Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

In her top drawer was a handkerchief just like this, one that Rhett Butler had given her only yesterday to wrap about the stems of wild flowers. She had planned to return it to him.

So Rhett came to that Watling and gave her money. Oh, men were so vile, and Rhett Butler was the worst of them all! She crumbled the handkerchief in her hand, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. As she passed the stove, she shoved the handkerchief into the flames.

Chapter X

Scarlett, Melanie and Miss Pittypat sat in front of the Daily Examiner office in the carriage.

They wanted to learn the first news of Ashley. Somewhere Ashley was fighting, perhaps dying, and the newspaper office was the only place where she could learn the truth.

The first casualty lists[15 - the first casualty lists – первые списки убитых] were posted.

В«Read itВ», whispered Melly. Scarlett read and her voice shook.

Oh, how long the list was! Three В«TarletonВ» names on that list. В«Tarleton Brenton, Lieutenant; Tarleton Stuart, Corporal; Tarleton Thomas, privateВ».

And Boyd was buried somewhere in Virginia. All the Tarleton boys gone.

Sxarlett could not read any more. The boys with whom she had grown up, danced, flirted, kissed were on that list.

As the Christmas season approached, Ashley came home on furlough. Scarlett was frightened. Her emotions were sharpened by her long dreams of him. This Ashley Wilkes in his faded, patched uniform was a different man from that boy she had loved before the war.

He stood in his old uniform, his pistol in its holster, Major Ashley Wilkes. Her same handsome Ashley, yet so very different.

He was home again. Melanie was too happy to be shy and reserved. And Scarlett was too glad to be jealous. Ashley was home at last!

Ashley had kissed his father, and then Aunt Pitty. Finally he turned to Scarlett and said: В«Oh, Scarlett! You pretty, very pretty!В» and kissed her on the cheek.

В«Darling, you look like a ragamuffinВ», said Melanie. В«Who did mend your uniform?В»

В«Really? My servant, Mose, mended itВ», said Ashley.

At supper they all asked him about the war. The war! Who cared about the war? Scarlett didn’t think Ashley cared very much for that subject either. She saw that Melanie’s cheeks were crimson and she was trembling. She seemed shyly happy. Melanie did not even look up when Ashley opened the bedroom door. Ashley said good night abruptly, and he did not meet Scarlett’s eyes either.