Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

What was he talking about? Patriotism? It wasn’t possible that he meant what he was saying.

В«Rhett, you are joking!В»

She grabbed his arm. He raised her hand and kissed it arily.

В«Oh, RhettВ», she wailed, В«how can you do this to me? Why are you leaving me?В»

«Why?» he laughed jauntily. «Because, perhaps, of the sentimentality that lurks in all of us Southerners. Perhaps… perhaps because I am ashamed. Who knows? I’m off to the wars».

He kissed her and his mustache tickled her mouth.

Charles had never kissed her like this. He bent her body backward and his lips traveled down her throat.

В«SweetВ», he whispered. В«SweetВ».

В«Oh, you cad!В» she cried. В«You low-down, cowardly, nasty, stinking man!В»

В«AhВ», he said quietly.

«They were right! Everybody was right! You aren’t a gentleman!»

В«My dear girlВ», he said, В«how inadequateВ».

She knew he was laughing.

«Go on! Go on now! I want you to hurry. I don’t want to ever see you again!»

В«Good-bye, ScarlettВ».

He was gone. She could hear the sound of his feet for a while and then they died away. She came slowly back to the wagon.

Chapter XVIII

The bright morning sunlight awakened Scarlett. For a moment, she could not remember where she was. The sun blinded her. She tried to sit up. Wade lay sleeping with his head on her knees. Melanie’s bare feet were almost in her face and, under the wagon seat, Prissy was curled up like a black cat with the small baby between her and Wade.

Then she remembered everything. She looked hastily all around. Thank God, no Yankees in sight!

When, at last, they had neared Rough and Ready, a few camp fires were gleaming. She had circled through a plowed field for a mile. And then she had lost her way in the darkness and sobbed. The horse fell down and refused to move, refused to rise.

She looked down at Melanie and saw that her dark eyes were opened.

They were sick eyes. She opened her lips and whispered appealingly: В«WaterВ».

«Get up, Prissy», ordered Scarlett. «We’ll go to the well and get some water. Get out of this wagon».

Scarlett ran around the wagon. The horse was lying on the ground. But the horse was alive. Breathing heavily, sick eyes half closed, but alive.

Why hadn’t she brought her sun hat? Why hadn’t she brought something to eat? She’d acted like a fool.