Унесенные ветром

           Stuartbellowed: "Jeems!" Andafteranintervalatallblackboyoftheirownageranbreathlesslyaroundthehouseandouttowardthetetheredhorses. Jeemswastheirbodyservantand,likethedogs,accompaniedthemeverywhere. Hehadbeentheirchildhoodplaymateandhadbeengiventothetwinsfortheirownontheirtenthbirthday. Atthesightofhim,theTarletonhoundsroseupoutofthereddustandstoodwaitingexpectantlyfortheirmasters. Theboysbowed,shookhandsandtoldScarlettthey’dbeoverattheWilkeses’earlyinthemorning,waitingforher. Thentheywereoffdownthewalkatarush,mountedtheirhorsesand,followedbyJeems,wentdowntheavenueofcedarsatagallop,wavingtheirhatsandyellingbacktoher. 

           WhentheyhadroundedthecurveofthedustyroadthathidthemfromTara,Brentdrewhishorsetoastopunderaclumpofdogwood. Stuarthalted,too,andthedarkyboypulledupafewpacesbehindthem. Thehorses,feelingslackreins,stretcheddowntheirneckstocropthetenderspringgrass,andthepatienthoundslaydownagaininthesoftreddustandlookeduplonginglyatthechimneyswallowscirclinginthegatheringdusk. Brent’swideingenuousfacewaspuzzledandmildlyindignant. 

           "Look,"hesaid. "Don’titlooktoyoulikeshewouldofaskedustostayforsupper?" 

           "Ithoughtshewould,"saidStuart."Ikeptwaitingforhertodoit,butshedidn’t. Whatdoyoumakeofit?" 

           "Idon’tmakeanythingofit. Butitjustlookstomelikeshemightof. Afterall,it’sourfirstdayhomeandshehasn’tseenusinquiteaspell. Andwehadlotsmorethingstotellher." 

           "Itlookedtomelikeshewasmightygladtoseeuswhenwecame."