Gone with the Wind / Унесённые ветром

“You will marry me soon, Miss Scarlett?”

“Um,” she said, fingering a fold of her dress.

“Shall we make it a double wedding with Mel —”

“No,” she said quickly. Charles knew again that he had made an error. Of course, a girl wanted her own wedding – not shared glory.

“When may I speak to your father?”

“The sooner the better,” she said.

He leaped up and for a moment she thought he was going to cut a caper[25 - он запрыгает от радости]. He looked down at her radiantly, his clean simple heart in his eyes.

She had never had anyone look at her thus before and would never have it from any other man, but she only thought that he looked like a calf.

“I’ll go now and find your father,” he said, smiling all over his face. “I can’t wait. Will you excuse me – dear?” The word came hard but having said it once, he repeated it again with pleasure.

“Yes,” she said. “I’ll wait here. It’s so cool and nice here.”

He went off across the lawn and disappeared around the house, and she was alone under the rustling oak.

From the stables, men were streaming out on horseback, negro servants riding hard behind their masters.

The white house with its tall columns stood before her. It would never be her house now. Ashley would never carry her over the threshold as his bride. Oh, Ashley, Ashley! What have I done? Deep in her, under hurt pride and cold practicality, something stirred hurtingly. An adult emotion was being born.

She loved Ashley and she had never cared for him so much as in that instant when she saw Charles disappearing around the graveled walk.

Chapter VII

Within two weeks Scarlett had become a wife, and within two months more she was a widow.

In after years when she thought of those last days of April, 1861, Scarlett could never quite remember details. Time and events were jumbled together like a nightmare. Especially vague were her memories of the time before the wedding.

Two weeks! So short an engagement would have been impossible in times of peace. But the South was at war.

Learning that Ashley’s wedding had been moved up to the first of May, so he could leave with the Troop, Scarlett set the date of her wedding for the day before his. Ellen protested but Charles was impatient to be off to South Carolina to join the Legion, and Gerald sided with the two young people.

The South was intoxicated with enthusiasm and excitement.