Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

And she had embroidered half a dozen sofa-pillow cases[11 - pillow cases – наволочка] with the Confederate flag on them. She was only seventeen; oh, it wasn’t fair!

Pittypat entered the room.

«Auntie, I’m so tired of sitting at home».

«Scarlett, promise me you won’t say things like that. People will say you don’t have the proper respect for poor Charlie».

Scarlett cried. Melanie entered.

«Oh», said she. «Be brave, dear. Don’t cry. Oh, Scarlett!»

В«I want to be dead!В» she sobbed passionately.

«Dear, don’t cry! Try to think how much Charlie loved you!»

В«Go away and leave me alone!В» shouted Scarlett.

She sank her face into the pillow. She heard Melanie say to Pittypat in a low voice as they went down the stairs:

«Aunt Pitty, Don’t speak of Charles to her. You know how it always affects her».

Scarlett kicked the coverlet in impotent rage,

В«Damn it!В» she cried at last.

Deliverance came in the form she least expected. During the after-dinner-nap period, Mrs.

Merriwether and Mrs. Elsing drove up.

«Mrs. Bonnell’s children have the measles», said Mrs. Merriwether abruptly.

В«And the McLure girls are in VirginiaВ», said Mrs. Elsing. В«Dallas McLure is woundedВ».

В«How dreadful!В» chorused their hostesses. В«Poor Dallas!В»

В«No. Just through the shoulderВ», said Mrs. Merriwether briskly. В«The girls are going North to bring him home. We must hurry back to the Armory and do the decorating. Pitty, we need you and Melly tonight.

We need women for the boothВ».

«Oh, but, Dolly, we can’t go. With poor Charlie dead only a…»

«I know how you feel but there isn’t any sacrifice too great for the Cause», broke in Mrs. Elsing in a soft voice.

«Oh, we’d love to help but… why can’t you get some sweet pretty girls to take the booths?»

Mrs. Merriwether snorted.

«The young people have no sense of responsibility. Let that blockade runner[12 - blockade runner – контрабандист], Captain Butler, bring more hospital supplies[13 - hospital supplies – медикаменты] and less hoop skirts and lace.

Captain Butler… I’m sick of the name. Now, Pitty, I haven’t time to argue. You must come. Everybody will understand».

«I think we must go», said Scarlett. «It is the least we can do for the hospital, all of us. I think I must go in the booth with Melly. Don’t you think so, Melly?»

В«WellВ», began Melly helplessly.