Most Romantic love story ever part 1 Learn English through story level 3

chapter one

news of a wedding

scarlett o’hara was not beautiful

but men did not realize this when caught

by her charm as the tartan twins

were her eyes were green

and her skin was that soft white skin

which southern women valued so highly

and covered so carefully from the hot

georgia sun with hats and gloves

on that bright april afternoon of 1861

sixteen-year-old scarlet sat in the cool

shadows of the house at tara her

father’s plantation

stuart and brent tarlton sat each side

of her

they were friendly young men

with deep red brown hair

and were clever in the things that

mattered in north georgia at that time

growing good cotton

riding well

shooting straight and behaving like a

gentleman

don’t you two care about being sent home

from the university of georgia for bad

behavior

scarlett was saying

the war will start soon

said brent

you didn’t think we’d stay in university

with a war going on did you

there isn’t going to be a war

said scarlett looking bored

ashley wilkes and his father told paw

just last week that our men in

washington will come to an agreement

with mr lincoln about the confederacy

anyway the yankees are too frightened of

us to fight

and if you say war once more i’ll go

inside the house and shut the door

they looked across the red earth of

gerald o’hara’s land which stretched

away as far as the eye could see

the white house was like an island

sitting in a wild red sea

the earth blood-colored after the rains

of recent weeks

scarlet

you’ll promise to dance with us at the

party at 12 oaks tomorrow won’t you

said brent

if you do

we’ll tell you a secret

said stuart

what secret

asked scarlett

who told you

miss pity pat hamilton ashley wilkes’s

cousin who lives in atlanta

charles and melanie hamilton’s aunt

said stuart

she said that we’ll hear news of a

wedding tomorrow night at the party

said brent

oh i know that

said scarlet disappointed

it’s about charlie hamilton and honey

wilkes

everyone knows they’ll get married

someday

it’s about ashley

said stuart

he’s going to marry charlie’s sister

miss melanie

scarlett’s face did not change

but her lips went white

like a person who is in the first

moments of shock

they weren’t going to marry until next

year

said stuart

but with all the talk of war

both families think it will be better if

they’re married soon

he smiled

now scarlett you must promise to eat

supper with us at the party

of course i will

said scarlet automatically

and give us plenty of dances

yes

she spoke as if in a dream

and sit with us at lunch too

said brent

what

said scarlet

yes

of course

the twins were unable to believe their

good luck

they talked on about the dance

and ashley wilkes and melanie hamilton

they laughed and joked

and waited for scarlett to invite them

to supper

and it was some time before they

realized she was not listening to them

scarlett watched the twins right away

ashley was going to marry melanie

hamilton

oh it couldn’t be true

it was all a mistake

ashley was in love with her

not melanie

mamie came out of the house

she was a big old negro who loved ellen

o’hara and her family

are the gentlemen gone

she asked

why didn’t you ask them to stay to

supper

i didn’t want to listen to them talking

to paw about the war all through supper

said scarlett oh you just ain’t polite

miss scarlet

said mammy

now come into the house before you get

cold

i want to watch the sun go down

said scarlett i’ll sit here until paul

comes home

just fetch me a light coat mammy

mammy went back into the house

and scarlett made a sudden decision

i’ll go and meet paw

she thought

he’ll be coming back from twelve oaks

soon and he’ll know about ashley

as a child scarlett had not given ashley

wilkes a single thought

but two years ago he had arrived home

after touring europe

riding up to tara with the sun so bright

on his fair hair that it’s shown like

silver

you’ve grown up scarlet

he had said

kissing her hand

and from that moment on

she wanted him

as simply as she wanted food to eat and

horses to ride

and a soft bed to sleep in

for two years he took her to dances and

suppers

and a week did not go past without

ashley calling at tara

it was true he never spoke to her of

love

and his clear gray eyes never burned

with that hot light scarlet knew so well

in other men

but she was sure that he loved her

she saw him looking at her sometimes in

that sad

strange way of his

scarlett heard the sound of gerald

o’hara’s horse and saw him coming across

the fields at full speed

gerald was 60 years old

a small man with silver white hair and

hard little blue eyes

he was surprised to see her

how is everyone at 12 oaks

she asked him

they’re all talking about the war

he said

and uh

did they speak about the party

scarlett asked quickly

yes i think they did

said gerald

miss melanie hamilton and her brother

charles have come from atlanta and

oh so she did come

scarlett’s heart became heavy

was ashley there too

yes he was

gerald looked closely at his daughter

that’s why you came to meet me isn’t it

why didn’t you say so before

now what’s all this about you and ashley

there’s nothing pa

she said

has he asked to marry you

said scarlett quietly

and he won’t

said gerald

john wilkes says that ashley is to marry

miss melanie

they’ll tell everyone tomorrow

a pain cut across scarlet’s heart

and she found it hard to breathe

her father watched her

and looked uncomfortable

have you run after a man who’s not in

love with you

said scarlet

you’re lying

said gerald

then went on in a kind way

there are lots of other young men

scarlet

i want you to be happy

and you wouldn’t be happy with him

i would

the wilks are different from other

people

said gerald

they marry their cousins and keep their

strangeness in the family

look how they read books and go to

boston and new york to see paintings and

hear music

nobody rides a horse better than ashley

said scarlett

oh yes

ashley can ride and drink with the best

of man

but he cares nothing about those things

said gerald

now listen

there are other fine boys to marry

scarlet and when i’m gone

i’ll leave tara to you and

i don’t want tara

cried scarlett angrily

plantations don’t mean anything when

she was going to say when you don’t have

the man you want

but gerald shout stopped her

not mean anything

land is the only thing in the world that

does mean anything

he cried

it will come to you scarlet this love of

the land it’s in your blood

and there’s no denying it

he held her arm as they walked towards

the house

i’ll not worry your mother with this

enormous

you they met ellen o’hara at the door

she was carrying the black bag in which

she always kept the medicines she used

for the slaves

mammy was with her

and did not look pleased

mr o’hara

ellen said

a baby is dying at the slattery house

and mammy and i are going to see what we

can do

the slatteries shouted gerald

those white trash

she is always nursing negroes and white

trash who could look after themselves

said mammy annoyed

take my place at supper scarlet

said ellen touching her daughter’s cheek

she was a tall woman with a quiet gentle

voice and a warm smile that charmed

everyone

there was something magical about her

mother’s touch thought scarlett

and for a moment forgot all about ashley

but later

an idea came to her

ashley doesn’t know i love him

she thought

he thinks i love brent or stuart and

he’s marrying melanie because he thinks

he can’t have me

i must tell him

then we can run off to jonesborough and

get married

by this time tomorrow night

i might be mrs ashley wilkes

chapter 2

brett butler

early the next morning

gerald told his plantation manager jonas

wilkerson

to pack his things and leave

jonas ellen had discovered was the

father of emmy slattery’s dead baby and

now ellen would not have him working at

tara

jonas was a yankee and hated all

southerners

and he was angry at losing the best

managers job in the neighborhood

ellen told gerald that she was not going

to the party at twelve oaks

i must check jonas’s figures in the

plantation books

she said

mammy will stay and help me

so gerald rode on his horse beside the

carriage that took scarlett and her two

sisters

down the road to 12 oaks

scarlett thought about her plans to

marry ashley

no one must suspect anything she thought

so i’ll flirt with every man there from

old frank kennedy to shy charlie

hamilton

it will be cruel to ashley but it will

make him want me more

i don’t know why you look so happy this

morning

said her sister sue ellen looking at

scarlet

you know ashley’s going to marry melanie

pau said so

and i know you love

ashley sue ellen that’s not true

said karine the youngest of the three

it’s brent that scarlett cares about

the whole family knew that kareem loved

brent tarlton

but he never gave her a thought

except to scarlett’s baby sister

i don’t care about brent

said scarlett smiling

and he doesn’t care about me

he’s waiting for you to grow up

karine went red in the face

oh scarlet

is he really

she said

they went over the hill and saw 12 oaks

the house was white and beautiful under

the blue sky

lunch was going to be served outside

and scarlett saw the tarleton twins with

their two brothers boyd and tom

and alex and tony fontaine

and the two calvert boys rayford and

kade

good

everyone is here

thought

scarlett john wilkes stood on the

entrance steps

a silver-haired man with a quiet charm

that was as warm as a summer sun

next to him was his daughter honeywilks

his other daughter india was nowhere to

be seen

and scarlet guessed that she was in the

kitchen giving final orders to the

servants

poor india

thought scarlet

she’s been so busy looking after 12 oaks

since her mother died that she’s had no

time to catch any man except stuart

taulton and it’s not my problem if he

thinks i’m prettier than her

john wilkes helped scarlet from the

carriage

and frank kennedy hurried to give a

helping hand to sue ellen who went red

but looked delighted

frank was 40

with a thin red beard

he was nervous with women and was

surprised when scarlett remembering her

plan

gave him one of her best smiles

stewart and brent tarlton moved towards

her and scarlett looked around as she

talked and laughed with them

suddenly she noticed a stranger standing

alone

he looked at least 35

and was tall and strong with a black

mustache

scarlett went red as he stared at her

with a cool smile

then he turned away as someone called

red

red butler

rhett butler

did she know the name

scarlett’s thoughts turned to ashley and

she forgot about the smiling man

i must go and comb my hair

she told stuart and brent

you boys wait for me and don’t run off

with any other girl

as she went up the wide stairs a shy

voice behind her called her name

scarlett turned and saw charles hamilton

a nice looking boy with soft brown hair

and deep brown eyes

she gave him her biggest

smile why

charles hamilton you handsome old thing

i’m sure you came all the way from

atlanta just to break my poor heart

charles almost fainted

this was the way girls talk to other

boys not to him

now you wait here until i come back

said scarlet

and don’t talk to those other girls or

i’ll be very jealous

i won’t

he said

scarlett saw rhett butler a few feet

away

he was smiling again

and had a strange look in his eye as he

stared at her

scarlett went red again and hurried on

up the stairs

kathleen calvert was in the bedroom

kathleen

said scarlett

who is that nasty man butler

my dear don’t you know

whispered kathleen excitedly

he’s from charleston but his family

won’t speak to him

really said scarlett

why

he took a girl out riding in a carriage

one afternoon and they stayed out nearly

all night when they finally arrived home

he said that the horse ran away and that

they got lost in the forest

and guess what

tell me

said scarlet hoping for the worst

he refused to marry her the next day

said scarlet disappointed

he said that he did nothing to her but

her brother invited him to fight and mr

butler shot him

well after that mr butler had to leave

charleston

did she have a baby

whispered scarlet

said kathleen

but no one will ever marry her now

i wish ashley would stay out all night

with me

thought scarlett

he’s too much of a gentleman not to

marry me afterwards

chapter three

changes

scarlett sat under a large tree with her

lunch on a plate in front of her

but although there were seven handsome

young men sitting around her

ashley was not one of them

and she was not happy

he was sitting on the grass

with melanie hamilton

talking quietly and smiling the slow

lazy smile that scarlett loved

melanie had dark hair and a heart-shaped

face

she was small but seemed older than her

17 years

scarlett saw fred butler talking to john

wilkes

he looked at her and laughed and she had

the feeling that this nasty man knew her

true feelings about ashley

and was amused

it was two o’clock

and the sun was warm

scarlett was just wondering if india

would suggest that the ladies went into

the house when she heard gerald arguing

with john wilkes

hope for peace with the yankees

gerald was shouting

the south must show that it’s strong and

ready for a fight

other men joined in the discussion

of course we’ll fight

yankee thieves

one southerner can fight 20 yankees

charles hamilton found himself alone

with scarlet as the others moved away

miss o’hara

he said

if i go to fight

will you be sorry

scarlett thought men were stupid to

think women were interested in these

things

but she answered

i’ll cry into my pillow every night

not meaning a word of it

miss o’hara

i must tell you something

said charles suddenly feeling brave

i love you

i want to marry you

scarlett wanted to tell charles he

looked silly but said automatically

this is so sudden

i don’t know what to say

i’ll wait forever

cried charles

scarlett noticed that ashley was now

with the group of men

if georgia fights

i’ll go with her

ashley was saying

but most of the sadness in the world was

caused by wars

and when they were over

no one knew what they were about

more arguing burst out after this until

rhett butler spoke

gentlemen

he said

can i say a word

there’s not one gun factory in the south

and not a wool or cotton factory either

we haven’t a single warship and the

yankees could quickly stop us selling

our cotton abroad with a blockade

they have all the things we haven’t got

gentlemen

all we have is cotton and slaves

and brave talk

everyone was shocked

but scarlett could not help feeling he

was right

she had never seen a factory

and did not know anyone who had

but he’s no gentleman to say these

things at a party where everyone is

having a good time

she thought

it was late afternoon and the ladies

were resting in the six great bedrooms

at 12 oaks to be ready for the dance

that evening

they had their dresses off and most were

asleep

scarlett checked that melanie was lying

down next to honey wilkes before she

quietly left the room

and went down the stairs

from a window she saw ashley drinking

and talking with a group of men on a

step outside

she walked silently across to the

library

i’ll wait in here until he comes into

the house

she thought

and then i’ll call to him

the library was half dark with the

curtains closed to keep out the sun

across the room was a sofa with its high

back towards her

and around the walls were hundreds of

books

scarlett left the door open and tried to

remember what she was going to say to

ashley

perhaps it will help if i pray

she thought

and closed her eyes

scarlett

it was ashley’s voice

she opened her eyes and saw him looking

at her from the doorway

are you hiding from charles or the

tarletons

he said

she pulled him into the room

what is it he said

have you got a secret to tell me

yes a secret she said

i love you

he was silent

and there was a worried and confused

look in his eyes

then he made himself smile and said

lightly

you have every other man’s heart here

today scarlett

isn’t that enough

do you want mine too

well

you’ve always had it

he doesn’t believe me she thought

he thinks i’m just flirting with him

scarlett looked into his eyes

ashley

tell me you love me my dear

she cried

he put his hand across her lips

don’t say these things

but i love you

she cried

and i know you love me

ashley you do care don’t you

yes

he said quietly

i care

and you do want to marry me

she said

i’m going to marry melanie he replied

he took her hands in his

how can i make you understand scarlett

love just isn’t enough when two people

are as different as we are

but

you said you cared for me

said scarlet

i was wrong to say it

she began to get angry

you’re afraid to marry me

she said her voice getting louder

you’ll marry that stupid little fool who

can only say no and yes

ashley’s face went white

stop

he said

she pulled away from him

i’ll hate you until i die

she shouted

and she hit him hard across the face

he said nothing but lifted her hand to

his lips and kissed it

then he was gone

and the memory of the sad and hopeless

look on his face would stay with her

until the day she died

scarlet began to shake

now he’ll hate me

she thought

every time he looks at me he’ll remember

me saying all those things

she began to feel hot all over

did other people know how she felt about

ashley

was everyone laughing at her

her hand dropped to a little table next

to her and her fingers closed around a

pretty glass bowl

she picked it up and threw it wildly

across the room

it missed the top of the sofa but

crashed against the wall beyond

this

said a voice from the other side of the

sofa

is too much

a man had been lying on it

but now he stood up

it was rhett butler

scarlett almost fainted

sir

she said

you are no gentleman to listen to other

people’s conversations

and you miss

a no lady

he said

but ladies rarely interest me and i

cannot understand my dear miss o’hara

what a wild and hot-blooded girl like

you can find to like about the handsome

but very boring mr wilkes

you aren’t good enough to clean his

boots

she shouted

he laughed

and you were going to hate him all your

life

she wanted to kill him

but she walked out of the room and

pulled the heavy door shut behind her

with a crash

a horse came fast towards the house

its rider low over the animal’s back

excitement was in every line of the

man’s face as he jumped down

the other men crowded round him and he

spoke quickly

suddenly stuart tolton gave a shout

scarlett saw these things through a

window as she went quietly back up the

stairs

somebody’s house must be on fire she

thought

she went on to the bedroom and was about

to open the door when she heard voices

inside

scarlet flirted with every man here

today honey wilkes was saying

she was certainly going after charles

and you know charles and i are going to

be married

are you really

whispered other voices excitedly

yes but don’t tell anybody yet

said honey

but there’s only one person scarlett

cares about and that’s ashley

honey you know that isn’t true

said melanie and it’s so unkind to say

it is true

scarlett took stewart from india and

today she tried to take mr kennedy from

sue ellen and ashley

ran back down the stairs

i must get home she thought

but when she was on the steps outside

she stopped

she couldn’t go home

she couldn’t run away and show them how

ashamed she was feeling

it would only make things worse

she hated them

she hated ashley

she hated everyone

i’ll stay and make them sorry

she thought

i will

she turned towards the house

and saw charles hamilton

do you know what’s happened he cried

she said nothing

only stared at him

mr lincoln called for soldiers he said

75 000 of them

of course it will mean fighting miss

scarlet but don’t you worry

it’ll be all over in a month

scarlett was only half listening

he has plenty of money

she was thinking

he lives in atlanta

and if i marry him quickly

it will show ashley that i don’t care

that i was only flirting with him

and it will just kill honey

she’ll never get another man and

everyone will laugh at her and it will

hurt melanie because she loves charles

so much

will you wait for me miss scarlet

charles was saying

scarlett made a decision

i don’t want to wait

she said

he held her hand his mouth wide open

twice he tried to say something but the

words wouldn’t come

at last he said

can

can you possibly

love me

she said nothing but looked down at the

floor

pretending to be shy

charles wanted to shout and sing and

kiss her

and then to tell everyone that scarlett

o’hara loved him

will you marry me soon

he said

not daring to breathe

the sooner the better

she said

within two weeks

ashley was married to melanie and

scarlett was married to charles

two months later

she was a widow

charles died from typhoid

he never fought a battle

he never got close to a yankee

soon after scarlet discovered that she

was going to have a baby

and she became the mother of charles’s

son

she called him wade

she did not love or want the child

and it did not seem possible that he was

hers

every time she thought of ashley

she cried

and went back to her bed and refused to

eat

ellen tried to help but failed

and then charles’s aunt miss pity pat

hamilton wrote asking if scarlett could

come to atlanta for a long visit

she and melanie wanted very much to see

charlie’s dear little baby

so scarlett went to atlanta with wade

and prissy her young slave

she did not want to go

but any change was welcome

chapter 4 atlanta

the war was making atlanta a busy city

trains thundered in and out and the

narrow muddy streets were full of army

wagons and ambulances

scarlett rode from the railway station

in miss pity pat’s carriage with uncle

peter

a tall thin negro who was aunt pity’s

old slave

she saw a tall handsome woman in a

bright colored dress and with hair so

red that it couldn’t possibly be the

real color

who is that uncle peter she whispered

i don’t know said uncle peter looking

away quickly

yes you do

who is she

bill wattling

he said after a moment

miss pity ain’t going to like you asking

questions about women like that

scarlett was suddenly shocked

she must be a bad woman

she thought

staring she had never seen a prostitute

before

miss pity pat’s red brick house was on

peachtree road

and aunt pity was waiting excitedly on

the front step

melanie was with her and scarlett saw

the loving smile of welcome on the

little heart-shaped face

and felt a rush of dislike

this jealous dislike grew as the days

went by

and sometimes scarlett had to leave the

room when melanie talked about ashley

but atlanta was more interesting than

tara

and she was busy nursing at the hospital

with mrs mead the doctor’s wife and

other women

all married women in atlanta nursed the

soldiers

and most were glad to do it

but scarlett was a nurse only because

she had to be

melanie is content to stay at home and

never go to parties and to wear black

for her brother when she’s only 18 years

old fought scarlet

but she was never popular like me

and she doesn’t miss the things i miss

and she’s got ashley and i haven’t got

anybody

and she began to cry

one afternoon

two ladies of the town mrs merryweather

and mrs elsing

visited aunt pity

the mcclure girls were called to

virginia to bring home their brother

mrs elsing told them

he was hurt

pity we need you and melanie to take

their places at the sale tonight

said mrs merryweather

oh but we can’t go

said aunt pity with poor charlie dead

only uh don’t say can’t to me pity pat

hamilton

said mrs merriweather

we need you to watch the negroes with

the food

and we need melanie for the mcclure

girls table

just remember

it’s to make money for the cause

i think we should go

said scarlett suddenly trying not to

look too enthusiastic

we must do it for the

hospital they all looked surprised that

it was scarlett who offered

but mrs merryweather said

scarlett’s right

you must all come

scarlett sat behind a table with melanie

at the sale

they were in a large room which was

usually full of soldiers learning the

business of war

but tonight

there were flowers and colored lights

around the room

and music was playing there would be

dancing soon

but already scarlett’s feet were

secretly moving in time with the music

across the room a tall man dressed in

black with a fine white shirt

was staring at her

he smiled and she smiled back

until she remembered who he was

and then her hand flew to her mouth

it was rhett butler and now he was

coming over

i did not think you would remember me

miss o’hara

he said

there was laughter in his eyes and

scarlett’s face went bright red as she

remembered their last meeting

melanie turned at the sound of his voice

it’s mr rhett butler isn’t it

she said smiling i met you at 12 oaks

he finished for her

what are you doing so far from

charleston mr butler

business

he said

i find i must not only bring things into

your city but must also stay here to

sell them

melanie gave him a delighted smile

you must be the famous captain butler

we’ve heard so much about the blockade

runner

scarlett what’s the matter

are you feeling faint

scarlett sat down on a chair

of all the people to come here she was

thinking

why did he have to come

it’s quite warm in here

rhett was saying

can i take you across to a window miss

o’hara

said scarlet

so rudely that melanie stared

she’s not miss o’hara any longer

said melanie smiling in a kind way

she is mrs hamilton

and my sister now

said rhett

looking closely at scarlet

and

are your husbands here tonight

my husband is in virginia

said melanie proudly

but charles

she could not go on

charles is dead

said scarlett

oh my dear ladies

said rhett i’m so sorry

but to die for once country is to live

forever

melanie smiled at him through her tears

while scarlett felt herself hating him

he doesn’t mean a word

she thought

melanie forgot about captain butler and

scarlet as customers crowded round her

table

scarlett sat quietly on her chair

wishing that captain butler was back on

his ship

has your husband been dead long

he asked her

yes

almost a year

and

this is the first time

[Music]

i know it looks strange

she said

but the mcclure girls couldn’t come

so melanie and i

came for the cause

he finished for her

why does he make it sound so cheap

thought scarlett

when mrs merryweather spoke of the cause

she spoke proudly

scarlett wanted to tell him this but

then remembered she was only here

because she was tired of sitting at home

he seemed to guess her thoughts

because he said

would you be here if the confederacy

didn’t need you mrs hamilton

of course not

said scarlett

people would think i hadn’t loved

and she stopped

she could not pretend to him that she

had loved charlie

not after the things he had heard in the

library at twelve oaks

he moved close to her

don’t worry

he whispered

your guilty secret is safe with me

how can you say those things

she said angrily

but then she looked at him

saw the laughter in his eyes

and realized he was joking with her

and she found herself laughing too

several people near them were shocked to

see charles’s widow laughing with a

strange man and began to whisper about

dr mead called for everyone to be quiet

gentlemen

he said

if you want to dance with a lady this

evening

you must pay for her

remember

all the money is for the cause

the young girls whispered excitedly

while the men laughed

if only i could wear an apple green

dress and have flowers in my hair

thought scarlett

twenty men would fight to dance with me

and pay their money to the doctor

rhett butler was watching her

suddenly he called out

mrs charles hamilton

150

dollars

in gold

scarlett was so surprised

she could not move

everyone looked at her

and she saw the doctor whisper to rhett

butler

probably telling him that widows could

not dance

another one of our young ladies perhaps

said dr mead

said rhett

mrs hamilton

impossible

said the doctor mrs hamilton will not

yes

i will

scarlett heard herself shout

she saw the shocked faces of melanie and

the older women

she saw the surprised and annoyed faces

of the younger girls

but scarlett didn’t care

she was going to dance again

i’m doing it for the cause

scarlett told rhett

and he began to laugh

stop laughing everyone is looking at us

do you care if people talk

said rhett no but

well

a nice girl is supposed to care

she changed the subject

tell me

do you have a lot of money

what a rude question mrs hamilton

he laughed

but the answer is yes

and i’ll make a million on the blockade

one can always make money from a war

whether one is on the winning side or

not

do you think the confederacy will lose

yes

he said

well

these things bore me

said scarlet

captain butler

don’t hold me so tightly

people are looking

if no one was looking

would you care

he said smiling

captain butler she said pretending to be

shocked

then added

you dance very well for a big man

but it will be years and years before

i’ll dance again

i’ll offer more money for you in the

next dance

he said

and the next

it’s the end of the music

said scarlet

and here’s aunt pity pat coming out of

the back room

i suppose mrs merriweather told her

her eyes are as big as saucers

i don’t care if they talk

said scarlett next morning

i’m sure i made more money for the

hospital than any girl there

what does the money matter

cried aunt pity

poor charlie dead only a year

and that captain butler is a terrible

person scarlet

i can’t believe he’s all that bad

said melanie gently

when you think how brave he’s been

running the blockade

he isn’t brave

said scarlett he does it for money he

doesn’t care about the confederacy

and he says we’re going to lose

but he dances wonderfully

pity pat and melanie were so shocked

they could not speak

i’m tired of sitting at home and i’m not

going to do it anymore

scarlet went on

if they all talked about me last night

then it won’t matter what they say about

me now

melanie put her arm round scarlet

you did a brave thing last night

she said

and it’s going to help the hospital a

lot

and pity it’s been difficult for scarlet

and war times aren’t like other times

think of all the soldiers who are far

from home and without friends

we’ve been selfish

we must have a soldier here to dinner

every sunday from now on

chapter five

heroes

the autumn of 1862 went quickly for

scarlet with nursing parties and visits

to tara

the visits to tara were disappointing

because ellen worked from morning until

night

and gerald was busy because he could not

get a manager to take jonas wilkerson’s

place

sue ellen was waiting for the war to end

so that she could marry frank kennedy

and karine dreamed about brent tarleton

so scarlett was never sorry to return

from tara to atlanta

there were many things she did not tell

ellen

but her biggest secret

was that rhett butler called at aunt

pity pat’s house whenever he was in town

scarlett went riding with him in his

carriage

and he took her to dances and sales

she looked forward to his visits because

there was something exciting about him

something different from any other man

she knew

it’s as if i’m in love with him

she thought

but i’m not

he sat and listened to melanie for hours

as she talked about ashley and how proud

she was of him

but i only have to say ashley’s name

and he smiles nastily at me

thought scarlett

why are you nicer to melanie than to me

she asked him one day

i am much prettier than she is

dare i hope that you’re jealous

he said smiling

don’t be silly she said

another hope gone

if i am nicer to mrs wilkes

it’s because she is one of the very few

kind and unselfish people i know

and although she is still young

she is one of the few great ladies i

have been lucky enough to meet

don’t you think i’m a great lady too

said scarlett

my dear

i think we agreed when we first met

that you were no lady at all

said rhett

oh you rude horrible man reminding me of

that again she said

but he only laughed at her

the older men and women in atlanta did

not like rhett

but they agreed that he was brave

but when they told him this he replied

that he was as frightened as the brave

boys who were fighting

this annoyed them because everyone knew

there wasn’t a cowardly confederate

soldier anywhere

he always said

our brave boys

our heroes in grey

but made it sound like an insult

and when young ladies thanked him for

being one of the heroes who fought for

them

he smiled and said that he would do the

same thing for yankee women if the

yankees paid him enough money

at an evening of music at mrs elsing’s

home

rent was talking with a group of men

when scarlett heard an angry voice

arguing with him

are you saying sir that the cause for

which our heroes are dying is not sacred

all wars are sacred to those who have to

fight them

replied rhett

in a bored and lazy voice

if the people who started wars didn’t

pretend they were sacred

who would be foolish enough to fight

no it’s money that wars are really

fought about

but few people realize it

their ears are too full of fine words

from stay-at-home speakers

and before scarlett could reach him

he was leaving

let him go

said mrs elsing holding her arm he’s not

one of us

he’s a snake in the grass who we were

foolish enough to invite into our homes

later mrs merryweather rode home in aunt

pity’s carriage and immediately said

what she thought

he insulted us all and the confederacy

too

she said

saying that we were fighting for money

saying that our leaders have lied to us

pity you must never let that man into

your house again

she turned to scarlet and melanie

and i don’t want to hear you two girls

speaking to him again

melanie

what’s the matter

melanie was white and her eyes were wide

open

i will speak to him again

she said in a low voice

i will not be rude to him

i will not tell him to stay away from

the house

mrs merriweather’s mouth fell open

and ant pities did the same

uncle peter turned to stare

now why didn’t i say that

thought scarlett

melanie’s hands were shaking but she

went on quickly

i won’t be rude to him because of what

he said

because it’s

it’s what ashley thinks

melanie hamilton that’s a lie

said mrs merryweather

there was never a wilkes who was a

coward

i never said ashley was a coward

said melanie

i said he thinks what captain butler

thinks and he does

but he says it differently

in his letters ashley says we should not

be fighting the yankees

he says war isn’t wonderful or sacred or

any of those things

it’s just dirty and useless and a

terrible waste of men’s lives

scarlet said nothing

she was shocked to realize anyone as

perfect as ashley could think the same

as a man like red butler

they both understand what is true about

war

she thought

but ashley will fight and die for

it was all very confusing

chapter six

missing

in the early part of 1863

the war went well for the confederacy

but on the fourth day of july there was

news about hard fighting in pennsylvania

near a little town called

gettysburg the news came slowly and fear

began to spread across the town

mothers prayed that their boys were not

in pennsylvania

but those who knew their relations were

fighting next to dr mead’s son darcy

said they were proud for them to be in

the big fight that would win the war

in aunt pity’s house the three women

looked into each other’s eyes with fear

ashley was fighting with darcy

people waited outside the newspaper

office for news

scarlett melanie and aunt pity came and

waited in their carriage

scarlett saw mrs mead with her youngest

son phil waiting for news of darcy

then the crowd began to move as rhett

butler came through on his horse

the first lists will be out soon he said

yes look

the side window of the newspaper office

opened and a hand came out

in it were the lists of the dead

long narrow pieces of paper

with the names close together

the crowd began to fight for them and

there were shouts of let me through

rhett got off his horse and pushed his

way forward his heavy shoulders above

the rest of the crowd

then he was back with five or six lists

in his hand

he gave one to melanie and the others to

the ladies in the carriages near him

melanie’s hands shook so much that she

gave the list to scarlet who quickly

began to read

white wilkins win

zebulon

oh melanie he’s not on it he’s not on it

melanie began to cry with happiness

while scarlett’s heart seemed ready to

burst

ashley was alive

mrs mead sat in her carriage and looked

across at melanie

darcy won’t need those new boots now

she said

my dear

cried melanie and jumped from her

carriage

mother

you still got me

said phil

and if you’ll just let me i’ll go and

kill all the yankees

no cried mrs mead

phil mead don’t talk like that said

melanie climbing in with mrs mead

drive us home

captain butler can you tell the doctor

he’s at the hospital

scarlet looked at the list again

so many names from atlanta

and from all of georgia

calvert

fontaine

monroe and surely there couldn’t be

three tarletons

but there were

tarleton

brandon

stewart

and thomas

and boyd killed the first year somewhere

in virginia

all the tarleton boys gone

i’m sorry scarlet

said rhett

many of your friends

yes

she said

oh red

why do there have to be wars

why didn’t the yankees just pay for the

negroes

or why didn’t we just give them the

negroes for nothing

it isn’t about the negroes scarlet

he said

they were just the excuse

there’ll always be wars because men love

wars

he turned away

now

i’m going to find dr mead

after losing the battle of gettysburg

the tired and much smaller confederate

army were pushed back into virginia for

the winter

as christmas got closer

ashley came home for a week

his father and his sisters honey and

india came to atlanta to join him and

melanie scarlett wanted to cry with

happiness when she saw him

there was something new and strange in

the lines of his sunburned face

he was the same handsome ashley

but much more exciting

he looked at her and said

oh scarlett you pretty pretty thing

and kissed her on the cheek

each day she tried to speak to ashley

alone

but melanie was always with him

they all had questions to ask him about

the war but

although he told them jokes and funny

stories about friends

it seemed to scarlet that he did this to

stop them asking the questions he did

not want to answer

the week passed quickly

and ashley had to return to virginia

he said goodbye to melanie in their room

and then scarlett was at last able to

see him alone

ashley

may i go to the station with you

she asked him

father and the girls will be there he

said

i want to remember you saying goodbye

here

will you let me do that

ashley i’d do anything for you

she said

would you

he said

there’s something you can do for me

what is it

she asked happily

will you look after melanie for me

he said

look after melanie

she said disappointed

she loves you so much he said

scarlet when i think of what might

happen to her if i was killed

don’t say it she said

it’s bad luck to speak of death

i can’t tell what will happen to me

or to any of us

said ashley

but when the end comes

if i’m alive

i’ll be far away from here

too far to look after melanie

the

the end

said scarlet

the end of the war and

the end of the world

ashley

surely you don’t think the yankees will

win

all this week i’ve talked lies

he said i didn’t want to frighten

melanie or aunt pity

but yes scarlett

i think the yankees will win

gettysburg was the beginning of the end

i couldn’t live if you were dead she

thought wildly

don’t repeat what i’ve said

he told her

i don’t want to frighten the others

you’re strong

and it will be good to know that you and

melanie are together if anything happens

to me

you will promise won’t you

oh yes

she cried

ready to promise him anything

actually

i can’t let you go away

i can’t be brave about it

you must be brave

he said

he took her face in his hands

and kissed her lightly

scarlet

you’re so fine and good and strong

so beautiful

not just your sweet face my dear

but your mind and your body

ashley

she whispered happily

waiting for him to say the three magic

words

i love you

but they didn’t come

instead

she heard uncle peter with the carriage

outside

goodbye

ashley said softly

kiss me

she whispered kiss me goodbye

at the first touch of his lips on hers

she threw her arms around his neck

and pulled him to her

for a moment he held her close

but then quickly pushed her away

no scarlet

he said in a low voice

i love you

she cried ashley

say you love me

she looked into his face

and it was the unhappiest face she was

ever to see

goodbye

he said

his voice a whisper

for the next two months

scarlett was happy

she had felt the quickness of ashley’s

heart when her arms went round his neck

she had seen the look on his face

he loved her

she was sure of this now

and could almost feel sorry for melanie

but then in march

melanie said that she was going to have

a baby

and a sharp pain cut right through

scarlet

dr mead says it will be here in late

august or september

melanie said happily oh scarlet isn’t it

wonderful

dear god

thought scarlett a baby

ashley’s baby

oh how could he when he loves me and not

melanie

i can’t go on living here now

i’ll go home to tara

and the next morning she got up

intending to pack her things

but something happened that stopped her

news came that ashley was missing

he’d been missing for three days after

going on a five-man search to discover

where the yankee army were preparing to

fight their next battle

a shocked scarlet was certain that god

was punishing her for loving a married

man

melanie’s face was white and frightened

like a child lost in the dark

scarlet

she said

you’re all i’ve got now

i know ashley is dead

suddenly she was in scarlet’s arms and

they were crying and holding each other

at least i’ve got his baby

whispered melanie

and i’ve got nothing

thought scarlett

nothing but the look on his face when he

said goodbye

the first reports were

missing

believed killed

but they changed to

missing

believed to be a prisoner

melanie her hopes alive again met every

train praying for a letter

she refused to obey dr mead and stay in

bed

and one afternoon she fainted at the

station

and rhett butler brought her home

mrs wilkes you’re going to have a baby

aren’t you

he said

and when she gave an embarrassed nod he

went on

then you must take better care of

yourself

or you’ll harm the baby

i’ll talk to some people i know in

washington

if mr wilkes is a prisoner

he’ll be on a prisoner’s list

and if he isn’t

well there’s nothing worse than not

knowing

but you must promise me you’ll take care

of yourself

or i won’t help

oh you’re so kind

cried melanie

a month later rhett brought news that

ashley was not dead

but at rock island a cruel and terrible

prison in illinois

where many men would die before the end

of the war

he had a chance to get out

but refused it

said red

the yankees need men to fight the

indians in the west

and any prisoner who will join the

yankee army and fight the indians for

two years

can get out of prison

why didn’t he do that

cried scarlet why didn’t he join and

then run away and come home as soon as

he got out

melanie became angry

how can you suggest that

i’d prefer to know he was dead at rock

island and he was no longer a

confederate but a yankee soldier

of course he refused

when scarlett was alone with rent she

asked

wouldn’t you join the yankees to get out

of that place and then run away

of course

said rhett with a cold smile

then why didn’t ashley

said scarlett

he’s a gentleman

said rhett

meaning ashley was a fool

chapter 7

news from tara

that summer for the first time since the

war began

the people of atlanta heard the sound of

battle

the yankees were getting closer

many old men like john wilkes and young

boys like phil mead were sent to guard

the bridges at chattahoochee river at

the back of the main confederate army

then on a hot july afternoon

after a terrible battle at peachtree

creek a stream of confederate soldiers

began to arrive in atlanta

some were covered in blood

others helped those who couldn’t walk to

get to the hospitals

within days the yankees were on three

sides of atlanta and the railway to

tennessee was under yankee control

only one railway to the south to macon

was still open

but if they could hold it atlanta could

stand against the yankees

but when shells began to fall in the

streets

women children and old people began

leaving the city

mrs elsing and mrs merryweather refused

to leave

they were needed at the hospital they

said proudly and no yankee was going to

run them out of their homes

mrs mead also refused

phil was fighting not far away

and she wanted to be near

aunt pity was among the first to leave

she went to macon to stay with a cousin

you girls should come with me

she said

but scarlett did not lie can’t pity’s

cousin

i’ll go to tara and melanie can go to

macon with you she said

scarlett

don’t leave me

cried melanie

i’ll die if you aren’t with me when the

baby comes

you promised ashley that you’d take care

of me

he told me he was going to ask you

i’ll keep my promise scarlett said

tiredly

but i won’t go to macon

i’ll go home to tara and you can come

with me

but dr mead stopped melanie going to

macon ortara

you cannot travel he said

it might be dangerous

miss pity you go to macon and leave the

young ladies here

miss melanie you must stay in bed until

the baby comes

he spoke privately to scarlet

she is going to have a difficult time

he said

you must stay with her until the baby

comes

with these shells falling

it may be at any time

so aunt pity went to macon

taking uncle peter with her

and scarlett and melanie were left alone

in atlanta with wade and prissy

those first days scarlett would not go

into the streets every time she heard

the scream of a shell coming she rushed

to melanie’s room and threw herself on

the bed

and the two of them hid their heads in

the pillow

prissy and wade hid under a table

downstairs

wade crying and prissy screaming

i’d rather let melanie die than go out

and find the doctor when the shells are

falling

thought scarlett

but prissy calms scarlett’s fears

don’t you worry miss scarlet i know all

about delivering babies

she said

ain’t my mother told me all about it

just leave it to me

at the end of july scarlett received a

letter from gerald telling her that

karine was ill with typhoid and that

scarlet must not come home

that night she sat outside the house and

thought of tara

life there would never be the same

she would never again hear the wild

happy voices of the tarleton boys

or the monroe boys

or little joe fontaine

the front gate opened

and she quickly brushed tears from her

face before looking up

it was rhett butler

so you didn’t go to macon

he said

why did you stay

to be with melanie

she

well

she can’t go just now

is mrs wilkes still here he said

he lit a cigar

and you stayed with her

how strange

i see nothing strange about it

she said uncomfortably

you think mrs wilkes is silly and stupid

he said

so why do you stay when there are yankee

shells falling all around

because she’s charlie’s sister and

and like a sister to me

said scarlett her cheeks getting hot

you mean because she’s ashley wilkes’s

widow

said rhett

scarlett became angry

she liked to think she was a mystery to

men but rhett could see through her like

glass

he took her hand in his

how lucky to find you alone he said

and something in his voice made her face

go hot again

he’s going to tell me he loves me

she thought

then i can tell him he’s wasting his

time and he’ll feel a fool

he kissed her hand

and something electric passed through

her whole body as his warm mouth touched

her skin

i’m not in love with him she told

herself

i’m in love with ashley

scarlett

you do like me don’t you

he said

well

sometimes she said

could you ever love me

i’ve got him she thought

and answered in a cool voice

certainly not

not until you behave like a real

gentleman

and i don’t intend to do that

he said

so you don’t love me

good

because although i like you scarlett

i don’t love you

and i didn’t want to be the second man

not to return your love my dear

you

you don’t love me

she said

did you hope that i did

i’m sorry but i do like you a lot

i know you still think lovingly of the

wooden-headed mr wilks who has probably

been dead these last six months

but there must be room in your heart for

me too

scarlett

i want you more than i’ve ever wanted

any woman

scarlett was surprised and confused

are you asking me to marry you

she said

he dropped her hand and laughed loudly

i’m not a marrying man didn’t i tell you

that

but

what

my dear

he said quietly

i’m asking you to be my lover

love her

scarlet felt shock and disappointment at

the same time

get out

she cried

get out and don’t ever come back

i’ll

i’ll tell my father and he’ll kill you

she watched him smile

he was not ashamed

he was amused

she ran into the house and tried to

crash the door shut behind her but it

was too heavy

may i help you

he asked

and he crashed it shut for her as she

ran upstairs

as the hot noisy days of august came to

an end

the shelling stopped

then worrying news came from the south

the yankees were trying to take the

railway at jonesboro

and tara was close to the fighting

eventually a soldier came to say that

the confederate army had pushed the

yankees back

but the railway was damaged and it would

be some time before trains could travel

again

he brought scarlett a letter from her

father after meeting him in jonesboro

and was able to tell her that the

yankees hadn’t got to tara

but what was pa doing in jonesborough

she asked

the soldier looked nervous

he was looking for an army doctor to go

to tara with him

he said

scarlet opened her father’s letter and

began to read

dear daughter

your mother and both girls have typhoid

and are very ill

but we must hope for the best

when your mother went to her bed she

told me to write and say that you must

not come home and put yourself and wade

in danger too

she sends her love

and asks you to pray for her

for the next week scarlett waited

nervously for more news but none came

no one knew where the confederates were

or what the yankees were doing

she had seen enough typhoid in the

atlanta hospitals to know that a week

was a long time with that terrible

illness and she wanted to be at home

why doesn’t this baby come

she thought

the last day of august arrived

and with it came rumors of a big battle

south of atlanta

people waited for news

if the yankees won the macon railway

they would soon be in atlanta

on the first of september scarlet woke

to hear a sound like distant thunder

rain coming

she thought at first

then she went to the window

no not rain guns

and from the south

there lay jonesborough tara

and her mother

scarlet went to melanie’s room

melanie was in bed her eyes closed and

with dark circles around them

she looked worse than any sick person

scarlett had ever seen

then her eyes opened and a soft warm

smile lit her face

scarlett

she said

there’s something i want to ask you

scarlett sat down on the bed

and melanie held her hand

i’m sorry about the guns dear said

melanie

they’re towards jonesborough aren’t they

i know how worried you are

you could be at home if it weren’t for

couldn’t you

yes

said scarlet rudely

you’re so good to me

and i love you for it

if i die

i want you to take my baby

will you do that scarlett pulled her

hand away frightened

don’t be silly melanie she said

you’re not going to die

promise me scarlet

then i won’t be afraid

said melanie

i’m sure my baby will come today

oh all right i promise

said scarlett

why do you think it will come today

i’ve been having pains

i’ll send prissy for dr mead

said scarlet

you know how busy he is

just send for mrs mead

chapter 8

the yankees are coming

scarlett sent prissy for mrs mead and

after a long time

the little black girl returned alone

she wasn’t there

said prissy

she got news that mr phil was shot and

she went with a carriage to fetch him

home

scarlett stared wanting to shake her

well

don’t just stand there go and fetch mrs

merriweather

she ain’t there

said prissy

i stopped on my way home but the house

was shut up

she’s probably at the hospital

scarlett thought for a moment

go to mrs elsing and explain everything

she said

ask her to come and hurry

she went back to melanie’s room where

melanie was lying on her side

her face white

mrs mead is at the hospital

lied scarlet

she didn’t want to worry melanie by

telling her about phil getting shot

but mrs elsing is coming

it was an hour before prissy came back

walking slowly along the road

scarlett hurried out to meet her

mrs l singh is over at the hospital

said prissy

a lot of soldiers came in on the early

train

most of them hurt bad

you must go to the hospital said scarlet

i’ll give you a letter for dr mead but

if he isn’t there give it to one of the

other doctors

and hurry back this time

minutes later percy went off with a

letter and scarlett went back upstairs

melanie asked no questions but her face

was full of pain

an hour passed and then another

afternoon came and melanie’s pains were

worse

where was prissy

why didn’t she come

scarlett went to the window

had the sound of the guns died away or

was it her imagination

then she saw prissy running down the

street

fear written all over her little black

face

scarlet quickly moved from the window

i’ll get some cooler water

she told melanie

she got downstairs as prissy came in

they’re fighting at jonesborough miss

scarlet

they say we’re losing the war

where’s dr mead

where is he coming

said scarlet

he ain’t at the hospital

mrs merriweather and mrs elson ain’t

there either

a man told me the doctor was down at the

railway station with the soldiers from

jonesboro

but miss scarlet i was too frightened to

go down there

people are dying down there

and i’m frightened of dead people

what about the other doctors asked

scarlett

miss garnet i couldn’t get them to read

your letter said prissy

they’re working in the hospital like

they’re all crazy

don’t worry me about babies when we’ve

got men dying here one of them shouted

at me

listen said scarlet

i’ll get dr mead and you sit with miss

melanie

don’t tell her where the fighting is

and don’t tell her that the other

doctors won’t come do you hear

scarlet hurried out of the house and

into the hot sun

a soldier came riding past and she

stopped him

are the yankees coming she asked him

yes miss he said

the army are leaving atlanta soon

scarlet began to run

people rushed past her as she pushed her

way through the crowd and on towards the

station

but as she went round the side of the

atlanta hotel

she stopped

there

lying on the ground under the heat of

the sun

were hundreds and hundreds of men

some were screaming with pain

there was blood everywhere

and the smell of unwashed bodies came to

meet her

she put a hand across her mouth and nose

then she lifted her skirts and stepped

over dead men

and men with blood on their uniforms

and men making sounds which had to mean

water

dr mead

cried scarlet

is dr mead here

a man looked up

it was the doctor

his shirt and trousers were red with

blood

and his face was gray with tiredness

thank god you’re here he said to scarlet

i can use every pair of hands quickly

come here she went to him as fast as she

could across the rows of bodies

doctor

you must come

melanie is having her baby

baby

thundered the doctor

are you crazy

i can’t leave these men

get some woman to help you

get my wife

she started to tell him why mrs mead

could not come then stopped

she could not tell him his son was hurt

doctor please she cried

please come

he looked at her

the yankees are coming and the army is

moving out of town

i don’t know what they’ll do with these

men

there aren’t any trains the makin line

is under yankee control

listen

i can’t promise scarlett but i’ll try

scarlett went back through the rows of

men

on the streets beyond the atlanta hotel

soldiers were moving out of the city

there seemed to be thousands of them

wagons went past throwing up clouds of

dust

there were drunken women with painted

faces among the crowd

scarlett saw belle wattling

and heard her drunken laugh as she held

on to a one-armed soldier

scarlett began to run again

when she got back to the house

wade was waiting outside

wade hungry

he cried

be quiet said scarlett

go and play in the back garden

she looked up and saw prissy at the

bedroom window

scarlett waved at her to come down

then went into the house

prissy came down the stairs three at a

time

the doctors can’t come

said scarlett

you’ve got to deliver the baby and i’ll

help you

prissy’s mouth fell open

what’s the matter

said scarlet

miss scarlet

i don’t know nothing about delivering

babies

said prissy looking at the floor

scarlett took prissy’s arm and squeezed

you black liar what do you mean

you said you knew everything about i was

lying miss scarlett cried prissy

scarlett had never hit a slave in all

her life

but she hit prissy’s black cheek as hard

as she could

prissy screamed loudly and tried to pull

away

scarlet

is it you

melanie’s weak voice came from upstairs

please come

please

scarlett tried to remember what mammy

and ellen did when wade was born

build a fire and make sure there’s

plenty of water she told prissy

bring all the towels you can find

and some string and a pair of scissors

quickly

she pushed prissy towards the kitchen

then took a deep breath before going

upstairs

there was never an afternoon as long as

this one

or as hot

scarlett pulled the bedroom curtains

across to keep out the sun

melanie tried to be brave but when

evening came

she began calling for ashley

over and over

until scarlett wanted to cover her face

with a pillow

perhaps the doctor will come after all

thought scarlett

and she told prissy to go to the mead’s

house and see if he or mrs mead were

there

prissy went but came back soon after

alone

the doctor ain’t been home all day

she reported in

miss scarlet

mr phil is dead

he was shot

i didn’t see mrs mead because she was

getting his body ready for

all right said scarlett quickly

melanie opened her eyes and whispered

are the yankees coming

said scarlet prissy’s a liar

yes miss i am

agreed prissy

the yankees

are coming

whispered bellamy guessing correctly

oh my poor baby scarlet

you mustn’t stay here

you know i won’t leave you

said scarlett

why not

said melanie

i’m going to die anyway

chapter 9

escape from atlanta

scarlet came down the dark stairs slowly

like an old woman

she went outside and sat on the front

step

it was all over

melanie was not dead

and prissy was giving the small baby boy

his first bath while melanie was asleep

the night air was cool and fresh on her

face and arms

more soldiers were leaving the city

passing by the house

although she could not see them clearly

in the darkness

what could she do

where could she turn for help

scarlett remembered rhett

he was strong and clever

and he wasn’t afraid of the yankees

and he had a horse and carriage too

she called prissy

captain butler lives at the atlanta

hotel

she said

go there quickly and tell him about the

baby

tell him that i want him to get us out

of here

suppose captain butler ain’t at the

hotel

said prissy

go to the bar rooms go to bel watling’s

house said scarlet just find him or the

yankees will get us all

scarlett went back into the house and

waited

after some time she saw that the sky was

becoming pink over the east of the city

then a large flame shot high into the

darkness

the yankees are burning the city

she thought

moments later prissy ran into the room

the yankees scarlet began

it’s our men

said prissy

they’re burning the gun factory and what

the army left

we’re all going to burn up

did you see captain butler

said scarlett

yes

i saw him and i says come quick captain

butler and bring your horse and carriage

and he says they took his horse but

he’ll steal another one

he’s coming

he’s going to bring a horse

so he says

scarlet began to feel better

she would forgive rent anything if he

got them out of this mess

wake up wade and dress him

she told prissy

then pack some clothes for all of us

don’t tell miss melanie we’re going

not yet

but put two thick towels around the baby

and pack his clothes too

it seemed hours before rhett finally

came with a wagon

he was dressed as if he was going

dancing in a white coat and trousers

he carried two guns and his pockets were

full of bullets

good evening

he said smiling and taking off his hat

fine weather we’re having

i hear you’re going on a trip

if you make any jokes i’ll never speak

to you again

said scarlett her voice shaking you’re

frightened

he pretended to be surprised

yes i am

and if you had any sense you’d be

frightened too

she said

we must get out of here

and

where are you going

he asked politely

i’m going home

she said

you mean to tara

he said

scarlett are you mad

the yankees may be all over tara by now

you can’t go right through the yankee

army

i will go home

she cried

tears running down her cheeks

suddenly she was in his arms

his hand smoothed her hair gently

and when he spoke his voice was gentle

too

don’t cry my brave little girl

he said

i’ll take you home

rent turned west along the narrow street

and the wheel of the wagon hit a stone

so hard that melanie cried out in the

back of the wagon

wade and prissy were next to her with

the new baby

scarlet was in the front next to red

must we go through the fire she asked

him

not if we hurry

he said

he stopped the horse suddenly

soldiers he said

long lines of confederate soldiers

walked through marietta street

too tired to care about the burning

buildings around them

many had no shoes

and their uniforms were torn and dirty

they went past silently

like ghosts

take a good look

said rhett

so you can tell your grandchildren that

you saw the last soldiers of the sacred

cause

suddenly she hated him for insulting

these broken men

she thought of charles of ashley who

might be dead

and all those brave young boys now dead

she forgot that she had once thought

they were fools

rhett watched the soldiers with a

strange and thoughtful look on his face

then there was a crash of falling wood

and scarlet saw a thin flame above the

building next to them

red

hurry she shouted

they went quickly from one narrow street

to another

until the sound of the flames died

behind them

rhett did not speak

his face looked cold and hard

as if he’d forgotten where he was

scarlett wanted him to say something

anything

but he only sat and stared at the dark

road ahead

oh rhett she said

i’m so glad you aren’t in the army

at this

he turned his head

and she saw in his eyes how angry and

confused he was

after that

she said nothing

at last they were on a wider smoother

road

we’re out of the city said rhett

do you still want to do this crazy thing

the yankee army are between you and tara

yes she said

please rent let’s hurry

you can’t go to jonesborough down this

road he said

they’ve been fighting up and down there

all day

do you know any wagon paths

oh yes cried scarlet i know a wagon path

pond i used to ride it

it comes out only a mile from tara

good

said red

maybe the yankees aren’t there yet

maybe you can get through if

i can get through

aren’t you going to take us

he said i’m leaving you here

leaving us

she said wildly

where are you going

i’m going with the army he said

red stop joking

i’m not joking my dear

he said smiling

think how delighted our soldiers will be

at my last minute appearance

oh rhett

she cried

why are you going

he laughed

perhaps

because i’m a southerner

and

i’m ashamed

who knows

you should die of shame leaving us alone

and helpless

scarlet

anyone as selfish and strong-minded as

you is never helpless

god help the yankees if they get you

he stepped down from the wagon

then he put his hands up

caught her under the arms and brought

her to the ground next to him

he took her several steps away from the

wagon

i’m not asking you to understand

or forgive

he said

i’ll never understand or forgive myself

for this foolishness

but the south needs every man

so i’m off to the wars

his warm strong hands moved upper arms

i do love you scarlet

although i told you i

didn’t do you want to change your mind

about what i suggested before

a soldier would go to his death with

beautiful memories

he was kissing her now

with slow

hot lips

charles had never kissed her like this

the kisses of the tarleton and calvert

boys never made her go hot and cold like

this

a voice came from the wagon

it was wade’s

wade frightened

and suddenly scarlett remembered that

she was frightened too

and that rhett was leaving her

and on top of it all he was insulting

her with his shocking suggestions

she pulled herself away from him

you coward

she screamed

you nasty horrible thing

and she hid him across the mouth with

all her strength

he put a hand to his face

i see

he said quietly

go on

cried scarlet

i don’t want to see you ever again

i hope a shell lands right on you

i hope it blows you into a million

pieces

i hope never mind the rest

said rat smiling i understand your

general idea

he walked back to the wagon

mrs wilkes

prissy’s frightened voice answered from

the wagon

this melanie fainted a long way back

captain butler

that’s probably best

he said

if she was awake

i doubt that she could live through all

the pain

take good care of her prissy

he turned round

goodbye scarlett

scarlett knew he was looking at her

but she did not speak

she saw his big shoulders moving in the

dark

then he was gone

she came slowly back to the wagon

her knees

shaking she put her head against the

neck of the horse

and cried

chapter 10

home

many times on that journey scarlett

heard soldiers coming

and had to hide the wagon in fields

among the trees

then wait

while the men went past like ghosts in

the darkness

she lost her way and cried when she

could not find the little wagon path she

knew so well

but a few miles after she found it

the horse dropped to its knees

too tired to go any further

scarlett climbed into the back of the

wagon

heard melanie whisper

scarlet

can i have some water please

and heard herself answer

there isn’t any

before she went to sleep

when she woke

the sun was pouring through the trees

and everything was silent

she sat up and looked round quickly

but there were no soldiers anywhere

in the wagon

melanie lay so still and white

that at first scarlett thought she must

be dead

but then she saw melanie’s shallow

breathing

they were under some trees in someone’s

front garden

scarlet noticed

it’s the mallory place she thought

excited at the thought of friends and

help

but the stillness of death lay over the

plantation and

when she looked towards the house

there were only some smoke blackened

stones left

is this what tara will be like

she thought

she woke prissy then looked over and saw

that melanie’s eyes were open

scarlett found some apples under the

trees

then got some water from a stream near

the house

they all had a drink

then scarlett gave the rest of the water

to the horse

the animal was on its feet again

but it was very old she saw now

they were 15 miles from tara

but the horse moved so slowly it took

all day to travel there

every empty burned out house they passed

frightened scarlet more

there were dead men and dead horses

lying by the road

and the fields and trees seemed full of

ghosts in the afternoon sun

there was a sudden noise and prissy

screamed loudly

but it was only a cow

coming from behind some trees

the animal looked at them with large

frightened eyes

she needs milken

said prissy

it must be one of mr mcintosh’s that the

yankees didn’t get

said scarlet

we’ll take it with us

then we can have some milk for the baby

it was evening when they reached the top

of a hill

and went down through the line of trees

that led to

was it there

or was the darkness hiding just a few

smoke blackened stones like the

macintosh place

but no

tara had escaped

it was there the white wall showed

through the darkness

then scarlett saw a shadow come from

inside the house

someone was home

a shout of delight started in her throat

but died there

the shadow did not move or called to her

but

stiffly and slowly

came down the steps

she whispered

it’s me

scarlett

i’ve come home

her father looked at her

daughter

said daughter

he’s an old man

thought scarlet

shocked

a baby’s cry came from the wagon

and gerald looked across

it’s melanie and her baby

whispered scarlet

she’s very ill

i brought her home

gerald went to the wagon

straightening his shoulders

cousin melanie

he said

twelve oaks is burned

you must stay with us

we must carry her said scarlett

she can’t walk

another person came from the house

it was pork

gerald’s personal slave

he ran down the steps

scarlet

scarlet caught him by the arms and felt

his tears on her hands as he held them

glad

glared your back

he cried

it was pork who carried melanie indoors

prissy took the baby

wade followed them up the steps into the

house

scarlett caught her father’s arm before

he could follow two

did they get well paw

she said

the girls are

getting better

he said

your mother

yes

your mother died yesterday

said gerald

gerald said it over and over again

as he followed scarlet around the house

she died yesterday

scarlett felt nothing

except a great tiredness

she would think of mother later

or she would simply cry and cry

later when she was alone with her father

she asked

why didn’t the yankees burn tara

they used the house for offices

said gerald

yankees

in this house

the thought made her feel sick

they were daughter

said gerald

we saw the smoke from twelve oaks before

they came

but miss honey and miss india were in

macon

so we didn’t worry about them

we couldn’t go to macon

the girls were so sick

well your mother

we couldn’t go

our negroes ran away

they stole the wagons and the horses

only mammy

dilsey and pork stayed

the yankees came up the road from the

river

and i met them at the front door

oh brave little gerald

thought scarlet

they told me to leave

went on gerald

they told me they were going to burn the

place

i told them that we had typhoid in the

house

and they would burn it over the heads of

three

dying women

the young officer was

was a gentleman

a yankee gentleman

paw

a gentleman

said gerald

he rode away and came back with an army

doctor who looked at the girls

and your mother

you let a yankee into their room

he had medicine

and we had none

he saved your sisters

said gerald

they didn’t burn the house

they moved in

the officers filled all the rooms except

the sick room and the soldiers lived in

tents around the place

they killed the cows the chickens and

the pigs

they took the pictures

and some of the furniture

and and mother

did she know yankees were in the house

she never knew anything

thank god

said scarlet

and then they moved on

he was silent for a long time

and then he held her hand

i’m glad you’re home

he said simply

after gerald went to bed

scarlett went to the room where karine

and sue ellen were sleeping

mammy was there watching them

her eyes lit up when she saw scarlet

my child is home

mammy said softly

oh miss scarlett

now that miss helen is dead

what are we going to do

scarlett sat down next to the bed

i want you to tell me about mother

she said

i just couldn’t ask paw about her

tears came from mammy’s eyes

it was those slattery trash that killed

miss ellen

i told her and told her not to

slatteries

scarlett was confused

emmy slattery was sick with typhoid

and miss ellen went to nurser

said mammy

i told her to leave those white trash

alone

but she didn’t listen

then when emmy was getting better

miss karine went down with typhoid

and then miss sue ellen

so miss ellen had to nurse them too

with all the fighting up the road and

the yankees across the river and the

field negroes running off every night

i was nearly crazy with worry

but miss allen was cool and calm

except that she worried

because we couldn’t get medicines

and then she went down with typhoid too

mammy dried her tears before she went on

miss helen went fast miss scarlett

even that nice yankee doctor couldn’t do

anything for her

she died a few nights after the cotton

burned

has the cotton gone

said scarlet

tell me

yes miss scarlett

the yankees burned it

three years cotton

thought scarlet

150 000

in one

big

fire

chapter 11

murder

next morning when scarlet went down to

breakfast

gerald was sitting at the table

as scarlett sat down he said

we will wait for mrs o’hara

she is late

scarlett stared at him

he was looking at her in a strange and

confused way

and his hands were shaking

has paw lost his mind

thought scarlett

he’ll get better

he must get better

i won’t think about it now

i won’t think of him or mother or any of

these awful things

she left the room without eating

pork was outside the house

have you been over to twelve oaks or the

macintosh place to see if there’s

anything left in the gardens that we can

eat

scarlet asked him

no miss

said pork

we ain’t left tara

you go to macintosh and i’ll go to

twelve oaks she said

the road was hot and dusty but she was

hungry and they needed food from

somewhere

at the bottom of the hill was the river

and scarlett took off her shoes and put

her feet into the cool water before

going on to twelve oaks

it was burned down

and just a few blackened stones were

left of the house where she had danced

and flirted with the men

and dreamed her dreams of marrying

ashley

i hope you are dead she thought

i don’t want you to see this

she walked to the garden and found some

potatoes in the soft earth

without stopping to clean it scarlett

picked up a potato and began to eat

but it was old and the taste was bitter

and scarlet was sick almost immediately

then she lay down

her face against the earth and thought

of the people who were dead

the way of life that had gone forever

and the dark and frightening future

but the past was the past scarlett told

herself sitting up

those lazy happy old days were gone

never to return

there was no going back

i’m going to live through this

she said loud

and when it’s over

i’m never going to be hungry again

if i have to steal or kill as god is my

witness

i’m never going to be hungry again

after two weeks

she knew that her father would never get

any better

he would always be waiting for ellen

always listening for her

when scarlett asked him for advice his

only answer was

do what you think best daughter

one morning she was at the open window

of her bedroom

she had heard her foot and was sitting

in a chair

melanie was in her room with the

children karine and sue ellen were in

their room and gerald mammy pork and

dilsi were in the fields

scarlett was wondering how they were

going to buy food

the only money in the house was

confederate money

and that had almost no value now

and if i can get my hands on some money

she thought

how can we carry food from jonesborough

to tara

the old horse that brought them from

atlanta had died

it was while she was worrying that she

heard the sound of a horse

she looked up quickly

and saw a yankee soldier

he was a rough looking man with an

untidy black beard

and a gun

and he was getting off his horse outside

the front door

scarlett heard him come into the house

and walk through the rooms downstairs

in a moment she thought

he’ll walk into the kitchen

there

cooking over the fire in two large pots

or apples and vegetables

brought painfully from twelve oaks and

the macintosh garden

dinner for nine hungry people

but only really enough for two

the thought of the yankee eating their

meal made scarlet so angry that she

began to shake

she went to the cupboard and took out

the heavy gun which charles had never

used

then quickly and silently she ran

downstairs

holding it behind her

who’s there

he shouted

and she stopped in the middle of the

stairs

he was standing in the doorway of the

dining room

his gun in one hand

there is somebody home

he said

smiling and putting his gun away

he walked across until he was standing

below her

all alone little lady

he said

before he could move again

scarlett lifted her gun and shot him in

the face

the noise filled her ears and the man

crashed backwards onto the floor

scarlet ran down and stood over him

looking into what was left of his face

as she looked

two streams of blood ran across the

floor

one from his face

and one from the back of his head

he was dead

she had killed a man

murder

she thought

i’ve done murder

oh this can’t be happening to me

a sound behind her made scarlet turn

round

melanie wearing only a night dress was

coming down the stairs

she saw the dead yankee

then smiled proudly at scarlet

she

she’s like me

thought scarlett

she would do the same thing

scarlett

cried the frightened voices of her

sisters

then wade began to scream

melanie climbed back up the stairs and

opened the door of the girl’s room

don’t be frightened

she said laughing

your sister was trying to clean

charles’s gun

and it went off and nearly frightened

her to death

wade

your mother just shot your dear paws gun

when you get older she’ll let you shoot

it too

what a cool liar

thought scarlett

i couldn’t think that quickly

but why did she lie

they’ve got to know i’ve done it

melanie came back downstairs although

she was weak and in pain

scarlet

we must get him out of here she said

he may not be alone

and if more soldiers come and find him

he must be alone

said scarlet

i didn’t see any others from the

upstairs window

well no one must know about it

said melanie

the negros might talk and then they’ll

come and get you

we must hide him before they come back

i could dig a hole in the corner of the

garden and put him in it said scarlet

but how will i get him there

we’ll each take a leg and pull him

said melanie

you couldn’t pull a cat

you’ll kill yourself

all right said melanie

you pull him out and i’ll clean up the

mess

but can’t we go through his bag in his

pockets first he might have something to

eat

scarlett found a wallet inside his coat

it was full of money

united states money as well as

confederate money

and one ten dollar gold coin and two

five dollar gold coins

melanie found some coffee in the bag and

there were rings and other small pieces

of jewelry in his pockets

a thief whispered melanie

he stole all this

i’m glad you killed him scarlett

no one asked where the horse came from

they were just pleased to have him

the yankee lay covered in the hole in

the corner of the garden

no ghost came to frighten scarlet during

the long nights when she lay awake

afterwards

i won’t think about it

she said to herself

but whenever she had to do something

difficult after this she thought

i’ve done murder

so i can do this

chapter 12

peace at last

by may

1865

the war was over

and the confederacy had lost

the dream they had loved and hoped for

the cause which took the lives of their

friends

was finished

but scarlett cried no tears

she simply thought thank god

now the cow won’t be stolen

now the horse is safe

now i won’t be afraid to drive round the

country looking for something to eat

and if ashley is alive

he’ll be coming home

in that warm summer after peace came

a stream of confederate soldiers came

through tara on their way home

most were walking although a few lucky

ones had a horse

they asked each soldier for news of

ashley and sue ellen asked about mr

kennedy but none of them knew anything

one afternoon

uncle peter surprised them all by

arriving from atlanta

he came on an old horse and brought news

of aunt pity

who wanted melanie and scarlett to come

back to live with her again

he also brought a letter

from ashley

he’s coming home

uncle peter told them

he’s

alive

melanie fainted

but scarlett took the letter and opened

it quickly

she recognized ashley’s writing

my love

i am coming home to you

tears filled her eyes so that she could

not read anymore

holding the letter

she ran to her mother’s room while the

others tried to help melanie

she shut the door then crying and

laughing and kissing the letter she

whispered

my love

i am coming home to you

when weeks went by and ashley did not

come

scarlett began to worry that something

had happened to him along the way

the never-ending line of soldiers went

through

and scarlett’s heart began to grow hard

they were eating the food which was

meant for the mouths of tara

food was hard to get

and the money in the yankees wallet

would not last forever

will bentine was a soldier who was very

ill when he arrived

one of his legs finished at the knee and

a roughly cut wooden leg was fitted to

he looked like a poor farmer not a

plantation owner

but this did not stop the girls working

to save his life

then one day he opened his light blue

eyes and saw a kareen sitting beside him

then you weren’t a dream after all

he said

will had owned a small farm in georgia

and two negroes

he knew that his slaves were free now

and that his farm was burned

but these things did not seem to worry

him

you’ve been good to me miss scarlett he

said

and if you let me

i’m going to stay here and help you with

all the work until i’ve paid you back

i can’t ever pay at all

because there’s no price a man can pay

for his life

so he stayed and

slowly and quietly

a large part of the work and worry of

tara

passed from scarlet to him

it was a warm september afternoon

and will was sitting on the front steps

of tara

talking to scarlet

melanie came out to join them

although she did her share of the work

at tara she was thin and never

completely well

will was talking about his trip to

fayetteville that morning

when he looked along the road leading to

tara

another soldier

he said

scarlett looked and saw a man with a

beard wearing the usual gray and blue

uniform which was dusty and torn

i hope he isn’t very hungry she said

he’ll be hungry said will

melanie stood up

i’ll tell dilsey to

she stopped so suddenly that scarlett

turned to look at her

melanie’s hand was at her throat and her

face was white

she’s going to faint thought scarlett

jumping to her feet

but melanie was running down the steps

her arms stretching out towards the

soldier

and then scarlett knew the truth

the man lifted his face and looked

towards the house as if he was too tired

to take another

step melanie crying out threw herself

into his arms

scarlett took two steps forward but will

stopped her

don’t spoil it

he said quietly let me go you fool

let me go

it’s ashley

will held her

he’s her husband amy

he said calmly

scarlett looked at him angrily

and in the quiet kindness of his eyes

she saw understanding

and pity

you

第一章

斯嘉丽·奥哈拉婚礼的消息并不美丽，

但男人们在被她的魅力所吸引时并没有意识到这一点，

因为格子花呢双胞胎

是她的眼睛是绿色的

，她的皮肤是柔软的白色皮肤

，南方女性如此重视

和遮盖 1861 年 4 月的那个明媚的下午，

戴着帽子和手套的乔治亚州炎热的阳光下，

16 岁的猩红色坐在

她父亲种植园的凉爽阴影中，

斯图尔特和布伦特·塔尔顿坐在

她的两边，

他们是友好的年轻人

一头深红棕色的头发

，在当时在北乔治亚州重要的事情上很聪明，种出

好的棉花，

骑得很好，

射得笔直，举止像个

绅士，

难道你们两个不关心

因为

行为

不端而被乔治亚大学送回家吗？

说战争很快就会开始

布伦特说

你不认为我们会在

战争发生的情况下留在大学里你不会有

战争斯嘉丽看起来很无聊

阿什利威尔克斯和他的父亲

上周告诉爪子，我们在

华盛顿的人将

与林肯先生就邦联达成协议，

无论如何，洋基队都害怕

我们打架

，如果你再说一次战争，我会

进屋关上门，

他们看着

杰拉尔德·奥哈拉的红土地，

一望无际，白宫就像一座岛屿，

坐落在一片狂野的红海中

，最近几周的雨后大地变成了血色

斯嘉丽

你答应

明天在 12 橡树的派对上和我们跳舞你不会

说布伦特

如果你这样做

我们会告诉你一个

秘密斯图尔特

什么秘密

问斯嘉丽

谁告诉

你的

在亚特兰大，

查尔斯和梅兰妮·汉密尔顿的姨妈

说斯图尔特，

她说我们会

在明天晚上的派对上听到婚礼的消息

说布伦特

哦，我知道那

说斯嘉丽很失望

这是关于查理·汉密尔顿和蜂蜜

威尔克斯每个人我知道他们总有一天会结婚的，

不

，是关于阿什利

说斯图尔特

他要嫁给查理的妹妹

梅兰妮斯嘉丽小姐的脸没有改变，

但她的嘴唇变白了，

就像一个在震惊的第一

刻

他们不会结婚的人直到明年

斯图尔特说，

但在谈论战争的时候，

两个家庭都认为如果他们很快结婚会更好，

他

现在笑了，斯嘉丽，你必须答应

在聚会上和我们一起吃晚饭

，当然我会

自动说斯嘉丽，

然后给我们很多舞蹈

是的

她说话就像在做梦

午餐时和我们坐在一起

布伦特说

什么

并开玩笑说

，等斯嘉丽请他们

吃晚饭

，过了一段时间，他们

才意识到她没有在听他们说话，

斯嘉丽马上看着双胞胎，

阿什莉要嫁给梅兰即

汉密尔顿

哦，这不可能是真的，

这完全是一个错误

阿什莉爱上了她

不是

梅兰妮·玛米从家里出来

她是一个

爱艾伦·奥哈拉的大老黑人，她的家人

都是绅士走了

她问

为什么你不是让他们留下来吃晚饭吗？

我不想听他们在

整个晚饭期间和爪子谈论战争，

斯嘉丽说，哦，你只是没有礼貌，

斯嘉丽小姐

说，妈妈

现在在你感冒之前进屋

我想看太阳下山

斯嘉丽说我会坐在这里直到保罗

回家给我拿一件薄外套妈妈

妈妈回到屋子

里斯嘉丽突然决定

我要去见爪子

她以为

他会很快就会从十二棵橡树回来

，他会知道

阿什利小时候的事，斯嘉丽没有给阿什利·威尔克斯一个想法，

但两年前，他

在欧洲巡回演出

后回到了家，阳光明媚，阳光照

在他的金发上它看起来像

银子，

你已经长大了 sca

他说过

吻她的手

，从那一刻起，

她想要他

，就像她想要食物吃、

骑马

和柔软的床一样睡

了两年他带她去跳舞和吃

晚饭

，一个星期没有过去过去没有

阿什莉打电话给塔拉，

这是真的，他从来没有和她谈过

爱

，他清澈的灰色眼睛从来没有燃烧

过其他男人熟悉的猩红色的炽热光芒，

但她确信他爱她，

她看到他有时看着她

斯嘉丽那悲伤怪异的样子听到杰拉德·奥哈拉的马声看到他

全速穿过

田野杰拉德 60 岁

一个银白头发和

蓝色小眼睛坚硬的小个子男人

他惊讶地看到她

如何是不是 12 Oaks 的每个人

她问他

他们都在谈论

他说

的战争呃

他们有没有谈论过派对

斯嘉丽很快问

是的我想他们确实

说过 Gerald

梅兰妮·汉密尔顿小姐和她的兄弟

查尔斯来自亚特兰大

哦，原来她确实来了

斯嘉丽的心变得

沉重艾希礼也在那儿

是的他是

杰拉德仔细地看着他的女儿

这就是你来见我的

原因不是吗为什么你之前不

这么说你和艾希礼

有什么关系爸爸她什么都没

说他有没有说要嫁给你

没有

斯嘉丽悄悄地说

他不会

说

杰拉德·约翰·威尔克斯说阿什莉要嫁给

梅兰妮小姐

他们明天会告诉所有人

斯嘉丽的心痛

得她呼吸困难

她的父亲看着她

，看起来很不舒服

，你追着一个不

爱你的男人吗？

没有

说猩红色，

你在撒谎，

杰拉德说，

然后以一种友善的方式继续下去，

还有很多其他年轻人，

猩红色，

我希望你快乐

，你不会对他满意

哦

我会

我

会威尔克斯和其他人不同

说杰拉德

他们嫁给了他们的表兄弟并在家庭中保持了他们的

陌生感

看看他们如何读书并去

波士顿和纽约看痛苦叮叮当当

没有人比阿什莉更适合骑马

我会把 tara 留给你，

我不想要

tara 愤怒地哭了 Scarlett

世界上唯一真正

有意义的事

他哭了

它会传给你猩红对这

片土地的爱它在你的血液

中不可否认，

当他们走向房子时，他握着她的手臂

我不会让你妈妈担心这个

伟大的你他们在门口遇到了 ellen o’hara

她提着一个黑色的袋子，里面

一直放着她

为奴隶使用

的药物肮脏的房子

和妈妈和我要去看看我们

能

做些什么 slatteries 大声喊着 gerald

那些白人垃圾

她一直在照顾黑人和白人

垃圾谁可以照顾自己

妈妈很生气

代替我去吃晚饭猩红

说艾伦抚摸她女儿的脸颊

她个子很高一个安静温柔的

声音和温暖的微笑的女人让

每个人都

着迷她母亲的抚摸有一种神奇的感觉

思嘉一时忘记了所有关于阿什莉

但

后来她想到了

阿什莉不知道我爱他

她以为

他认为我喜欢布伦特或斯图尔特，

他要娶梅兰妮，因为他认为

他不能拥有我，

我必须告诉他，

然后我们可以跑去琼斯伯勒，

明天晚上这个时候结婚，

我可能是阿什利威尔克斯夫人

第 2 章

布雷特巴特勒

杰拉德早上告诉他的种植园经理乔纳斯威尔克森

收拾东西离开

没有他在 tara jonas 工作，他

是个洋基人，讨厌所有

南方人

，他对失去附近最好的经理工作感到愤怒

艾伦告诉杰拉德，她

不去十二橡树的派对，

我必须检查乔纳斯在种植园的数据

她说

妈妈会留下来帮助我的书，

所以杰拉德骑在马车旁边，

马车把斯嘉丽和她的两个

姐妹

带到了去 12 橡树园的路上

和那里的每个男人调情，从

老弗兰克肯尼迪到害羞的查理

汉密尔顿，

这对阿什利来说很残忍，但这

会让他更想要我

打算嫁给梅兰妮·

保罗这么说

，我知道你

爱阿什莉·苏·艾伦，这不是真的说卡琳是三个人中最小的一个

布伦特，斯嘉丽

关心全家人知道卡里姆爱着

b 租塔尔顿，

但他从来没有想过她，

除了思嘉的小妹妹

我不在乎布伦特

说斯嘉丽微笑着说

他不在乎我

他在等你长大

卡琳脸红了

哦

斯嘉丽他真的

她说

他们翻过山丘，看到了 12 棵橡树

蓝天下的房子又白又漂亮

午餐要在外面供应

，斯嘉丽看到塔尔顿双胞胎和

他们的两个兄弟博伊德、汤姆

、亚历克斯、托尼·方丹

和两个卡尔弗特男孩们 rayford 和

kade

good

所有人都在这里

以为

Scarlett john wilkes 站在

入口的台阶上

一个银发的男人，安静的魅力

就像夏日的阳光一样温暖

在他旁边是他的女儿

Honeywilks 他的另一个女儿 India 无处可寻

斯嘉丽猜到她在

厨房里给仆人下最后的命令

除了 stuart taulton 以外的任何人

，如果他认为我比她更漂亮，这不是我的问题

john wilkes 帮助 Scarlet 从马车上下来，

而 frank kennedy 急忙

伸出援手帮助 sue ellen 脸红了，

但看起来很高兴

弗兰克 40 岁

，瘦红胡子

他对女人很紧张，

当斯嘉丽想起她的

计划

给了他一个最好的微笑时，他感到很惊讶

斯图尔特和布伦特·塔尔顿向

她走来，斯嘉丽环顾四周，她

和她们谈笑着

突然间她注意到一个陌生人独自站在

那里，他看着至少 35 岁

，又高又壮，留着黑

胡子，

斯嘉丽红着脸

，冷冷地看着她，

然后转身离开，因为有人叫

红红管家

瑞德管家

，她知道这个名字

吗，斯嘉丽的思绪转向阿什利，

她忘记了微笑的男人，

我必须去梳理我的头发，

她告诉斯图尔特和布伦特，

你们男孩等着我，不要

和任何其他女孩

一起跑，因为她害羞地走上宽阔的楼梯

她身后的声音叫她的名字

斯嘉丽转身看到查尔斯汉密尔顿

一个漂亮的男孩，柔软的棕色头发

和深棕色的眼睛

她给了他最大的

微笑为什么

查尔斯汉密尔顿你这个英俊的老家伙

我相信你从

亚特兰大远道而来只是为了伤透了我可怜的心

查尔斯差点晕倒

这是女孩子跟其他男孩子说话的方式，而

不是跟他说话

现在你在这里等到我回来

说猩红色

，不要和其他女孩子说话，否则

我会很嫉妒，

呃，

我不会

他说

斯嘉丽在几英尺外看到了瑞德·巴特勒

他又笑

了眼睛里带着奇怪的神色

盯着她看

斯嘉丽又红了

急忙上楼

凯瑟琳·卡尔弗特在卧室凯瑟琳说斯嘉丽是

谁那么讨厌男管家

我亲爱的你不知道

吗当他们终于到家的时候，

他说那匹马跑了，

他们在森林里迷路了

对她来说，但

她的兄弟邀请他打架，

巴特勒

先生在巴特勒先生不得不离开查尔斯顿之后开枪打死了他，

她有没有孩子？

我

以为斯嘉丽

他太绅士

了，以后不嫁给我

第三章

变化

斯嘉丽坐在一棵大树下，她的

午餐放在她面前的盘子里，

但尽管有七个英俊的

年轻人坐在她周围，但

阿什莉不是其中之一

她不高兴

他

和梅兰妮·汉密尔顿坐在草地上

安静地说话

微笑着斯嘉丽喜欢的缓慢慵懒的微笑

梅兰妮有一头黑发和一张心形

脸 e 很小，但看起来比她

17 岁大

斯嘉丽看到弗雷德·巴特勒和约翰·威尔克斯说话

他看着她笑了

她觉得这个讨厌的男人知道她

对阿什利的真实感受

，很开心

现在是两点

钟阳光温暖，

斯嘉丽只是想知道印度

是否会建议女士们

进屋，当时她听到

杰拉德和约翰威尔克斯争吵，

希望与洋基队和平相处，

杰拉德大喊

不，南方一定表明它很强大，

准备好与

其他男人打架加入了

讨论当然我们会打

洋基盗贼

一个南方人可以打20个洋基

查尔斯汉密尔顿发现自己

和猩红色单独在一起，因为其他人都离开

了奥哈拉小姐

他说

如果我去打架

你会后悔

斯嘉丽认为男人很愚蠢

以为女人对这些东西感兴趣，

但她回答说，

我每天晚上都会对着枕头哭泣

没有任何意义

奥哈拉小姐

我必须告诉你

查尔斯突然说的话感觉

勇敢我爱你

我想嫁给你

斯嘉丽想告诉查尔斯他

看起来很傻但下意识地说

这太突然了

我不知道该说什么

我会永远等待

哭泣查

尔斯斯嘉丽注意到阿什利现在

和一群人在一起男人们，

如果乔治亚打架，

我会和她一起去，

阿什利说，

但世界上大部分的悲伤都是

由战争引起的

，当他们结束时，

没有人知道他们在说

什么

我能说一句

吗，南方没有一家枪厂，

也没有一家羊毛或棉花工厂，或者

我们没有一艘军舰，

洋基队可以通过封锁迅速阻止我们向

国外出售我们的棉花，

他们拥有我们所拥有的所有东西'

先生们，

我们只有棉花、奴隶

和勇敢的谈话，

每个人都很震惊，

但思嘉不禁觉得他

是对的，

她从未见过工厂

，也不认识任何人，

但他不是绅士

在一个每个人都玩得很开心的聚会上，

她认为

已经是下午晚些时候了，女士

们正在 12 橡树的六间大卧室里休息，

为那天晚上的舞会做准备，

她们脱掉了衣服，大多数人都

睡着了。那个

梅兰妮躺在蜂蜜威尔克斯旁边，然后她

悄悄地离开房间

，

从窗户下楼她看到阿什利在外面

的台阶上和一群男人喝酒聊天

她默默地走到

图书馆

我会在里面等在这里，直到他走进

她想的房子

，然后我会打电话给

他图书馆半暗，

窗帘拉上以遮挡阳光，

整个房间是一张高

靠背朝向她的沙发

，墙壁周围有数百张

书

斯嘉丽把门开着，努力

回忆她要对阿什莉说的话，

也许这会有所帮助，如果我祈祷

她想了想，

然后闭上了眼睛，

斯嘉丽是阿什莉的声音，

她睁开眼睛，说他

从门口看着她

你是躲着查尔斯还是

塔尔顿

他说

她把他拉进房间

他说

你有什么秘密要告诉我

是的一个秘密她说

我爱你

他

沉默在那里

他的眼里流露出担忧和困惑，

然后他让自己笑了笑，

轻轻地说，

你今天在这里得到了每个男人的心，

斯嘉丽

，你想要我的心，这还不够，

你一直拥有它，

他不相信我，她以为

他以为我只是在和他调情

斯嘉丽看着他的眼睛

阿什莉

告诉我你爱我亲爱的

她哭

了他把手放在她的嘴唇上

不要说这些话

但我爱你

她哭了

我知道你爱我

阿什莉，你真的在乎，你不是吗，

是的，

他轻声说

我在乎

，你确实想嫁给我，

她说

我要嫁给梅兰妮，他回答说

他握住了她的手，

我怎么能让你明白斯嘉丽的

爱不是当两个人和

我们一样不同

但

你说的时候就够了你关心我吗斯嘉丽

说

我说错了

她开始生气

你害怕嫁给我

她说她的声音越来越大

你会嫁给那个

只会说不和是的愚蠢的小傻瓜

阿什莉的脸变白了

住手

他说

她离开他

我会恨你直到我死

他脸上绝望的表情会一直陪着她

直到她死的那一天

猩红色开始颤抖

现在他会恨我

她以为

每次他看着我他都会记得

我说的所有那些

她开始感到浑身发烫

的那些话人们知道她对

阿什利

的感受，每个人都在嘲笑她

她的手落在她旁边的一张小桌子

上，她的手指合上了一个

漂亮的玻璃碗

她捡起它并疯狂地把它扔到

房间的另一边，

它错过了沙发的顶部，但是

撞在远处的墙上

这话从沙发另一边传来的声音

太过分了

一个男人一直躺在上面

现在他站起来

了是瑞德管家

斯嘉丽差点晕倒

先生

她说

你不是绅士听

别人的

谈话你错过

了一个

他说没有女士，

但女士们很少引起我的兴趣，我

无法理解我亲爱的奥哈拉小姐

，一个像你这样狂野而热血的女孩

会喜欢英俊

但非常无聊的威尔克斯先生，

你还不够好来清理他的

靴子

她大喊

他笑了

你会恨他

一辈子

当他跳下时，他脸上的每一道线条都表现出动物般的兴奋

，其他人围在他身边，他

突然说话很快，斯图尔特托尔顿大喊一声，斯嘉丽

从窗户里看到了这些东西

，她悄悄地回到

街上说

某人的房子一定着火了她

以为

她走进卧室，

正要打开门，突然听到

猩红色的声音在和今天在场的每个男人调情，

亲爱的威尔克斯说

她肯定在追查尔斯

，你知道查尔斯和我

要结婚了

，你真的

兴奋地低声说其他的声音

是的，但不要告诉任何人还没

说亲爱的，

但只有一个人斯嘉丽

在乎，那就是阿什莉

亲爱的，你知道那不是真的，

梅兰妮说，这么说太不友善了

斯嘉丽确实从印度带走了斯图尔特，

今天她试图从苏艾伦那里带走肯尼迪先生

，阿什利

跑下楼梯

我必须回家，她想

，但当她站在外面的台阶上时，

她停了下来，

她不能回家，

她不能不要跑开让他们知道

她感到

多么羞愧这只会让事情变得更糟

她恨他们

她恨阿什莉

她恨每个人

我会留下来让他们感到抱歉

她以为

我会

她转身朝房子走去

，看到查尔斯汉密尔顿

，你知道发生了什么事，他哭了，

她什么也没说，

只是盯着他看，

林肯先生叫来士兵，他说，

75000人

，当然这意味着要和斯嘉丽小姐战斗，

但你别担心，

这会是一个月过去了，

斯嘉丽只听了一半

他有很多钱，

她认为

他住在亚特兰大

，如果我快点嫁给他，

这将向阿什莉表明我

不在乎我只是在和他调情

，这只会杀死亲爱的，

她再也找不到另一个男人了，

每个人都会嘲笑她，这会

伤害梅兰妮，因为她非常爱查尔斯

，

你会等我吗斯嘉丽

查尔斯小姐说

斯嘉丽做出了决定，

我不想等

她说

他坚持她的手他的嘴张大了

两次他试图说些什么但最终

还是说不出

来他说

你能

爱我吗

她什么也没说只是低头看着

地板

假装害羞

查尔斯想大喊唱歌

亲吻她

，然后告诉大家

斯嘉丽·奥哈拉爱他，

你会尽快嫁给我吗？

寡妇

查尔斯死于伤寒

他从未打过仗

他从未接近过洋基

在猩红色发现

她要生孩子

后不久她成为了查尔斯儿子的母亲

她称他为韦德

她不爱也不想要这个

孩子每次她想到阿什莉时，他似乎都不是

她的

，

她

哭着回到床上，拒绝

吃饭，

艾伦试图帮忙，但失败了

，然后查尔斯的姑姑帕特·

汉密尔顿小姐写信询问斯嘉丽是否可以

来亚特兰大

她和梅兰妮很想见见

查理亲爱的小宝贝，

所以斯嘉丽带着韦德和普丽西去了亚特兰大，

她不想去，

但欢迎任何改变

第 4 章

亚特兰大战争使亚特兰大变成了一个繁忙的城市

火车轰隆隆地进出，

狭窄的泥泞街道上挤满了

军车和救护车

斯嘉丽从火车站乘坐

怜悯帕特小姐的马车和彼得叔叔彼得叔叔

一个又高又瘦的黑人，他是怜悯姨妈的

老奴隶

她看到一个高大英俊的女人

穿着鲜艳的裙子，头发

红得不可能是

真正的颜色

她低声

说的彼得叔叔我不知道说彼得叔叔

迅速移开视线

是的，你是

谁她是

比尔·瓦特林吗？

过了一会儿他说，

可怜小姐不会喜欢你问这样

的女人问题，

斯嘉丽突然震惊了，

她一定是个坏女人

在

桃树路上

，可怜的阿姨在前面的台阶上兴奋地等待着，

梅兰妮和她在一起，

斯嘉丽看到那张心形小脸上充满爱意的微笑

，不禁感到一阵激动。不喜欢

这种嫉妒的不喜欢随着时间的

流逝

而增长，有时

当梅兰妮谈到阿什莉时，斯嘉丽不得不离开房间，

但亚特兰大比塔拉更有趣

，她正忙着在医院

和米德夫人一起护理医生的妻子和

其他女人

都是已婚妇女在亚特兰大照顾

士兵

，大多数人都很乐意这样做，

但斯嘉丽是一名护士，只是因为

她必须成为一名护士，

梅兰妮满足于待在家里，

从不参加派对，

在她只有 18 岁的时候为她的兄弟穿黑色

与斯嘉丽战斗

但她从来没有像我一样受欢迎

，她不会错过我想念的东西

，她有阿什利，我没有

任何人

，她开始哭

一天下午

，镇上的两位女士梅里韦瑟夫人

和埃尔辛夫人

拜访了

怜悯麦克卢尔阿姨女孩们被叫到

弗吉尼亚州把他们的兄弟

elsing 夫人告诉他们

他受伤了

可惜我们需要你和 melanie

在今晚的拍卖会上代替她们的位置

梅里韦瑟夫人说

哦，但我们别去

说阿姨可怜可怜的查理死了

只是呃不要说不能对我可怜帕特

汉密尔顿

说梅里韦瑟夫人

我们需要你看黑人吃

食物我们需要梅兰妮来为麦克卢尔

女孩餐桌

请记住

这是为这项事业赚钱

我认为我们应该去

斯嘉丽突然说尽量不要

显得太热情

我们必须为医院做这件事

他们都很惊讶

是斯嘉丽主动提出的

但梅里韦瑟夫人说

斯嘉丽是对的

你们都必须来

斯嘉丽坐在后面拍卖会上和梅兰妮的一张桌子

他们在一个大房间里，那里

通常挤满了学习

战争业务的士兵，

但今晚

房间周围有鲜花

和彩灯，音乐正在播放，很快就会

跳舞，

但斯嘉丽的脚已经在

偷偷摸摸随着音乐的

节奏移动到房间对面一个高个子男人，身穿

黑色衣服，穿着精致的白衬衫，

正盯着她看，

他微笑着，她也回以微笑，

直到她想起他是谁是

，然后她的手飞到她的嘴边

，是瑞德管家，现在他

过来

了遇见

梅兰妮一听到他的声音就转过身来

哦

，是瑞德巴特勒先生，是不是

她笑着说我在 12 橡树店遇见你

他为她完成

了你在查尔斯顿做的事情，

巴特勒先生先生

他说

我发现我不仅必须把东西带到

你的城市，但也必须留在这里

卖东西

梅兰妮给了他一个高兴的微笑

你一定是著名的管家船长

我们听说过很多关于封锁

跑者

斯嘉丽你怎么了

感觉头晕

斯嘉丽坐在椅子上

在所有来这里的人中，她在

想

他为什么要

来这里很暖和

瑞特说

我能带你到窗户对面奥哈拉小姐

没有

说猩红色

如此粗鲁以至于梅兰妮盯着

她不是奥哈小姐一个不再

说梅兰妮以一种友善的方式微笑着

她现在是汉密尔顿夫人

和我的妹妹

哦，

瑞德

仔细地看着斯嘉丽

，

今晚是你的丈夫吗

我的丈夫在弗吉尼亚我

自豪地说，

但查尔斯

她不能继续

说查尔斯死了斯嘉丽

哦，我亲爱的女士们

说瑞特，我很抱歉，

但死一次国家就是永远活着

梅兰妮含着眼泪对他微笑，

而斯嘉丽觉得自己恨他，

他并不是说

她认为

梅兰妮忘记了巴特勒船长和

斯嘉丽当顾客围坐在她的

桌子旁，

斯嘉丽静静地坐在椅子上，

希望巴特勒船长回到

他的船上

说，

但麦克卢尔的姑娘们不能这么来，

梅兰妮，我

来是为了

他为她完成的事业，

为什么他让这听起来如此

卑鄙，思嘉当梅里韦瑟夫人谈到原因时，思嘉

她自豪地说，

斯嘉丽想告诉他这件事，但

后来想起她来这里只是

因为她厌倦了坐在家里

他似乎猜到了她的想法，

因为他说

如果邦联不需要你，你会在这里

当然，汉密尔顿夫人不是

说斯嘉丽

人们会认为我没有

爱过她停止了

她不能假装

她爱过查理

不是在他在十二橡树的图书馆里听到的事情之后

他靠近

她别担心

他低声说

你有罪的秘密对我来说是安全的，

你怎么能说她生气地说的那些话，

但她看着他，

看到他眼中的笑意

，意识到他在

和她开玩笑，她发现自己笑得太多

了，他们附近的几个人

看到查尔斯的遗孀都很震惊和一个陌生男人一起笑，

然后开始

窃窃私语尼是为了

事业，年轻女孩兴奋地低声说，

而男人们笑了，

哦，

如果我能穿上苹果绿色的

连衣裙，头发上插着花我

想斯嘉丽

二十个男人会和我一起跳舞，

把钱付给

瑞德巴特勒医生突然看着她，

他叫出

查尔斯·汉密尔顿夫人

150

美元

的黄金

斯嘉丽非常惊讶，

她动弹不得，

每个人都看着她

，她看到医生对瑞德巴特勒低声

说，可能告诉他寡妇

不能跳舞

我们的另一个年轻女士可能

说米德博士

没有

说瑞德

汉密尔顿夫人

不可能

说医生汉密尔顿夫人不会

是的

我会

斯嘉丽听到自己的喊叫

她看到了梅兰妮和年长妇女震惊的脸

她看到了年轻女孩惊讶和恼怒的脸

但斯嘉丽不在乎

她又要跳舞了，

我这么做是有原因的

你在乎别人会

不会说 rhett 不会但是

一个好女孩应该会关心

她改变了话题

告诉我

你有很多钱

多么粗鲁的问题汉密尔顿夫人

他笑了

但答案是肯定

的我会赚一百万在封锁线上，

无论一个人是否处于胜利的一方，

总是可以从战争中赚钱

你认为邦联会输

吗是的

如果没有人在看

你会在意

他说微笑的

巴特勒船长她说假装很

震惊

然后补充说

你为一个大个子跳得很好

但

我要再跳很多年

我会为你提供更多的钱

在下一个舞蹈中，

他说

，下一个

，下一个，

哦

，音乐结束了，

猩红色说

，这是帕特姨妈从

后面的房间出来，

我想梅里韦瑟夫人告诉她，

她的眼睛像碟子一样大，

我不在乎如果他们

说sc 阿莱特第二天早上，

我确定我为

医院赚的钱比那里的任何女孩都多

钱有什么关系

可怜的查理阿姨哭了可怜的查理只死了

一年巴特勒船长是个可怕的

人猩红色

我不敢相信他有那么糟糕

梅兰妮温柔地说，

当你想到他有多么勇敢地

跑去封锁

他并不勇敢时，

斯嘉丽说他这样做是为了钱他

不在乎邦联

，他说我们会输，

但他跳得非常好

可怜帕特和梅兰妮太震惊了，

他们说不出话了，

我厌倦了坐在家里，我再也不

会这样做了她的胳膊搂着猩红

你昨晚做了一件勇敢的事

她

说这对医院有

很大帮助可惜猩红很难受

战争时期不像其他时候

想想所有远离家乡的士兵

我们曾经的朋友自私

我们必须从现在起每个星期天都有一个士兵在这里吃饭

第五章

英雄

1862 年的秋天很快就

举行了护理派对和访问

塔拉

对塔拉的访问令人失望，

因为艾伦从早到晚都在工作，

而杰拉德很忙，因为他无法

让经理接替乔纳斯·威尔克森的

位置

苏·艾伦正在等待战争结束，

以便她可以嫁给弗兰克·肯尼迪，

而卡琳梦想着布伦特·塔尔顿，

所以斯嘉丽从塔拉回到亚特兰大从不后悔

她做了很多事情不告诉

艾伦，

但她最大的秘密

是，瑞德管家

每次在城里时都会拜访帕特阿姨家，

斯嘉丽

和他一起坐马车，他带她去跳舞和销售

他

是不同于其他任何

男人的东西即在

她谈论阿什莉以及她为他感到多么自豪的几个小时中，

但我只需要说出阿什莉的名字

，他就对我恶毒地微笑着思嘉，

为什么你对梅兰妮比对我更好

她有一天问他

我比我漂亮得多她

敢我希望你嫉妒

他说

微笑别傻她说

如果我对威尔克斯夫人好一点，另一个希望就破灭

了，因为她是

我认识的为数不多的善良和无私的人之一

，尽管她仍然年轻的

她是我有幸见到的少数几位伟大的女士之一

你不认为我也是一位伟大的女士斯嘉丽

说亲爱的

我想我们第一次见面时就

同意你根本不是女

士瑞德说

哦你这个粗鲁可怕的男人再次提醒我

她说

但他只是嘲笑她

亚特兰大的老男人和女人

不喜欢瑞德

但他们同意他很勇敢

但当他们告诉他时他回答

说他和那个一样害怕与之

抗争的勇敢男孩

惹恼了他们因为每个人都知道

在任何地方都没有懦弱的同盟

士兵，

他总是说

我们勇敢的男孩

或

我们的灰色英雄，

但这听起来像是一种侮辱

，当年轻女士感谢他

成为为他们而战的英雄之一时，

他微笑着说

如果

洋基队付给他足够的钱，他会为洋基队的女人做同样的事情，

在埃尔辛夫人家的一个音乐晚会

租金正在与一群男人交谈，斯嘉丽

听到一个愤怒的声音

与他争吵，

您是说先生，原因

我们的英雄为之而死的东西

并不神圣所有的战争对于那些必须

与之战斗

的人来说

都是神圣

的钱真的是为了钱而

打仗，

但很少有人意识到这一点，

他们的耳朵里塞满了

来自家庭扬声器的美言

，在斯嘉丽到达他之前，

他就离开了，

让他走吧，

艾尔西夫人说 ng握着她的手臂，他

不是我们中的一员，

他是草丛中的一条蛇，我们

愚蠢地邀请她进入我们的家

后来梅里韦瑟夫人乘坐

怜悯阿姨的马车回家，并立即

说出她认为

他侮辱我们所有人和邦联的话

她说

说我们在为钱而战

说我们的领导人对我们撒谎

可惜你永远不能让那个人再进

你家

她变成猩红色和

梅兰妮我不想再听到你们两个女孩

和他说话

梅兰妮

梅兰妮脸色苍白，眼睛睁得大大的我会再和他说话她低声说我不会对他无礼我不会告诉他远离房子梅里韦瑟夫人的嘴

张开蚂蚁怜悯做了同样的

彼得叔叔现在转身盯着

我为什么我不说那个

以为斯嘉丽

梅兰妮的手在颤抖但她

很快就继续说

我不会因为

他所说的

而对他无礼因为

这是阿什利认为的

梅拉尼汉密尔顿那是个谎言

说

梅里韦瑟夫人从来没有一个威尔克斯是个

懦夫

我从来没有说过阿什利是个懦夫

说梅兰妮

我说他认为巴特勒船长的

想法他也这样做

但是

他在信中说的不同阿什利说我们不应该

与洋基队作战

他说战争既不美好也不神圣，或者

任何这些东西，

它只是肮脏和无用，是

对男人生命的可怕浪费

猩红色什么也没说，

她很震惊地意识到

像阿什利这样完美的人可以

像男人一样思考就像红管家一样，

他们都明白她认为的战争的真相，

但阿什利会战斗并死，因为

这一切都非常令人困惑，

第六章

在 1863 年初丢失

关于宾夕法尼亚州

在一个

名叫葛底斯堡的小镇附近发生激烈战斗的消息消息传来缓慢，恐惧

开始蔓延到整个城镇

母亲们祈祷他们的孩子

不在宾夕法尼亚州

但是那些知道他们的

亲人在米德博士的儿子达西旁边战斗的人

说，他们为能够在怜悯姨妈家

中赢得这场战争的大战感到自豪。

这三个女人

害怕地看着彼此的眼睛，

阿什利正在和达西打架

人们在报社外

等着新闻

斯嘉丽梅兰妮和怜悯姨妈来了，

在他们的马车里等着

斯嘉丽看到米德夫人和她最小的

儿子菲尔在等待达西的消息，

然后人群开始移动，因为瑞德

巴特勒骑着他的马走过

第一个名单很快就会出来他说

是的看

报社的侧窗

打开了，一只手伸了

进来，里面是死去的

又长又窄的纸条

，名字靠得很

近，人群开始为他们而战，然后

有叫喊声让我通过

瑞德下了马，把沉重的肩膀推

到其他人群之上，

然后他回来

了，手里拿着五六张清单，

他给了一份对梅兰妮和其他人对

他附近马车上的女士们说，

梅兰妮的手颤抖得厉害，她

把名单递给了斯嘉丽，她很快就

开始阅读了

怀特威尔金斯赢

泽布隆哦，梅兰妮，他不在上面，他不在上面，

梅兰妮开始高兴地哭了起来

斯嘉丽的心似乎快要

炸裂了

阿什莉还活着

菲尔说

，如果你放过我，我就

去杀了所有的洋基

队，别哭

了猩红医院又

看了一遍名单，有

这么多来自

亚特兰大和乔治亚州的名字，卡尔弗特方丹梦露

当然不可能有

三个塔尔顿，

但有

塔尔顿布兰登斯图尔特和托马斯

nd 博伊德在弗吉尼亚州的某个地方杀死了第一

年，

所有塔尔顿男孩都走了，对不起，斯嘉丽说，瑞德

你的

许多朋友

是的，

她说，

哦，瑞德，

为什么一定

要打仗，为什么洋基队不为黑人买单，

或者为什么我们不是白白地给了他们

黑人吗

这不是关于黑人猩红

他说

他们

只是战争总会有的借口因为男人喜欢

战争

他现在转身离开

了

我要

在失败后找到米德博士葛底斯堡之战随着圣诞节的临近

，疲惫且规模小得多的同盟

军被赶回

弗吉尼亚过冬

当她看到他时，她感到

很幸福，他晒伤的脸上的线条里有一些新奇而奇怪的东西。

他还是那个英俊的阿什莉，

但更令人兴奋的是，

他看着她，说

哦，斯嘉丽，你漂亮的东西，

然后吻了她

每天她都面无表情地试图

单独和

阿什莉说话，但梅兰妮总是和他在一起，

他们都有关于战争的问题要问他

，但

尽管他给他们

讲了关于朋友的笑话和有趣的故事

，但他这样做似乎是为了

阻止他们问了他

不想回答

的问题一周很快过去了

，阿什莉不得不回到弗吉尼亚，

他在房间里

和梅兰妮道别，然后斯嘉丽终于可以

单独见到他了，

阿什莉，

我可以和你一起去车站吗？

她问他

父亲和女孩们会在那里他

说

我想记住你在这里说再见

你让我做那个

阿什莉我愿意为你做任何事

她说

你愿意

他

说你可以为我

做些什么

她问了什么很高兴

你能为我照顾梅兰妮

他说

照顾梅兰妮

她说很失望

她非常爱你他说

猩红色当我想到

如果我被杀可能会发生在她身上时

不要说她说

你运气不好

我不知道会发生什么我

或我们中的任何人

ashley 说

，但当末日来临，

如果我还活着，

我会离这里

太远，无法照顾

melanie 末日

说 Scarlet

the 战争结束

和世界末日

阿什莉，

你肯定不认为洋基

队

会赢这个星期我说了谎，

他说我不想吓到

梅兰妮或帕蒂阿姨，

但是是的，斯嘉丽，

我认为洋基队会赢得

葛底斯堡是结束的开始，

如果你死了，我就活不下去

了要知道你和

梅兰妮在一起如果我发生什么事

你

会答应你不会的

他说

他双手捧住她的脸

，轻轻吻了吻她

猩红的

猩红，

你是如此的美好，如此美好，如此坚强

如此美丽，

不仅是你甜美的脸，亲爱的，

还有你的思想和身体

哦，

阿什莉，

她高兴地低声说，

等着他说出三个神奇的

词

我爱你，

但他们没有来，

而是

听到彼得叔叔在外面的马车上

再见

阿什莉说轻轻地

吻我

她低声吻我

，他的嘴唇第一次接触

她她的双臂搂住他的脖子

，把他拉到她身边

片刻，他紧紧地抱住她

，然后迅速推开她

没有猩红色

没有

他低声说声音

我爱你

她哭了阿什莉

说你爱我

她看着他的

脸这是她

见过的最不开心的脸再见

他说

他的声音

在接下来的两个月里耳语

斯嘉丽很高兴

她感觉到了阿什莉的

心跳当她的手臂搂住他的脖子时，

她看到了他脸上的表情，

哦，

他爱她，

她现在确信这一点

，几乎可以为梅兰妮感到难过，

但随后在三月，

梅兰妮说她要生了

aby 和一个刺穿

猩红色的剧痛

米德博士说它会在

8 月下旬或 9 月到来梅兰妮

高兴地说，哦，猩红色，这不是

很好

吗，亲爱的上帝认为，斯嘉丽一个婴儿，

阿什利的宝贝，

哦，当他爱我而不是梅兰妮时，他怎么能

我不能继续住在这里了，

我要回家去塔拉

，第二天早上她起床

打算收拾东西，

但发生了一些事情，阻止了她的

消息传来，阿什利失踪了，

他离开后失踪了三天

在一次五人搜索中，以发现

洋基军队准备在哪里进行下一

场战斗，震惊的猩红色确信上帝

正在惩罚她，因为她爱上了一个已婚

男人，

梅兰妮的脸色苍白，害怕，

就像一个迷失在黑暗中的孩子

猩红色

她说

你是我现在所拥有的一切

哦，

我知道阿什莉突然死了，

她在斯嘉丽的怀里，

他们哭泣着，紧紧地抱

在一起至少我得到了他的宝贝

，梅兰妮低声说，我什么都没有

想到斯嘉丽

除了他说再见时他脸上的表情之外什么都

没有

一天下午，她在车站晕倒了

，瑞德管家带她回家

威尔克斯夫人，你要生孩子

了，

对

吧

？你会伤害孩子

我会和我在华盛顿认识的一些人交谈

我会照顾好

你自己，

否则我不会帮

你哦，你

真好，梅兰妮

一个月后哭了，瑞德带来消息说

阿什利没有死，

而是在伊利诺伊州的岩石岛一座残酷而可怕的

监狱，在

那里许多人会在最后死去

他的战争有机会出去

但拒绝了它

说

红色洋基队需要男人来与西部的印第安人作战

，任何将加入

洋基军队并与印第安人作战

两年

的囚犯都可以出狱

他为什么不这样做

哭了斯嘉丽为什么他不加入，

然后他一出来就跑回家了

梅兰妮生气

了，你怎么能说

我宁愿知道他死在岩

岛，他不再是

同盟者，而是洋基

士兵当然拒绝了，

当斯嘉丽独自一人付房租时，她

问

你会不会加入洋基队

离开那个地方然后

逃跑当然

瑞德冷笑着说

那为什么

阿什利不说斯嘉丽

他是个绅士

说 rhett

意思是 ashley 是个傻瓜

第 7 章

那年夏天来自塔拉的消息自从战争开始以来，亚特兰大人民第一次

听到了

战斗

的声音洋基队越来越近了

许多像约翰威尔克斯这样的老人和像菲尔米德这样的年轻

男孩被送到瓜 rd

邦联主要军队后方查塔胡奇河上的桥梁

然后在一个炎热的七月下午

，在桃树溪发生了一场可怕的战斗之后，

一群邦联士兵

开始抵达亚特兰大，

一些人满身是血，

另一些人帮助那些不能走路的人为了

在几天之内到达医院，洋基队在

亚特兰大的三边，通往

田纳西州的铁路处于洋基队的控制之下，

只有一条通往南部通往梅肯的铁路

仍然开放，

但如果他们能坚持下去，亚特兰大可以

与洋基队对抗，

但当炮弹出现时开始倒在

街上

妇女儿童和老人开始

离开这座城市

埃尔辛夫人和梅里韦瑟夫人

拒绝离开

他们

自豪地说医院需要他们没有洋基人

会把他们赶出家门

米德夫人也拒绝了

菲尔战斗不远

，她想靠近

阿姨怜悯是第一个离开的

她去梅肯和一个表弟住在一起，

你们女孩应该和我一起去

她说，

但斯嘉丽没有说谎，不能可怜的

表妹，

我会去塔拉和梅兰妮可以

和你一起去梅肯她说

斯嘉丽

不要离开我

哭着梅兰妮，

如果你不在我的身边，我会死的

你来了

，向阿什莉保证你会

照顾我

他告诉我他会问你

我会遵守诺言斯嘉丽疲倦地说

但我不会去梅肯

我会回家去塔拉你可以一

起来我，

但米德博士阻止了

梅兰妮去梅肯·奥尔塔拉，

你不能旅行他说

这可能很危险

可怜的小姐你去梅肯，把

年轻女士们

留在这儿梅兰妮小姐，你必须待在床上，

直到孩子出生

他私下对斯嘉丽说

她要去为了度过难关，

他说

你必须和她待在一起，直到婴儿

带着这些贝壳掉下来，

这可能是任何时候，

所以怜悯姨妈带着彼得叔叔去了梅肯

，斯嘉丽和

梅兰妮和韦德和普莉西独自留在亚特兰大

刚开始的日子，斯嘉丽不愿

上街每次

听到炮弹声响起，她就

冲到梅兰妮的房间，扑倒

在床上

，两个人

把头埋进枕头里

，涉水躲到楼下的桌子底下，

涉水哭泣，碧诗惨叫，

我宁愿让梅兰妮死了总比

在贝壳掉下来的时候去找医生

斯嘉丽心想，但普莉西平息了斯嘉丽的恐惧

，你不用担心斯嘉丽小姐我知道所有

关于生孩子的事情

她说

我妈妈不是都告诉我了，

就离开吧七

月底，斯嘉丽收到杰拉德的

一封信，信告诉她

卡琳得了伤寒，斯嘉丽那天

晚上不能回家

听到

塔尔顿男孩或梦露男孩或小乔方丹的狂野快乐的声音，

或者前门打开了

，她迅速擦掉

脸上的泪水，然后抬起头来，

那是瑞特管家，

所以你我没去梅肯

他说

你为什么留下

来和梅兰妮在一起

她

很好

她现在不能走

威尔克斯夫人还在吗他说

他点了一支

雪茄你和她呆在一起

多么奇怪

我觉得这没什么奇怪

她不自在地说，

你认为威尔克斯夫人又傻又傻，

他说那

你为什么要留下来，到处都是洋基

炮弹，

因为她是查理的妹妹

，就像我的妹妹一样，

斯嘉丽说她的脸颊发烫

你的意思是因为她是阿什莉威尔克斯的

遗孀瑞德

斯嘉丽生气了

她喜欢认为她对男人来说是个谜，

但瑞德可以像玻璃一样看穿她

他握住她的手

很幸运能找到你一个人他说

他的声音中有什么让她的脸

再次发烫

他要告诉我他爱我

她

以为我可以告诉他他在浪费

时间他会觉得自己很傻

他吻了她的手

当他温暖的嘴碰到

她的皮肤

时，某种电流穿过她的全身我不爱他我她告诉

自己

我爱上了阿什莉·

斯嘉丽

你确实喜欢我不是吗

他说得

很好

有时她说

你能爱我吗

我已经得到了他她想了想

并用冷静的声音回答

当然

除非你表现得好像个真正的

绅士

，我不打算那样做

爱我亲爱的

你

你不爱我

她

说你希望我爱你吗

我很抱歉但我确实很喜欢你

我知道你仍然深爱着

木头的威尔克斯先生，他可能

在过去六年里已经死了几个月，

但你心里一定有

我的空间

斯嘉丽

我想要你比我想要的

任何女人

都多

不是一个正在结婚的男人我不是告诉过你

但是

我亲爱的

他悄悄地说

我在问什么你做我的爱人

爱她的

猩红色感到震惊和失望

的同时

出去

她哭

了出去永远不要回来

我会告诉我父亲他会杀了你

她看着他微笑

他是不觉得害臊，

他被逗乐了。

她跑进屋里，

想把门在她身后关上，但

门太重了，

我可以帮你吗？

结束炮击停止

然后令人担忧的消息从南方传来

洋基队试图夺取

琼斯伯勒

的铁路塔拉接近战斗

最终一名士兵来说

南方邦联军队已将

洋基队击退

但铁路已损坏

火车还需要一段时间才能再次旅行

他给斯嘉丽带来了她

父亲在琼斯伯勒见到他后的一封信，

并且能够告诉她

洋基队没有到

达塔拉但爸爸在琼斯伯勒做什么

她

问索尔迪尔看起来很紧张

他正在寻找一名军医

和他一起去塔拉

他说

斯嘉丽打开她父亲的信

开始读

亲爱的女儿

你妈妈和两个女儿都得了伤寒

而且病得很重

但我们必须希望

当你妈妈走到她的床上，她

让我写信告诉我，你

不能回家，把自己

置于危险之中。

她发送她的爱，

并请你为她祈祷

下周斯嘉丽

紧张地等待更多的消息，但没有消息

没有人知道同盟者在哪里

或洋基队在做什么

她在亚特兰大医院见过足够多的伤寒

知道

这种可怕的疾病一周是很长的时间

她想待在家里

为什么这个孩子不来

她以为

8 月的最后一天到

了，随之而来的是

关于亚特兰大南部

一场大战的谣言，

如果洋基队赢得了梅肯铁路，

他们很快就会在

9 月 1 日抵达亚特兰大。

听到远处的雷雨声

，

她起初想，

然后她走到窗边，

不，不是雨枪

，从

南方躺着琼斯伯勒塔拉

，她的母亲

猩红色去了梅兰妮的房间，

梅兰妮躺在床上，闭着眼睛，

周围有黑眼圈

她看起来比任何生病的人

都要糟糕斯嘉丽

睁开眼睛，脸上绽放出柔和温暖的

微笑斯嘉丽

她说

我有件事想问你

斯嘉丽坐在床上

，梅兰妮握着她的手，

我很抱歉枪亲爱的

梅兰妮说他们正朝着琼斯伯勒是不是

我知道你有多担心

如果不是因为我你可能会待在家里

你不能

是的

猩红色粗鲁地说

你对我很好

我爱你为了它

如果我死了

我要你带走我的孩子

你会这样做吗斯嘉丽拉开她的

手害怕

不要傻梅兰妮她说

你不会死

答应我斯嘉丽

那么我就不会

害怕梅兰妮

我相信我的宝宝会今天来

哦，好吧，我保证

说斯嘉丽

为什么你认为今天会来

我一直很痛苦，

我会派莉西去接米德博士

说斯嘉丽

不，

你知道他有多忙，

只是派米德夫人去

第 8 章

洋基队来了

斯嘉丽派 prissy 去找米德夫人过

了

很久那个黑人小女孩独自回来了

她不在那里

说 prissy 她得到了菲尔先生被枪杀的消息

她乘马车去接他回家

斯嘉丽盯着她想好好摇晃她

不要只是站在那里去接

梅里韦瑟夫人，

她不在那里，她

说普利西

我在回家的路上停了下来，但房子

已经关门了，

她可能在医院

里思嘉想了一会儿

去找埃尔辛夫人，解释

她所说的一切

问她要来快点

她回到梅兰妮的房间

梅兰妮侧躺着

她的脸很白

米德夫人在医院里面红耳赤

她不想

告诉梅兰妮菲尔被枪杀的事让

梅兰妮担心，但埃尔辛夫人是来

了过了一个小时，

prissy 回来了医院说 Scarlet

我会给你一封信给 mead 医生，但

如果他不在的话，把它给

其他医生

，然后这一次快点回来

但是一个小时过去了，她的

脸上充满了痛苦

，然后又一个

下午来了，梅兰妮的痛苦

更加严重

，

她为什么不来？

prissy在街上跑来跑去

她黑色的小脸上写满了恐惧

猩红色迅速从窗户移开

我去拿些凉水

她告诉melanie

她下楼了 prissy进来了

他们在琼斯伯勒小姐打架

斯嘉丽

他们说我们正在输掉这场战争

米德医生在

哪里他要到哪里

斯嘉丽说他不在医院梅里韦瑟夫人和埃尔森夫人也不

在

一个男人告诉我医生

和士兵们在火车站来自

琼斯伯勒，

但斯嘉丽小姐，我太害怕了，不敢

去那里，那里的

人快死了

，我害怕死人

呢，其他医生问

斯嘉丽，加内特

小姐，我无法让他们看

你的信，说

他们很敏感在医院工作就像

他们都疯了

不要担心我的孩子当我们

这里有男人死去的时候其中一个对

我大喊

她在哪里打仗

，别告诉她其他

医生不会来你有没有听到

猩红色匆匆走出

屋子冲着烈日

一个士兵骑马经过她

阻止了他

是洋基队来了她问他

是的小姐他

说军队要离开atl 很快，

猩红色的安塔开始奔跑，

人们从她身边冲过，

她挤过人群，朝

车站

走去，但当她绕过亚特兰大旅馆的一侧时，

她停

在了那里，躺在地上，在烈日的炙烤下，

有数百人数百名男子

有些人痛苦地尖叫

到处都是血未

洗过的尸体的气味向

她袭来

她用手捂住嘴和鼻子

然后掀起裙子

跨过死去的男人

和男人的制服

和男人发出一定是

水水的声音

可以用每一双手快速

来这里她以最快的速度走到他身边

穿过一排排的尸体

医生

你必须来

梅兰妮正在生她的孩子婴儿

雷电

医生你疯了吗

我可以' 不要离开这些

男人找个女人帮你

把我的妻子

她开始告诉他为什么米德夫人

不能来然后停止了

她不能告诉他他的儿子受伤了

医生请她哭了

请过来

他看着

她洋基队来了军队要

撤出城了

我不知道他们会怎么处置这些

人

没有任何火车马金

线在洋基的控制下

听着

我不能向斯嘉丽保证但我会努力的

斯嘉丽回去了

亚特兰大旅馆对面的街道上成排的男人

士兵们正在离开城市

似乎有成千上万的

马车经过

扬起尘土

人群中有些

醉酒的女人画着脸当她

抓住一个单臂士兵时大笑

斯嘉丽回到屋子后又开始奔跑

韦德在外面等着

韦德饿了

他哭了

安静说斯嘉丽

去后花园玩

ssy 在

卧室的窗前

Scarlett 挥手示意她下来

然后进屋

prissy 一次三个下楼

医生不能来

说 Scarlett

你得生孩子我会

帮你

prissy 的嘴摔开

怎么回事

斯嘉丽

啊

斯嘉丽小姐

我对生孩子一无所知

说 prissy 看着地板

斯嘉丽拉着 prissy 的胳膊捏了一把

你这个黑骗子你是什么意思

你说你知道我在

撒谎斯嘉丽小姐普利西哭了，斯嘉丽

这辈子从来没有打过奴隶，

但她用力打了普利西的黑脸颊

艾伦在韦德出生的时候就

生了火，确保有

足够的水

他把prissy推向厨房，

然后深吸一口气，然后

上楼

，从来没有一个下午像这个下午那样，

或者当热的

思嘉拉开卧室的窗帘

挡住阳光时，

梅兰妮试图勇敢，但到了

晚上，

她开始打电话了阿什莉

一遍又一遍，

直到斯嘉丽想用枕头盖住脸

，

也许医生会来，毕竟

斯嘉丽想

，她告诉普莉丝去米德

家看看他或米德夫人

是否在，

普莉丝去了，但很快就回来了

一个

人医生一整天都不在家

她向

斯嘉丽小姐报告菲尔先生死了

他被枪杀了

我没有看到米德夫人因为她正在为

他的身体做好准备

洋基队来了

没有

说猩红色 prissy 是个骗子

不会离开你

说斯嘉丽

为什么不

说梅兰妮

无论如何我都要死了

第9章

逃离亚特兰大

斯嘉丽像一个老妇人一样缓慢地走下黑暗的楼梯

她走到外面坐在前面的

台阶上

到处都是梅兰妮不是

死气沉沉的小男孩正在给小男孩

第一次洗澡，而梅兰妮睡着

了，夜晚的空气凉爽清新，她的

脸和胳膊上都有

更多的士兵从这座城市

经过房子，

尽管她在黑暗中看不清楚他们有

什么可以她在

哪里可以求助

斯嘉丽记得瑞特

他很强壮很聪明

，他不怕洋基队

，他也有马和马车

她叫她叫

巴特勒船长住在亚特兰大

旅馆

她说

快去那里告诉他关于

婴儿的事

告诉他我想让他带我们

离开这里

假设巴特勒船长不在

酒店

说普里西

去酒吧房间去贝尔沃特林的

房子说斯嘉丽特去找他或

你 nkees 会把我们全都搞定的

冲进

房间，洋基队猩红色开始

不

，是我们的人

说

他们在烧枪厂

，军队留下的东西

我们都要

烧掉你看到巴特勒上尉

说斯嘉丽

是的，

我看到了他，我说快来

巴特勒船长带上你的马和

马车他说他们带走了他的马但

他会偷另一匹他要

来

他要带一匹马

所以他说

猩红开始感觉好多

了如果他把它们从这里弄出来她会原谅租任何东西

混乱

起床，韦德给他

穿衣服，她告诉普里西，然后为我们所有人收拾一些

衣服不要告诉梅兰妮小姐我们还没有去，

而是在婴儿周围放两条厚毛巾，

并把他的衣服也收拾好

，似乎比瑞德早了几个小时终于

带着一辆马车来

了他

穿着白大褂和长裤跳舞

他带着两支枪口袋里

装满了子弹

晚上好

他笑着说脱下帽子

天气真好

我听到你了 “我要去旅行，

如果你开什么玩笑，我再也不会和

你说话了，

斯嘉丽说，她的声音在颤抖，你

害怕

他假装很惊讶，

是的，我是

，如果你有任何感觉，你也会

害怕

她说

我们必须离开

这里你要去哪里

他礼貌地问

我要回家

她说

你是对塔拉的意思

他说

斯嘉丽你疯

了吗洋基队现在可能已经遍布塔拉

你不能直接通过洋基

队

我要回家

了她

突然泪流满面她在他的怀里

他的手轻轻抚过她的头发

他说话的时候他的声音也很温柔

不要哭我勇敢的小女孩

他说

我带你回家

房租转身沿着狭窄的街道

和车轮向西他的马车撞到了一块石头

，以至于梅兰妮在马车的后部哭了起来

，她在她旁边

，新出生的

猩红色婴儿在前面，旁边是红色的，

我们必须经过火炉吗？她问

他

，我们要不要

他快点说

他突然停了马

士兵他说

长队的同盟士兵

穿过玛丽埃塔街

太累了根本不在乎周围燃烧的

建筑物

许多人没有鞋子

制服又破又脏

他们像鬼一样默默地过去

好好看看

说瑞德，

这样你就可以告诉你的孙子们，

你看到了神圣事业的最后一批士兵

她突然恨他侮辱了

这些破碎的男人

她想到了可能已经死去的阿什利的查尔斯

和那些现在已经死去的勇敢的年轻男孩

她忘记了她曾经

瑞德

以为他们是

傻子紧挨着他们

红

着急，她喊着

他们迅速从一条狭窄的街道

走到另一条，

直到火焰的声音在他们身后消失。

什么都没有，

但他只是坐着盯着前方黑暗的

道路，

哦，瑞德，她说

我很高兴你不在军队

里最后什么也没说

他们走在一条更宽更平坦的

路上

我们已经出城了瑞德

你还想做这件疯狂的事吗

洋基军队在你和塔拉之间

是的她说

请租让我们快点

你不能去琼斯伯勒在这

条路上他

说他们整天都在打架

洋基队还没到，

也许你如果

我能通过

，你会不会带我们过去，

不，

他说我要把你留在这里

离开我们，

她疯狂地说

你要去哪里，

我要和军队一起去，他说

红色别开玩笑了，

我不是开玩笑，亲爱的，

他笑着说，

想想我们的士兵

在我最后一分钟出现时会多么高兴

哦，瑞德，

她哭

了，你为什么要去？

他笑了，

也许是

因为我是南方人

，

我很惭愧

，谁知道

你会因为丢脸而死，让我们一个人待着

和无助的

猩红色

任何像你这样自私和坚强的人

永远不会无助

上帝帮助洋基队如果他们抓住你

他从马车上下来

然后他举起

双手抓住她把

她带到他旁边的地上

他带她离开马车几步

我不是要你理解

或原谅

他说

我永远不会理解或原谅我自己

的愚蠢

但南方需要每个男人

所以我要去打仗

他温暖有力的手移动上臂

我爱你猩红色，

虽然我告诉过你，我

不想改变你的

想法，

在士兵带着

美好的回忆去死之前

他正在

用缓慢的

热嘴唇

吻她查尔斯从来没有像这样吻过她

。塔尔顿和卡尔弗特的

孩子们从来没有像这样让她忽冷忽热

一个声音从马车里传来

那是韦德的

韦德害怕

，突然斯嘉丽想起

她也害怕

，瑞特要离开她

，最重要的是他在侮辱

她面对他令人震惊的建议，

她把自己从他身边拉开，

你这个胆小鬼，

她尖叫着

你这个讨厌的可怕的东西

，她用尽全力把他藏在嘴边

他把手放在他的脸上，

我看到

他悄悄地说，

继续

哭，猩红色

我不要再见到你

我希望一个炮弹落在你身上

我希望它把你炸成一百万块

我希望别介意剩下的

说老鼠微笑我理解你的

总体想法

他走回瓦戈 n

wilkes

prissy 夫人惊恐的声音

从马车里传来

这个梅兰妮晕倒在很远的地方

巴特勒船长

这可能是最好的

他说

如果她醒了

我怀疑她能忍受所有

的痛苦

照顾好她的prissy

他转身再见

斯嘉丽斯嘉丽知道他在看着她，

但她没有说话

她看到他的大肩膀在黑暗中移动，

然后他走

了在那次旅途中，斯嘉丽

听到士兵来了

，不得不把马车藏在树林里的田野里

，

然后

等待男人们像

黑暗中的幽灵

一样经过

但是几英里后，她发现

了马，

因为累得不能再往前走了，马就跪了下来

请喝点水

，听到她自己回答

，没有水

，她睡着了，

当她醒来时

，太阳正从树林里倾泻而下

，一切都静了。

她坐起来，迅速环顾

四周，但马车上没有士兵，梅兰妮躺在那里，所以静谧而苍白

，起初斯嘉丽以为她

一定死了，

但后来她看到了梅兰妮浅浅的

呼吸，

他们在某人

前花园的一些

树下越过

种植园，

当她朝房子看去时

，只剩下一些被烟熏黑的

石头

，这就是塔拉的样子吗？

从房子附近的一条小溪里取水，

他们都喝了一杯，

然后斯嘉丽把剩下的水

给了那

匹马又一次，

但它已经很老了，现在她看到

他们离塔拉有 15 英里，

但马移动得很慢，花了

一整天的时间才走到那里

，他们经过的每一间空荡荡的烧毁的房子都被

吓得猩红色更多

，路边躺着死人和死马

在午后的

阳光下，田野和树木似乎充满了鬼魂突然响起一阵喧闹，普丽西

大声尖叫，

但那只是一头母牛

从几棵树后面走来。

动物用惊恐的大眼睛看着它们

她需要米尔肯

说

普丽西一定是麦金托什先生的一个说，

洋基队没有被

说成猩红色，

我们会带上它，

然后我们可以为婴儿喝点牛奶

是它在那里

还是黑暗隐藏了一些

像麦金塔一样的烟雾熏黑的石头

但没有度

母逃脱

它在那里白色的墙壁

从黑暗中显露出来

然后斯嘉丽看到一个影子从

里面出来屋子里

有人回家

了她的喉咙里开始发出喜悦的欢呼声，

但在那里消失

了阴影没有移动或呼唤她，

而是

僵硬而缓慢地

走下台阶

她低声

说是我，

斯嘉丽，

我回家

了她的父亲看着她的

女儿

他

说女儿

他是个老人

以为猩红色

吓坏

了一个婴儿的哭声从马车里传来

杰拉德看了看

车子梅兰妮她的孩子

低声说猩红色

她病得很厉害

我带她回家

杰拉德走到马车上

挺直肩膀

梅兰妮表妹

他说

十二棵橡树烧伤了

你必须和我们在一起

我们必须带着她说 Scarlett

她不能走路

另一个人从房子里

出来那是猪肉

杰拉德的私人奴隶

他跑下台阶

猩红

色的猩红色抓住了他的手臂感觉到

他的眼泪在她的手上抱着他们

高兴

地瞪着你的背

他哭

了是猪肉

把梅兰妮抬进屋里 r 的胳膊还没

来得及跟上两个

他们好了吗爪子

她

说女孩们

都在好转

他说

你妈妈

是的

你妈妈昨天死了

杰拉德

杰拉德一遍又一

遍地跟着猩红在房子里转了一圈

她昨天

死了她昨天死了

斯嘉丽

除了非常疲倦之外什么都感觉不到，

她以后会想起妈妈，

或者

她以后和父亲单独在一起时会哭个

不停。她问为什么洋基队不烧掉塔拉，

他们把房子用作办公室，

杰拉德·

洋基队

在这所房子里

这个想法让她感到恶心

他们是女儿

说杰拉德

我们在他们来之前看到了十二棵橡树的烟雾

但是蜂蜜小姐和印度小姐在

梅肯

所以我们不担心他们

我们不能去

梅肯女孩们病得很重

好吧，你妈妈，

我们不能走

了，我们的黑人逃跑了，

他们偷了马车和马，

只有

迪尔西妈妈和猪肉留下来

，洋基队从河边上路

，我在前门

哦勇敢的小杰拉德

以为猩红色

他们告诉我离开

继续杰拉德

他们告诉我他们要烧掉

我告诉他们我们房子里有伤寒的地方

他们会把它烧在

三个

垂死

的年轻妇女的头上军官

是个绅士

一个洋基绅士

爪子

一个绅士

说杰拉德

他骑马走了回来带着一个军医回来了

他看着女孩

和你的母亲

你让一个洋基进入他们的房间

他有

药我们没有

他救了你的姐妹

说杰拉德

他们没有烧掉

他们搬进

的房子军官们挤满了除了病房以外

的所有房间士兵们住在

帐篷周围

他们杀了牛杀了鸡和

猪拍了

照片一些

家具妈妈

，她知道洋基队在屋里吗？

她什么都不知道，

谢天谢地，

猩红色说

，然后他们继续往前走，

他沉默了很久

，然后他握着她的手，

我很高兴你回来了，

他说杰拉德

上床睡觉后

，斯嘉丽去了卡琳和苏艾伦睡觉的房间，

妈妈在那儿看着他们

，看到斯嘉丽，她的眼睛亮

了起来我们要去

斯嘉丽坐在床边

我想让你告诉我关于妈妈的事

她说

我不能问爪子她的

眼泪从妈妈的眼睛里流

出来是那些肮脏的垃圾杀死了艾伦

小姐

我告诉她并告诉她不要去

斯莱特里斯斯嘉丽

很困惑

艾米·斯莱特里得了伤寒艾伦

小姐去托儿所

说妈妈

我告诉她别管那些白色垃圾

但她没有听

艾美好转时卡琳

小姐得了伤寒

然后想念起诉

艾伦，所以艾伦小姐也不得不照顾他们，路上的所有战斗，河对岸的洋基队和田野里的黑人每天晚上都在逃跑，我担心得几乎发疯，但艾伦小姐是冷静，

只是她很担心，

因为我们买不到药

，然后她又得了伤寒，

妈妈在她继续之前擦干了眼泪，

海伦小姐走得很快

，斯嘉丽小姐即使是那个漂亮的洋基医生也无法

为她做任何事

她死了棉花

烧了几个晚上

棉花

不见了

斯嘉丽坐下时他说

我们会等奥哈拉夫人

她迟到了

斯嘉丽盯着

他看他用一种奇怪而

困惑的

方式看着她他的手在

颤抖爪子失去了理智

以为斯嘉丽

不

他会好起来的

他一定会好起来的

我现在不会

再想了 s 或

macintosh 的地方，看看

花园里是否还有什么可以

吃的

猩红色问他

没有小姐

说

我们没有离开 tara

你去 macintosh 我要去

十二橡树她

说路很热而且尘土飞扬，但她

饿了，他们需要从

山脚下的某个地方得到食物。河边

，斯嘉丽脱下鞋子，

把脚伸进凉水里，

然后走到十二棵橡树前，

它被烧毁了

，只有几块发黑的石头

离开了她与男人们跳舞和调情的房子，

梦想着嫁给

阿什莉

哦

阿什莉，

我希望你死了她以为

我不想让你看到这个

她走到花园里，在花园里发现了一些

土豆柔软的泥土

没有停下来打扫，斯嘉丽

拿起一个土豆开始吃，

但它很老，味道很苦

，斯嘉丽几乎立刻就病了，

然后

她把脸贴在地上，想起

那些死去

的人已经一去不复返的生活方式

和黑暗而可怕的未来，

但过去都是过去，斯嘉丽告诉

自己，

那些慵懒快乐的旧时光已经一去不复返了

，没有回头路，

我要度过这一切

她大声说

当一切结束时，

如果我必须偷窃或杀人，

我就再也不会饿了，因为上帝是我的见证，两周后我再也不会饿了

她知道她父亲永远

不会好转

等着爱伦

一直在听她说话

当斯嘉丽向他征求意见时，他

唯一的回答就是

做你认为最好的女儿

一天早上，

她在卧室敞开的窗户旁，听到了她的脚步声，

坐在椅子上，

梅兰妮坐在她身边有

孩子的房间卡琳和苏艾伦在

他们的房间里，

杰拉德嬷嬷猪肉和迪尔西在田里思嘉

想知道他们

将如何购买食物

房子里唯一的钱是

同盟国的钱

，那几乎现在没有任何价值

，如果我能弄到一些钱，

她想

我们怎么能把食物从琼斯伯勒运

到塔拉

那把他们从亚特兰大带来的

老马已经死

了，就在她担心的时候，她

听到了马的声音。

很快起来

，看见一个美国佬士兵，

他是个粗犷的男人，

留着一头凌乱的黑胡子

，拿着枪

，

他正在前门外下马

他会走进厨房

，在火上用两个大锅做饭，

或者

用十二棵橡树痛苦地带来的苹果和蔬菜，以及

为九个饥饿的人准备的麦金塔花园晚餐，

但实际上

只够两个人吃

她气得浑身发抖

，走到橱柜前，拿出

查尔斯从来没用过的那把重枪，

然后迅速而无声地跑

下楼，

拿着它跟在她身后。

在那里，

他大喊

，她停在楼梯中间

他站在餐厅门口，

一只手拿着枪，

所以有人回家了，

他

微笑着说，把枪收起来，

他走过，直到站在

她

所有人的下方一个小女人，

他还没来得及再次动弹，

斯嘉丽就举起枪朝

他脸上开

了一枪，她的耳朵里充满了噪音，那个男人

向后摔倒在地板上。

看着

两股血从地板上流过，

一股从他的脸

，一股从他的后脑勺

他死了

她杀了一个人

她以为

我杀人了

哦，这不可能发生在我身上

她身后有声音让

斯嘉丽转身梅兰妮只穿着睡裙下楼她看到死去的美国佬然后对斯嘉丽得意地笑了她就像我一样以为斯嘉丽她会做同样的事斯嘉丽斯嘉丽哭 d 她姐妹们惊恐的声音

接着韦德开始尖叫

梅兰妮爬上楼梯

打开女孩房间的门

不要害怕

她笑着说

你姐姐正试图清理

查尔斯的枪枪响

了差点把

她吓坏了韦德死了，

你妈妈刚开了你亲爱的爪子的枪

，等你长大了，她也会让你开枪的

完成了

梅兰妮回到楼下，虽然

她很虚弱，而且很痛苦，

猩红色

我们必须把他从

这里救出来

楼上的窗

井没有人知道它

说

黑人可能会说话梅兰妮然后他们会

来抓你

我们必须在他们回来之前把他藏起来

我可以在花园的角落挖一个洞

把他放进去说猩红，

但ig怎么会等他在那里

我们每个人都拉他一条腿

说梅兰妮

你不能拉猫

你会自杀

好吧梅兰妮

你把他拉出来我会收拾

烂摊子

但我们不能过去他的袋子先放在

口袋里，他可能有东西

吃

袋子，

他的口袋里有戒指和其他小饰品

一个小偷窃窃私语梅兰妮

他偷了这一切

我很高兴你杀了他斯嘉丽

没有人问这匹马是从哪里来的

他们只是很高兴让

他被美国佬裹着

花园角落里的洞

没有鬼魂来吓唬猩红

在漫长的夜晚当她睡着

之后

我不会去想它

她对自己说

但是每当她不得不做一些

困难的事情之后她认为

我已经完成了谋杀

所以我可以在 1865 年 5 月之前完成

第 12 章

和平，

战争结束了

，邦联失去

了他们所爱的梦想，希望

夺去他们朋友生命的事业

已经结束，

但斯嘉丽没有流泪，

她只是想谢谢上帝啊，

现在牛不会被偷

了，马现在安全了，

现在我不会害怕开车绕着

乡下寻找吃的东西

，如果阿什利还活着，

他会

在和平到来后那个温暖的夏天

回家一群同盟军士兵

在回家的路上穿过塔拉，

大多数人都在走路，虽然有一些幸运的

人有一匹马，

他们向每个士兵询问阿什利的消息

，苏艾伦问起肯尼迪先生，

但他们谁也不知道，

一天下午，

彼得叔叔让他们大吃一惊

从亚特兰大

回来，他骑着一匹老马，带来

了怜悯

阿姨希望梅兰妮和斯嘉丽

再次回来和她一起生活的消息，

他还带来了

阿什利的一封信，

他要回家了，

彼得·托尔叔叔 d 他们

他

还活着

梅兰妮昏倒了，

但斯嘉丽接过信并迅速打开

她认出了阿什莉写的

我的爱，

我要回家找你

了

试图帮助梅兰妮，

她关上了门，然后

又哭又笑，亲吻那封信，她

低声说

我的爱，

我要回家找你

了，几个星期过去了，阿什利没有

来，

斯佳丽开始担心

他一路上发生了什么事。

——士兵的终点线

通过了

，斯嘉丽的心开始变硬，

他们正在吃本来

是给塔拉口吃的

食物，食物很难买到

，洋基队钱包里的钱

也不会永远存下去

当他到达时病得很重，他的

一条腿在膝盖处完成，

并安装了一条粗切的木腿

，

他看起来像一个贫穷的农民而不是

种植园主，

但这并没有没有阻止女孩们

为挽救他的生命而工作，

然后有一天他睁开浅蓝色的

眼睛，看到一个卡琳坐在他旁边，

然后你不是在做梦，毕竟

他

说威尔在乔治亚州拥有一个小农场

和两个

他认识的黑人他的奴隶现在自由了

，他的农场被烧毁了，

但这些事情似乎并不让他担心

在我还给你之前，

我根本无法支付，

因为一个人无法

为自己的生命付出任何代价，

所以他留下来，

缓慢而安静地，度母

的大部分工作和担忧

从猩红色传递给了

他九月的一个温暖的下午

，威尔坐在塔拉的门前台阶

上

与猩红色的梅兰妮交谈，

尽管她在塔拉做了她的那份工作

，但她很瘦，从来都没有

完全

好，威尔正在谈论他

那天早上去费耶特维尔的旅行

当他沿着路看时，莉亚叮叮

另一名士兵，

他说

斯嘉丽看了看，看到一个

留着胡子的男人穿着平常的灰色和蓝色

制服，上面满是灰尘和撕裂

我希望他不是很饿她说

他会饿的说

梅兰妮站起来好吗

？我要告诉迪尔西

她突然停了下来，斯嘉丽

转身看着她

的梅兰妮，她的手放在她的喉咙上，她的

脸色苍白，

她要昏倒了，她想斯嘉丽

跳起来，

但梅兰妮正在跑下台阶，

她的双臂伸向

士兵

然后斯嘉丽知道了

真相男人抬起脸看

向屋子好像累得

走不动了梅兰妮哭着

扑到他怀里

斯嘉丽往前走了两步但会

阻止她

他说悄悄让我走你这个傻瓜

让我

走是阿什莉

会抱住她

他是她的丈夫艾米

他平静地说

斯嘉丽生气地看着他在他

安静和善的眼神中

她看到了理解

和怜悯