Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

Tara was not deserted. Someone was home!

A cry of joy rose to her throat and died there. The house was dark and still and the figure did not move or call to her. What was wrong? Then the figure moved. Stiffly and slowly, it came down the steps.

«Pa?» she whispered huskily. «It’s me… Scarlett. I’ve come home».

Gerald moved toward her, silent as a sleepwalker. He came close to her and looked at her as if he believed she was part of a dream. He laid his hand on her shoulder. It was trembling.

В«DaughterВ», he said with an effort.

Then he was silent.

“Why… he’s an old man!” thought Scarlett.

In Gerald’s face, there was none of the virility, the restless vitality of Gerald. He was only a little old man.

«It’s Melanie and her baby», whispered Scarlett rapidly. «She’s very ill… I brought her home».

Gerald dropped his hand from her arm and straightened his shoulders. He moved slowly to the wagon.

В«Cousin Melanie!В»

Melanie’s voice murmured indistinctly.

В«Cousin Melanie, this is your home. Twelve Oaks is burned. You must stay with usВ».

«She can’t walk», said Scarlett.

Another dark figure emerged from the cave of the hall. Pork ran down the steps.

В«Miss Scarlett! Miss Scarlett!В» he cried.

Scarlett caught him by the arms.

Prissy burst into tears: В«Pork! Pork, honey!В»

Little Wade began sniffling: В«Wade is thirsty!В»

«Miss Melanie is in the wagon and her baby too”, – said Scarlett. “Pork, you must carry her upstairs very carefully and put her in the room.

В«Did they get well, Pa?В» asked Scarlett.

«The girls are recovering», said Gerald «Your mother… «he said and stopped.

«And… Mother?»

В«Your mother died yesterdayВ».

Scarlett doesn’t feel anything now, nothing except weariness and hunger that made her knees tremble. She will think of Mother later.

В«Lights?В» she questioned.

«They took all the candles, Miss Scarlett, all except one, and it’s about gone».

«Bring what’s left of the candle», she ordered. «Bring it into Mother’s… into the office».

Scarlett groped her way into the inky small room and sank down on the sofa. Her father’s arm still lay in hers, helpless, appealing, trusting.

«He’s an old man, an old tired man», she thought again.