飘-第53章

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　Why　should　she　be　so　worried？　Nobody　had　heard　that　the　Louisiana　troops　were　in　Pennsylvania。　Probably　her　hairy　little　Zouave　was　safe　in　Richmond　this　very　minute。
　There　was　a　movement　on　the　outskirts　of　the　crowd　and　those　on　foot　gave　way　as　Rhett　Butler　carefully　edged　his　horse　toward　Aunt　Pitty’s　carriage。　Scarlett　thought：　He’s　got　courage；　coming　here　at　this　time　when　it　wouldn’t　take　anything　to　make　this　mob　tear　him　to　pieces　because　he　isn’t　in　uniform。　As　he　came　nearer；　she　thought　she　might　be　the　first　to　rend　him。　How　dared　he　sit　there　on　that　fine　horse；　in　shining　boots　and　handsome　white　linen　suit　so　sleek　and　well　fed；　smoking　an　expensive　cigar；　when　Ashley　and　all　the　other　boys　were　fighting　the　Yankees；　barefooted；　sweltering　in　the　heat；　hungry；　their　bellies　rotten　with　disease？
　Bitter　looks　were　thrown　at　him　as　he　came　slowly　through　the　press。　Old　men　growled　in　their　beards；　and　Mrs。　Merriwether　who　feared　nothing　rose　slightly　in　her　carriage　and　said　clearly：　“Speculator！”　in　a　tone　that　made　the　word　the　foulest　and　most　venomous　of　epithets。　He　paid　no　heed　to　anyone　but　raised　his　hat　to　Melly　and　Aunt　Pitty　and；　riding　to　Scarlett’s　side；　leaned　down　and　whispered：　“Don’t　you　think　this　would　be　the　time　for　Dr。　Meade　to　give　us　his　familiar　speech　about　victory　perching　like　a　screaming　eagle　on　our　banners？”
　Her　nerves　taut　with　suspense；　she　turned　on　him　as　swiftly　as　an　angry　cat；　hot　words　bubbling　to　her　lips；　but　he　stopped　them　with　a　gesture。
　“I　came　to　tell　you　ladies；”　he　said　loudly；　“that　I　have　been　to　headquarters　and　the　first　casualty　lists　are　coming　in。”
　At　these　words　a　hum　rose　among　those　near　enough　to　hear　his　remark；　and　the　crowd　surged；　ready　to　turn　and　run　down　Whitehall　Street　toward　headquarters。
　“Don’t　go；”　he　called；　rising　in　his　saddle　and　holding　up　his　hand。　“The　lists　have　been　sent　to　both　newspapers　and　are　now　being　printed。　Stay　where　you　are！”
　“Oh；　Captain　Butler；”　cried　Melly；　turning　to　him　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　“How　kind　of　you　to　come　and　tell　us！　When　will　they　be　posted？”
　“They　should　be　out　any　minute；　Madam。　The　reports　have　been　in　the　offices　for　half　an　hour　now。　The　major　in　charge　didn’t　want　to　let　that　out　until　the　printing　was　done；　for　fear　the　crowd　would　wreck　the　offices　trying　to　get　news。　Ah！　Look！”
　The　side　window　of　the　newspaper　office　opened　and　a　hand　was　extended；　bearing　a　sheaf　of　long　narrow　galley　proofs；　smeared　with　fresh　ink　and　thick　with　names　closely　printed。　The　crowd　fought　for　them；　tearing　the　slips　in　half；　those　obtaining　them　trying　to　back　out　through　the　crowd　to　read；　those　behind　pushing　forward；　crying：　“Let　me　through！”
　“Hold　the　reins；”　said　Rhett　shortly；　swinging　to　the　ground　and　tossing　the　bridle　to　Uncle　Peter。　They　saw　his　heavy　shoulders　towering　above　the　crowd　as　he　went　through；　brutally　pushing　and　shoving。　In　a　while　he　was　back；　with　half　a　dozen　in　his　hands。　He　tossed　one　to　Melanie　and　distributed　the　others　among　the　ladies　in　the　nearest　carriages；　the　Misses　McLure；　Mrs。　Meade；　Mrs。　Merriwether；　Mrs。　Elsing。
　“Quick；　Melly；”　cried　Scarlett；　her　heart　in　her　throat；　exasperation　sweeping　her　as　she　saw　that　Melly’s　hands　were　shaking　so　that　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　read。
　“Take　it；”　whispered　Melly；　and　Scarlett　snatched　it　from　her。　The　Ws。　Where　were　the　Ws？　Oh；　there　they　were　at　the　bottom　and　all　smeared　up。　“White；”　she　read　and　her　voice　shook；　“Wilkens　。。。　Winn　。。。　Zebulon　。。。　Oh；　Melly；　he’s　not　on　it！　He’s　not　on　it！　Oh；　for　God’s　sake；　Auntie；　Melly；　pick　up　the　salts！　Hold　her　up；　Melly。”
　Melly；　weeping　openly　with　happiness；　steadied　Miss　Pitty’s　rolling　head　and　held　the　smelling　salts　under　her　nose。　Scarlett　braced　the　fat　old　lady　on　the　other　side；　her　heart　singing　with　joy。　Ashley　was　alive。　He　wasn’t　even　wounded。　How　good　God　was　to　pass　him　by！　How—
　She　heard　a　low　moan　and；　turning；　saw　Fanny　Elsing　lay　her　head　on　her　mother’s　bosom；　saw　the　casualty　list　flutter　to　the　floor　of　the　carriage；　saw　Mrs。　Elsing’s　thin　lips　quiver　as　she　gathered　her　daughter　in　her　arms　and　said　quietly　to　the　coachman：　“Home。　Quickly。”　Scarlett　took　a　quick　glance　at　the　lists。　Hugh　Elsing　was　not　listed。　Fanny　must　have　had　a　beau　and　now　he　was　dead。　The　crowd　made　way　in　sympathetic　silence　for　the　Elsings’　carriage；　and　after　them　followed　the　little　wicker　pony　cart　of　the　McLure　girls。　Miss　Faith　was　driving；　her　face　like　a　rock；　and　for　once；　her　teeth　were　covered　by　her　lips。　Miss　Hope；　death　in　her　face；　sat　erect　beside　her；　holding　her　sister’s　skirt　in　a　tight　grasp。　They　looked　like　very　old　women。　Their　young　brother　Dallas　was　their　darling　and　the　only　relative　the　maiden　ladies　had　in　the　world。　Dallas　was　gone。
　“Melly！　Melly！”　cried　Maybelle；　joy　in　her　voice；　“René　is　safe！　And　Ashley；　too！　Oh；　thank　God！”　The　shawl　had　slipped　from　her　shoulders　and　her　condition　was　most　obvious　but；　for　once；　neither　she　nor　Mrs。　Merriwether　cared。　“Oh；　Mrs。　Meade！　René—”　Her　voice　changed；　swiftly；　“Melly；　look！—Mrs。　Meade；　please！　Darcy　isn’t—？”
　Mrs。　Meade　was　looking　down　into　her　lap　and　she　did　not　raise　her　head　when　her　name　was　called；　but　the　face　of　little　Phil　beside　her　was　an　open　book　that　all　might　read。
　“There；　there；　Mother；”　he　said；　helplessly。　Mrs。　Meade；　looked　up；　meeting　Melanie’s　eyes。
　“He　won’t　need　those　boots　now；”　she　said。
　“Oh；　darling！”　cried　Melly；　beginning　to　sob；　as　she　shoved　Aunt　Pitty　onto　Scarlett’s　shoulder　and　scrambled　out　of　the　carriage　and　toward　that　of　the　doctor’s　wife。
　“Mother；　you’ve　still　got　me；”　said　Phil；　in　a　forlorn　effort　at　comforting　the　white…faced　woman　beside　him。　“And　if　you’ll　just　let　me；　I’ll　go　kill　all　the　Yank—”
　Mrs。　Meade　clutched　his　arm　as　if　she　would　never　let　it　go；　said　“No！”　in　a　strangled　voice　and　seemed　to　choke。
　“Phil　Meade；　you　hush　your　mouth！”　hissed　Melanie；　climbing　in　beside　Mrs。　Meade　and　taking　her　in　her　arms。　“Do　you　think　it’ll　help　your　mother　to　have　you　off　getting　shot　too？　I　never　heard　anything　so　silly。　Drive　us　home；　quick！”
　She　turned　to　Scarlett　as　Phil　picked　up　the　reins。
　“As　soon　as　you　take　Auntie　home；　come　over　to　Mrs。　Meade’s。　Captain　Butler；　can　you　get　word　to　the　doctor？　He’s　at　the　hospital。”
　The　carriage　moved　off　through　the　dispersing　crowd。　Some　of　the　women　were　weeping　with　joy；　but　most　looked　too　stunned　to　realize　the　heavy　blows　that　had　fallen　upon　them。　Scarlett　bent　her　head　over　the　blurred　lists；　reading　rapidly；　to　find　names　of　friends。　Now　that　Ashley　was　safe　she　could　think　of　other　people。　Oh；　how　long　the　list　was！　How　heavy　the　toll　from　Atlanta；　from　all　of　Georgia。
　Good　Heavens！　“Calvert—Raiford；　Lieutenant。”　Raif！　Suddenly　she　remembered　the　day；　so　long　ago；　when　they　had　run　away　together　but　decided　to　come　home　at　nightfall　because　they　were　hungry　and　afraid　of　the　dark。
　“Fontaine—Joseph　K。；　private；”　Little　bad…tempered　Joe！　And　Sally　hardly　over　having　her　baby！
　“Munroe—LaFayette；　Captain。”　And　Lafe　had　been　engaged　to　Cathleen　Calvert。　Poor　Cathleen！　Hers　had　been　a　double　loss；　a　brother　and　a　sweetheart。　But　Sally’s　loss　was　greater—a　brother　and　a　husband。
　Oh；　this　was　too　terrible。　She　was　almost　afraid　to　read　further。　Aunt　Pitty　was　heaving　and　sighing　on　her　shoulder　and；　with　small　ceremony；　Scarlett　pushed　her　over　into　a　comer　of　the　carriage　and　continued　her　reading。
　Surely；　surely—there　couldn’t　be　three　“Tarleton”　names　on　that　list。　Perhaps—perhaps　the　hurried　printer　had　repeated　the　name　by　error。　But　no。　There　they　were。　“Tarleton—Brenton；　Lieutenant。”　“Tarleton—Stuart；　Corporal。”　“Tarleton—Thomas；　private。”　And　Boyd；　dead　the　first　year　of　the　war；　was　buried　God　knew　where　in　Virginia。　All　the　Tarleton　boys　gone。　Tom　and　the　lazy　long…legged　twins　with　their　love　of　gossip　and　their　absurd　practical　jokes　and　Boyd　who　had　the　grace　of　a　dancing　master　and　the　tongue　of　a　wasp。
　She　could　not　read　any　more。　She　could　not　know　if　any　other　of　those　boys　with　whom　she　had　grown　up；　danced；　flirted；　kissed　were　on　that　list。　She　wished　that　she　could　cry；　do　something　to　ease　the　iron　fingers　that　were　digging　into　her　throat。
　“I’m　sorry；　Scarlett；”　said　Rhett。　She　looked　up　at　him。　She　had　forgotten　he　was　still　there。　“Many　of　your　friends？”
　She　nodded　and　struggled　to　speak：　“About　every　family　in　the　County—and　all—all　three　of　the　Tarleton　boys。”
　His　face　was　quiet；　almost　somber；　and　there　was　no　mocking　in　his　eyes。
　“And　the　end　is　not　yet；”　he　said。　“These　are　just　the　first　lists　and　they’re　incomplete。　There’ll　be　a　longer　list　tomorrow。”　He　lowered　his　voice　so　that　those　in　the　near…by　carriages　could　not　hear。　“Scarlett；　General　Lee　must　have　lost　the　battle。　I　heard　at　headquarters　that　he　had　retreated　back　into　Maryland。”
　She　raised　frightened　eyes　to　his；　but　her　fear　did　not　spring　from　Lee’s　defeat。　Longer　casualty　lists　tomorrow！　Tomorrow。　She　had　not　thought　of　tomorrow；　so　happy　was　she　at　first　that　Ashley’s　name　was　not　on　that　list。　Tomorrow。　Why；　right　this　minute　he　might　be　dead　and　she　would　not　know　it　until　tomorrow；　or　perhaps　a　week　from　tomorrow。
　“Oh；　Rhett；　why　do　there　have　to　be　wars？　It　would　have　been　so　much　better　for　the　Yankees　to　pay　for　the　darkies—or　even　for　us　to　give　them　the　darkies　free　of　charge　than　to　have　this　happen。”
　“It　isn’t　the　darkies；　Scarlett。　They’re　just　the　excuse。　There’ll　always　be　wars　because　men　love　wars。　Women　don’t；　but　men　do—yea；　passing　the　love　of　women。”
　His　mouth　twisted　in　his　old　smile　and　the　seriousness　was　gone　from　his　face。　He　lifted　his　wide　Panama　hat。
　“Good…by。　I’m　going　to　find　Dr。　Meade。　I　imagine　the　irony　of　me　being　the　one　to　tell　him　of　his　son’s　death　will　be　lost　on　him；　just　now。　But　later；　he’ll　probably　hate　to　think　that　a　speculator　brought　the　news　of　a　hero’s　death。”
　
　Scarlett　put　Miss　Pitty　to　bed　with　a　toddy；　left　Prissy　and　Cookie　in　attendance　and　went　down　the　street　to　the　Meade　house。　Mrs。　Meade　was　upstairs　with　Phil；　waiting　her　husband’s　return；　and　Melanie　sat　in　the　parlor；　talking　in　a　low　voice　to　a　group　of　sympathetic　neighbors。　She　was　busy　with　needle　and　scissors；　altering　a　mourning　dress　that　Mrs。　Elsing　had　lent　to　Mrs。　Meade。　Already　the　house　was　full　of　the　acrid　smell　of　clothes　boiling　in　homemade　black　dye　for；　in　the　kitchen；　the　sobbing　cook　was　stirring　all　of　Mrs。　Meade’s　dresses　in　the　huge　wash　pot。
　“How　is　she？”　questioned　Scarlett　softly。
　“Not　a　tear；”　said　Melanie。　“It’s　terrible　when　women　can’t　cry。　I　don’t　know　how　men　stand　things　without　crying。　I　guess　it’s　because　they’re　stronger　and　braver　than　women。　She　says　she’s　going　to　Pennsylvania　by　herself　to　bring　him　home。　The　doctor　can’t　leave　the　hospital。”
　“It　will　be　dreadful　for　her！　Why　can’t　Phil　go？”
　“She’s　afraid　he’ll　join　the　army　if　he　gets　out　of　her　sight。　You　know　he’s　so　big　for　his　age　and　they’re　taking　them　at　sixteen　now。”
　One　by　one　the　neighbors　slipped　away；　reluctant　to　be　present　w