Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

«I’m waiting», he said, «when you grow up a little more. I don’t like to kiss children. The memory of the estimable Ashley Wilkes is going to fade».

At the mention of Ashley’s name, sudden pain went through her, sudden hot tears stung her lids. Fade? The memory of Ashley will never fade. She was too angry to speak and they rode along in silence for some while.

В«I understand practically everything about you and Ashley, nowВ», Rhett resumed. В«You still cherish a romantic schoolgirl passion for him.

And Mrs. Wilkes knows nothingВ».

«Go to hell!» she said tensely. «And let me out of this carriage. I don’t want to speak to you».

He stopped the carriage. She sprang down.

Chapter XIII

The cannon at Kennesaw Mountain could be heard faintly, far away. Occasionally it was loud enough to be heard even above the rattle of traffic at noon. People tried not to listen to it, tried to talk, to laugh, to carry on their business, but always ears were strained for the sound.

Will General Johnston hold the Yankees this time? Will he?

Panic lay just beneath the surface. Sherman was at the very doors of Atlanta. Another retreat will bring the Confederates into the town. Give us a general who won’t retreat! Give us a man who will stand and fight!

Scarlett and Maybelle Merriwether Picard were given permission to leave the hospital and watch the men go out. Scarlett felt cold as she watched the motley ranks. Desperate rabble of bombproofers, old men and little boys! There were some young men in the lines, but there were so many old men and young boys! The sight of them made her heart contract with pity and with fear.

Many of the men were totally unarmed, for the Confederacy had neither rifles nor ammunition. Johnston had lost around ten thousand men in his retreat. He needed ten thousand more fresh troops.

As the artillery rumbled by, a negro on a mule caught her eye. Scarlett saw him she cried: «It’s Mose! Ashley’s Mose! What is he doing here? Mose! Stop!»

A sergeant, riding behind him, called: «Stay on that mule, boy, or I’ll light a fire under you!»

«Oh, just a minute, Sergeant!” Scarlett said.

“Don’t get down, Mose. What are you doing here?»

В«Off to the war, again, Miss Scarlett. This time with Mister John instead of Mister AshleyВ».

В«Mr. Wilkes!В» Scarlett was stunned. Mr. Wilkes was nearly seventy. В«Where is he?В»

В«Back there, Miss Scarlett!В»

В«Sorry, lady.