Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром. Уровень 3

«Have you been running after a man who’s not in love with you?»

«I haven’t been running after him. It… it just surprised me».

«You’re lying!» said Gerald, and then he added: «I’m sorry, daughter. But there are lots of other lads. If you had any sense you’d have married Stuart or Brent Tarleton long ago. Think it over, daughter. You know little enough of any man, and of Ashley, too. Those Wilkes… The whole family is strange enough. Yes, Ashley can ride and play poker. He can do all those things, but his heart’s not in it.

He’s queer».

Scarlett was silent and her heart sank.

«Scarlett! Why won’t you marry Cade Calvert? The Calverts are good folk, all of them. I’ll leave Tara to you and Cade…»

«I don’t want marry Cade!» cried Scarlett in fury. «And I don’t want Tara or any old plantation! They don’t amount to anything[5 - They don’t amount to anything. – Они ничего не стоят.]».

«Do you tell me that Tara… that land… doesn’t amount to anything?»

Scarlett nodded obstinately.

В«Land is the only thing in the world that amounts to anythingВ», he shouted.

В«Oh, PaВ», she said disgustedly, В«you talk like an Irishman!В»

«And I am proud of it. And don’t forget that you are half Irish, Miss!»

Chapter III

That night at supper, Scarlett’s mind was in a ferment over the dreadful news she had heard about Ashley and Melanie. Of course, she did not intend to tell her mother what was so heavy on her heart.

Her mother, Ellen, will be shocked and grieved to know that a daughter of hers wants a man who is engaged to another girl. But she wanted the very comfort of her mother’s presence. She always felt secure when Ellen was by her.

She rose suddenly from her chair at the sound of creaking wheels in the driveway. Looking out the window, Scarlett saw Pork. Pork entered, his usual dignity was gone, his eyes were rolling.

В«Mister GeraldВ», he announced, breathing hard, В«your new housemaid is hereВ».

«New housemaid? I didn’t buy any new housemaid», declared Gerald.

В«Yes, you did, Mister Gerald! Yes! And she wants to speak with youВ», answered Pork, giggling and twisting his hands in excitement.

В«Well, bring in your wifeВ», said Gerald, and Pork beckoned into the hall to his wife. She arrived from the Wilkes plantation to become part of the household of Tara. She entered, and behind her came her twelve-year-old daughter.