Віднесені вітром

           "What’sthematterwithher?Ididn’tknowshewasill.Shelookedallrightlastweek.Didshehaveanaccident?Oh,Rhett,itisn’treallyasseriousasyou—"

           "She’sdying,"saidRhettandhisvoicehadnomoreexpressionthanhisface."Shewantstoseeyou."

           "NotMelly!Oh,notMelly!What’shappenedtoher?"

           "She’shadamiscarriage."

           "A—a-mis—but,Rhett,she—"Scarlettfloundered.Thisinformationontopofthehorrorofhisannouncementtookherbreathaway.

           "Youdidnotknowshewasgoingtohaveababy?"

           Shecouldnotevenshakeherhead.

           "Ah,well.Isupposenot.Idon’tthinkshetoldanyone.Shewantedittobeasurprise.ButIknew."

           "Youknew?Butsurelyshedidn’ttellyou!"

           "Shedidn’thavetotellme.Iknew.She’sbeenso—happytheselasttwomonthsIknewitcouldn’tmeananythingelse."

           "ButRhett,thedoctorsaiditwouldkillhertohaveanotherbaby!"

           "Ithaskilledher,"saidRhett.Andtothecoachman:"ForGod’ssake,can’tyoudrivefaster?"

           "But,Rhett,shecan’tbedying!I—Ididn’tandI—"

           "Shehasn’tyourstrength.She’sneverhadanystrength.She’sneverhadanythingbutheart."

           ThecarriagerockedtoastandstillinfrontoftheflatlittlehouseandRhetthandedherout.Trembling,frightened,asuddenfeelingoflonelinessuponher,sheclaspedhisarm.

           "You’recomingin,Rhett?"

           "No,"hesaidandgotbackintothecarriage.

           Sheflewupthefrontsteps,acrosstheporchandthrewopenthedoor.