Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

There was only horror in the town. The town seemed haunted, haunted with fear and uncertainty and memories.

The last day of August came. Everyone knew now what the soldiers had known two weeks before. If the Macon railroad falls, Atlanta will fall too.

On the morning of the first of September, Scarlett awoke with a suffocating sense of dread upon her. She sat up hastily, rubbing her eyes.

As she stood, looking out of the window, there came to her ears a far-off sound.

В«RainВ», she thought in the first moment, В«we certainly need itВ».

But then: В«Rain? No! Not rain! Cannon!В»

Cannon to the south! And to the south lay Jonesboro and Tara and Ellen. Yankees perhaps at Tara, now, this minute! From the kitchen below, she heard the rattle of plates. Prissy was preparing and singing. Scarlett shouted: В«Shut up that singing, Prissy!В»

Scarlett walked to Melanie’s door and opened it, peering into the sunny room. Melanie lay in bed in her nightgown, her eyes closed, her slender body hideous and distorted.

She looked worse than any pregnant woman she had ever seen. As she looked, Melanie’s eyes opened and a soft warm smile lit her face.

«Come in», she invited. «Scarlett, there’s something I want to ask you».

Scarlett entered the room and sat down on the bed. Melanie took Scarlett’s hand.

«Dear», she said, «I’m sorry about the cannon. It’s toward Jonesboro, isn’t it?»

Scarlett said В«UmВ».

В«I know how worried you are.

I know you wanted to go home last week when you heard about your mother. But you stayed because of me?В»

В«YesВ», said Scarlett ungraciously.

«Scarlett, darling. You’ve been so good to me. No sister can be sweeter or braver. And I love you for it. I’m so sorry. I bother you».

Scarlett stared. Loved her, did she? The fool!

В«And Scarlett, I want to ask a very great favor of you. If I die, will you take my baby?В»

Melanie’s eyes were wide and bright.

В«Will you?В»

Scarlett jerked away her hand as fear swamped her.

«Oh, don’t be a goose, Melly. You won’t die. Every woman thinks she’s going to die with her first baby. I know I did».

«No, you didn’t. You’ve never been afraid of anything. You are just saying that to try to cheer me up. I’m not afraid to die but I’m so afraid to leave the baby, if Ashley is… Scarlett, promise me that you’ll take my baby if I die. Then I won’t be afraid.