Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

The twins laughed and talked. Nineteen years old, hard of muscle, with sunburned faces and deep auburn hair, their eyes merry and arrogant, they were alike. These boys were born to the ease of plantation life. The boys’ family had more money, more horses, more slaves than any one else in the County, but the boys had less grammar than most of their poor neighbors.

Stuart and Brent had just been expelled from the University of Georgia. Their older brothers, Tom and Boyd, had come home with them, because they refused to remain at an institution where the twins were not welcome.

«I know you two don’t care, and Tom too», Scarlett said. «But what about Boyd?»

«Oh, he can study law in Judge Parmalee’s office over in Fayetteville», answered Brent carelessly.

В«Why?В»

«The war! The war is going to start any day, and we won’t stay in college that time».

«You know there won’t be any war», said Scarlett. «It’s all just talk. The Yankees are too scared of us to fight».

She did not endure any conversation of which she was not the chief subject. War was men’s business, not ladies’.

Then she asked,

В«What did your mother say about your situation?В»

The boys looked uncomfortable.

В«WellВ», said Stuart, В«Tom and us left home early this morning before she got upВ».

«Didn’t she say anything when you got home last night?»

В«We were lucky last night. Just before we got home that new stallion Ma got in Kentucky last month was brought in.

When we got home, Ma was out in the stable with a sackful of sugar. The darkies[3 - the darkies – чернокожие] were popeyed, they were so scared. And when she saw us she said: �Oh, what are you four doing home again?’ And then the horse began to snort and rear, and she said: �Get out of here! Can’t you see he’s nervous? I’ll talk to you four in the morning!’ So we went to bed, and this morning we got away and left Boyd with her».

В«Will your mother ride the new horse to the Wilkes barbecue tomorrow?В»

«She wants to, but Pa says he’s too dangerous.

We’ll tell you a secret», said Stuart.

В«What?В» cried Scarlett as a child.

«You know, Ashley Wilkes’ cousin, Miss Pittypat Hamilton, told us there was going to be an engagement announced tomorrow night at the Wilkes ball».

В«Oh. I know about thatВ», said Scarlett in disappointment. В«That silly nephew of hers, Charlie Hamilton, and WilkesВ».