Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром

“If the nice people of Charleston feel that way, I’m sure we will all feel the same way soon,” she said. “No, Carreen, next year, dear. Then you can stay up for balls and wear grown-up dresses. Don’t pout, dear. You can go to the barbecue, remember that, and stay up through supper, but no balls until you are fourteen.”

“Give me your gown, Scarlett, I will fix the lace for you after prayers.

“Suellen, I do not like your tone, dear. Your pink gown is lovely and suitable to your complexion, Scarlett’s is to hers.

But you may wear my garnet necklace tomorrow night.”

Suellen, behind her mother’s back, wrinkled her nose triumphantly at Scarlett, who had been planning to beg the necklace for herself. Scarlett put out her tongue at her.

“Now, Mr. O’Hara, tell me more about what Mr. Calvert said about Charleston,” said Ellen.

Scarlett knew her mother cared nothing at all about war and politics, but it gave Gerald pleasure to air his views.

While Gerald was talking, Mammy set the plates before her mistress.

Ellen ate properly, but Scarlett could see that she was too tired to know what she was eating.

When the dish was empty, Ellen rose.

“We’ll be having prayers?” Gerald questioned, reluctantly.

“Yes. The lamp, please, Pork, and my prayer book, Mammy.”

Ellen closed her eyes and began praying, her voice rising and falling, lulling and soothing. Heads bowed as Ellen thanked God for the health and happiness of her home, her family and her negroes.

When she had finished her prayers, she began the Rosary: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death.”

Despite her heartache, a deep sense of quiet and peace fell upon Scarlett as it always did at this hour. Some of the disappointment of the day and the dread of the morrow went away from her, leaving a feeling of hope.

She dropped her head upon her folded hands so that her mother could not see her face, and her thoughts went sadly back to Ashley.

How could he be planning to marry Melanie when he really loved her, Scarlett? And when he knew how much she loved him? How could he break her heart?

Then, suddenly, an idea, shining and new, flashed like a comet through her brain.

“Why, Ashley hasn’t an idea that I’m in love with him! How could he know? I’ve always acted so prissy and ladylike and touch-me-not around him he probably thinks I don’t care a thing about him except as a friend.