of his feeling； so he said simply： “I want to marry you。”
Scarlett came back to earth with a jerk； at the sound of the word “marry。” She had been thinking of marriage and of Ashley； and she looked at Charles with poorly concealed irritation。 Why must this calf…like fool intrude his feelings on this particular day when she was so worried she was about to lose her mind？ She looked into the pleading brown eyes and she saw none of the beauty of a shy boy’s first love； of the adoration of an ideal come true or the wild happiness and tenderness that were sweeping through him like a flame。 Scarlett was used to men asking her to marry them； men much more attractive than Charles Hamilton； and men who had more finesse than to propose at a barbecue when she had more important matters on her mind。 She only saw a boy of twenty； red as a beet and looking very silly。 She wished that she could tell him how silly he looked。 But automatically； the words Ellen had taught her to say in such emergencies rose to her lips and casting down her eyes； from force of long habit； she murmured： “Mr。 Hamilton； I am not unaware of the
