Унесенные ветром

           Andshe’dtellneighborswhataslybootsScarlettwastositthereandlistentohertalkaboutMelaniewhenallthetimesheandAshley—ShedimpledatherownthoughtsandBetty,whohadbeenwatchingsharplytheeffectofhermother’swords,sankbackwithasmallpuzzledfrown.

           "Idon’tcarewhatyousay,Mr.O’Hara,"Mrs.Tarletonwassayingemphatically."It’sallwrong,thismarryingofcousins.It’sbadenoughforAshleytobemarryingtheHamiltonchild,butforHoneytobemarryingthatpale-lookingCharlesHamilton—"

           "Honey’llnevercatchanybodyelseifshedoesn’tmarryCharlie,"saidRanda,cruelandsecureinherownpopularity."She’sneverhadanotherbeauexcepthim.Andhe’sneveractedverysweetonher,forallthatthey’reengaged.Scarlett,yourememberhowheranafteryoulastChristmas—"

           "Don’tbeacat,Miss,"saidhermother."Cousinsshouldn’tmarry,evensecondcousins.Itweakensthestrain.Itisn’tlikehorses.Youcanbreedamaretoabrotherorasiretoadaughterandgetgoodresultsifyouknowyourbloodstrains,butinpeopleitjustdoesn’twork.Yougetgoodlines,perhaps,butnostamina.You—"

           "Now,Ma’m,I’mtakingissuewithyouonthat!CanyounamemebetterpeoplethantheWilkes?Andthey’vebeenintermarryingsinceBrianBoruwasaboy."

           "Andhightimetheystoppedit,forit’sbeginningtoshow.Oh,notAshleysomuch,forhe’sagood-lookingdevil,thoughevenhe—Butlookatthosetwowashed-out-lookingWilkesgirls,poorthings!Nicegirls,ofcourse,butwashedout.AndlookatlittleMissMelanie.Thinasarailanddelicateenoughforthewindtoblowawayandnospiritatall.Notanotionofherown.‘No,Ma’m!’‘Yes,Ma’m!’That’sallshehastosay.